WHICH BLOOD PRESSURE MEDS?

[Scared-woman]

I need to take bp meds..... .but ARB'S and ACE are scary....they raise your creatinine sometimes as much as 30%......I read an article that is questioning there use because of that. what have those with CKD found to work best for them.....I am not horrendously high...but high enough it needs to be better because of the CKD......I was leaning toward a calcium channel blocker.

[Hidden]

If you aren't happy with the medications and told your cardiologist, it may be time to change cardiologists. I did that in May and the new cardiologist, after a lengthy conversation with me, kept me on amlodipine and added hydralazine and carvedilol. That worked, and continues to work for me.

[Scared-woman in reply to Hidden]

Not getting personal but curious.....do you see a cardiologist due to a heart cond. or is it just for your Bp

[Hidden in reply to Scared-woman]

For the HBP now, but other issues years ago. PCP's have their place but I prefer more knowledgeable physicians in critical areas, especially since I have the two leading causes of CKD.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

Hi Scared,

BP meds are a benefit for the kidney as well as the obvious cardiac issues. I take irbesartan which is supposed to be good for the kidneys Your doctor and you should make this decision together.

[steve680]

Well, this is really a question for your doctors, but ARBs can have a protective effect on your kidneys. They can also re-model your heart if you had an enlarged heart due to HBP. However, both ACE Inhibitors and ARBs can raise your potassium to dangerous levels; this is something you'll need to monitor with lab tests. I was taken off the ARB when I hit stage 5 as it did raise my potassium. My potassium is now in normal range which I manage through diet. I don't know your stage of CKD, but I wouldn't write them off until you can talk to your doctor.

[FlowerPreciousLover]

Scared, thanks for your question. My cardiologist prescribed 5 mg of amlodipine for my high blood pressure some time ago . Will see him for the first time since my ckd diag. in a couple of weeks for reg. visit and will ask him about what med he recommends for stage 3 ckd.

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

Please remember what works for one may not work for you.

I have had a kidney transplant and I still take 2 different meds for BP. I have taken Toprol XL for over 20 years. Nephrologist tried adding Amlodipine and for me it caused severe swelling in my feet and ankles. Then he tried Losartan. Said Losartan would protect my transplanted kidney. I had to stop that one because I felt light-headed all of the time. Now I take Cardura at night with Toprol in the morning.

You need to rely on your nephrologist and his experience to get you on right med. You need to get your BP under control ASAP. The pressure from high BP can cause more kidney damage and also causes scarring in your heart