For some reason my blood pressure has shot up. I am already taking 50 mgs of Atenolol for raised blood pressure but this in in the danger zone with no apparent cause. The GP has arranged various Cardio tests, blood, kidneys within the next couple of weeks, having been alerted by my Rheumatologist last Friday, my blood pressure remains scarily high. She also prescribed Amlodipine 5 mgs yesterday, and has kept me on Atenolol. I had my flu jab on Monday ( the day before). I took my first dose of Amlodipine on Tuesday. I felt very ill, sick dizzy , upset stomach and as if I had a virus, I slept for 2 hours. I am trying to figure out whether I have a virus, a reaction to the flu jab or a dramatic reaction to Amlodipine 5 mgs . I am dreading the next dose this PM. I don’t feel great ( lethargic with headache) but it is not dramatic.
I would be interested to hear from anyone who has experience a) a flu jab reaction this year. b) Is on Amlodipine and may have experience of side effects or benefits.
I am on 4 mgs of Pred and am waiting for an MRI scan ( I think, to look at patterns of inflammation.) My Rheumatologist is thorough. Hopefully, she continues to be thorough and find nothing.
If you are still with me thanks for listening.
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SheffieldJane
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Oh dear! That’s how I felt. I even interviewed my bright young pharmacist about it. He said the side effects tend to wear off in a couple of weeks and the main one to watch for was swollen ankles. My ankles are the only thing that’s ok. My BP levels are 189 over 97 so I can’t muck about. Did you find a drug to suit you?
They had added it to linsoprisol and just took me off it. I was on it for 6weeks hoping to get through the initial side effects but I just got worse-I am persistent bordering on stupid🤪. They have just left me on linsoprisol and my blood pressure wet down fine over the next couple of months. I changed to himalayas pink salt for when I want salt. The Dr's reaction told me it's wasn't a big surprise. These was the year before pmr.
Celtic (of this forum) also developed HBP - not even the consultants could work out why and they spent a lot of time trying to find out.
Is it consistently 190-100-ish? Have they not ordered an urgent Holter monitor?
I have to say - I do wonder why they are so keen on amlodipine in the UK - it can be a horrible drug for side effects. And it really isn't right to say "oh but they go away in a couple of weeks"
I am so grateful for your thoughts as ever. I kept thinking that my old GP would have sent me to the hospital to be monitored.
Do you know of a drug with a good reputation? The Atenolol has not given me discernible side effects and the young doctor dismissed it as old fashioned, it didn’t stop this spike though.
I was on bisoprolol (a beta-blocker) as well as losartan (an angiotensin 2 blocker) both at low doses as I can't take ACE inhibitors (allergic reaction!). Have had no problems at all - and now don't even take the losartan (not sure why to be honest).
Old-fashioned isn't always bad - if it works and doesn't cause problems why complain? And if something DOES cause problems - then DO complain.
Had your BP been climbing slowly or is this really sudden? Did you have white coat syndrome?
No white coat syndrome, everybody is really sweet at Otley. It has been around 148/80 but rarely higher. As far as I know it has been sitting at around 189/90-99 since Friday. I have been feeling very tired and headachey for about 3-4 weeks., making me more sedentary. I hate the thought of trying various drugs and trying to figure out if this is a new horror. To be frank the reaction to Amlodipine made me think I was dying, I went to sleep wondering if I would wake up. Like deathly flu but gastric.
Thank you for doing my research for me, of course we are all different. My dad died of heart failure when he was only 69, so it might be written in my stars.
I didn't want to say that, but I too thought I must be dying I felt so terrible. It was like life was being sucked out of me. I think I have written about it before on another discussion about BP way back. They often say that hbp doesn't have symptoms but I found I was tired and my head felt "full". I hope you find the right one. 🌻
So tired and head so full ( of nothing useful unfortunately) Thanks so much Poops. I am going to try a first line Diuretic now, and spend forever in the loo I bet.
