Sudden jump in creatinine and BUN, and drop in GFR after being on Valsartan for 13 years with no problem

[gracy2]

A few years ago, I had a sudden huge jump in creatinine (1.6 to 3.4!) and BUN (30 to 100!) after being on Valsartan for 13 years with no problem. I know this can happen immediately after starting the drug, but I haven't been able to find any research indicating it can do this after 13 years. My nephrologist took me off the drug and a day later, my labs were back to normal, but ever since, I've been struggling to keep my BP down without BP meds. (She won't put me on anything until it's consistently over 140 at home. (I have white coat so it's always that high at the docs, but 20-30 points lower at home on a machine I had calibrated to match the one at my doc's office. Pulse at home also 10-15 points lower than in doc's office. )I'm still wondering if the high labs were a lab error. Anyone had this experience with strange labs after being on Losartan or Valsartan for years? Anyone have the same experience I have with white coat?

[HisLittleOne]

I take Candesartan for BP control and it raised my creatinine 30 points and lowered my eGFR over 30 points! I am cutting the dose in half and drinking beet juice (which is a great way to lower blood pressure) I’ve read in several places that the ARBs and ACE inhibitors can cause kidney decline. So now it is a question of what is the worst of two evils: high blood pressure or losing kidney function!! I’m going to try natural methods to help lower BP while cutting back the medication and hope that improves my kidney function. I hope you find a way to resolve your problem with the BP medication.

[userotc]

Re white coat, lots if people suffer that including my mum (CKD 3) with ~140/85 at surgery compared with 125/75 at home. Clearly the home readings must be more accurate and personally I wouldn't worry about others taken elsewhere simply on the basis/assumption you spend more time at home (!). The docs seem to agree as they generally just record her home readings!

Can't comment on medications as we don't do them here! Mum was on bisoporol for years but we weaned her off naturally (diet/lifestyle).

[drmind]

I have taken Valstartan/HCL (160/12.5) for over 25 years. Within the last 2 years, my nephrologist added 25mg Metoprolol 2x a day. BP at home runs normal to high normal and run very high in the doctors office. So. I have white coat, too.

My CKD is at 3b; my creatinine was 1.24 in last weeks labs. It was much higher a few years ago and the creatinine has slowly decreased. I'm also in my late 70's.

Two to three years ago, a new (and ex) nephrologist put me on two new BP meds and took me off Valstartan. After a few weeks, my BP shot up, my ankles and feet swelled up and I had to go to the ER because I was retaining urine and got a very serious infection. New ( and very good) nephrologist put me back on Valstartan and all went back to where I was before.

We are all different with different reactions to meds and treatments. Finding what works for each of us is like finding a key to our bodies' front door. Good luck.

[Hidden]

I used to have white coat syndrome but after almost dying from an autoimmune disease and kidney failure, I have been to so so many doctor appointments that being at a doctors office doesn't bother me anymore. One of the risks/side effects of Losartin is acute kidney failure but I don't know if Valsartan would be the same. You should be on some kind of BP med. I take Losartin and Carvedilol and that combo works very well for me. Maybe you could try just Carvedilol and see if that works for you.

[PecanSandie]

I got taken off LosartanlHCT after taking it for many many years. My eGFR kept dropping and I asked my doctor the question whether it could be the Losartan/HCT which in some cases can cause acute kidney failure. Of course, no one knows the answer to whether Losartan had anything to do with my eGFR dropping but instead of taking chances she switched me to Metoprolol.