I haven't taken the drug but I have a friend who is on it and had a hard time adjusting to it , starting at the same time as the Flu Jab is also going to have made matters worse , as your already weary body is trying to process two things at once and reacting to both.
Good luck this afternoon , they may need to rethink things for you , probably a good idea to ask to see the GP before you take it and see what they say .
Looks like you will be cracking out the ginger pop , a furry hot water bottle and a big cuddly blanket for a few days to see if things adjust.
Thanks Bee. I am awaiting a call from a pretty dismissive and snooty GP. Why? when I allow myself to be in my total scruff ( rare) do I end up having to go somewhere - every time - or somebody calls. 😕
Total scruff or scary four legged spider ninja ( with my sticks) seem to be my only two fashion choices these days , I wouldn't worry about it , to be honest , if you go to see Doctors looking like you feel , instead of trying to cover up the cracks , you often get a more sympathetic response.
Or maybe that's just me , half blue avatar , half drop dead Not So gorgeous , 😨😵😷
You can always get the feel good factor of putting on a bit of lipstick when you come out xxx😍💄💋
You are so lovely! I have spoken to the doctor I insulted and she said that she’s sorry that Amlodipine doesn’t suit me because it is the most modern,effective, long - term, safe,drug for high blood pressure, there is. She has prepared a prescription for a diuretic because I tentatively enquired about them. So I am not feeling confident. I am going for a proper wash before I collect them and changing out of raggedy clothes. I will be tidy in my coffin. ( Sorry, feeling a bit dark).
And know what you mean , I got up at 8am and with ECG monitoring , form filling , chase up emails , first half of an appointment with the GP , trip to hospital to remove machine and an unexpected flu jab in the arm , I only stopped by 6.30 , not being diagnosed quickly is becoming a full time job.
I may give up on the coffin and just go for a bin bag if I need to make myself look good to go in it.
Then again they do your makeup , so I might look better in my coffin than I do right now out of it.
( Touche , on the gallows humour , dark but it's better than the alternative!)
😂😂😂 you are a tonic! You are right, caring for ourselves does become a quite absorbing full time job. After a day like yours I would feel satisfied and perfectly entitled to put my feet up and have a rest day.
It certainly is. A well deserved, guilt free, treat. I hope everything goes well with all these tests! I’ve got a lot lined up before Christmas too. Good job I already did my on-line shopping for far away family. I do not multi task anymore. One step at a time! 💜
~Hang in there SheffieldJane - can't comment on that particular meds but know how if feels dealing to nasty side effects of certain powerful medication.
Sending abundant hugs your way in the hope your B/P settles sooner rather than later & maybe in our next life we should come back as a guinea pig ~
Thank you so much Megams. I just want to feel well again, pain has become almost the least of it. I am not confident that even the best of GPs can keep all the balls in the air anymore. I can barely manage to remember everything I need to about all my conditions, appointments, tests and meds. I use my OH’s sharp brain as a sort of “ Cloud” in computing terms.
~Indeed it gets that way with the growing list of issues - I try & keep up writing daily journal albeit brief & use a brightly colored highlighter for significant changes - a big calendar hangs behind kitchen door as med chart - any thing to help me psychologically .
My B/P will spiral (occasionally) with A/F & SVT - not sure which comes 1st but Dilitazem HCL 30mg seems to help eventually after trying many other meds.
Not one Dr has been able to offer explanation as to why this happens so I am proactive in my own vigilance where possible & about to seek 2nd opinion of an Integrated Cardiologist via Skype ~
One of my daughters hurt my feelings by email yesterday and the doorbell rang while I was taking my blood pressure - the reading was 202 over 94. It just shows you how it goes up and down. It was just a normal high when I took it again.
~Oh dear that is far too high & wonder why we become super sensitive to everything since taking our steroids??
I work had at keeping my B/P within reasonable range & brew up herbal tea containing: Hawthorn berries, Hibiscus flowers, Oat Straw Green Tops, Chamomile flowers, Lavender heads, Passion flower + mint.
Drink this 2 x daily without fail & understand it won't be suitable for everyone.
An integrated GP who specializes in herbs suggested Oat Straw for skin hair, nails & bones some years ago -I've added the other herbs & OK with my Rheumy.
I'm taking Kyolic garlic x 3 daily too but again won't be suitable for others.
I will do all I reasonably can to stay off powerful meds which delivers zilch qol.
hi thats how i felt im only using atenolol now becos taking amloc and atenolol made me feel tired the best way to get ur bp down is bananas nd lemon water
Hi, I started on 10 mg amylodipine about 4 1/2 years ago due to heart failure with very low ejection fraction-poorly pumping heart. Also lots of other heart meds. It has never been a problem for me.
I had flu jab about 6 weeks ago. I do feel like it slowed me down for a bit. I also got extremely hot lump at injection site. It has just disappeared in last 4-5 days.
Hi, I take amlodipine 10mg tablets with lisinopril 20mg tablets. I haven’t had any side effects from either of them. I do wonder if I need them both as was prescribed when blood pressure taken at doctors and was 180/80. I do however have white coat syndrome (although the doctor and my nurse were lovely). After being asked by my doctor if I took my blood pressure at home I bought my own monitor and lo and behold my blood pressure is generally 120/60. When I go for my diabetic review I take it for 5 days before 3 times a day and record it for my nurse.
I have also had the flu jab(over 65s) and the pneumonia jab with no side effects.
I haven’t been told to come off them and I need to keep my blood pressure about where it is to help my diabetic macular oedema. If my doctor or nurse recommended that I should come off them I would but for now staying on them. Do you test at home?
Have you reversed diabetes for over 2 years yet? Usually they still hang the dx round your neck until you go over 2 years. I had taken diuretic for years, then I was 200/101 on my monitor tested it 3 times a day, and still very high, for 2 days then drs. I didn't believe it could be that high and machine faulty. It had dropped to about 180/100 at doctors. That's when linsoprisol and a month later still high so amlopodine. Obviously with diabetes they like to jump on these things. Linsoprisol works and I was 135/73 last time.
My finger pricks which I do before breakfast are usually in the 4s and before dinner are in the 5s. I don’t eat lunch as that is when the prednisolone spikes my sugars and even then my sugars only go into the 7s so hopefully my hba1c will be good again. The last one was 35 which was a bit of a shock but that was after stopping lunch. I try to keep them as even as possible because of the macular oedema.
My heart goes out to you Jane. When one is struggling already another medicine with side effects can be the last straw. Hope you get the help you need 🙏
I tried amlodipine last May for a couple weeks. It caused muscle weakness, headache, lower back pain, sore eyes and numb feet. Unfortunately, these are also symptoms of GCA or PMR flare. Not knowing I upped my prednisone which did not help so I stopped the amlodipine and the symptoms went away.
Can I ask what you opted for to deal with the issue?
Diuretics sound a bit problematic too, that’s what my doctor has written a prescription for. I worry about the double whammy of some side effects of different drugs we take too.
That sounds awful. I take amlodipine and it has no side effects for me. Everyone is different though and good doctors need to allow for that. I hope you get something sorted soon
I can’t take any ace inhibitors- I had a reaction to each one. I’d always taken propranolol then just before diagnosis of GCA I developed head to toe psoriasis and was told needed to come off beta blockers. They don’t cause psoriasis but exacerbate it.
They gave me Spironolactone and blood pressure settled nicely. After a year BP started to rise again and, like you Rheumy was not happy and rang me to make sure I saws my GP. Was prescribed Half Securon as well as Spironolactone and all okay now - 18 months later.
They never found out what the cause of rising BP was.
Whatever happens don’t put up with feeling ill, there are other drugs out there and your readings are high. Like you I have no fear of hospitals/ GPS but they said it must be white coat syndrome! X
Bless you for sharing that. This has been so helpful. Thank heavens for this forum full of generous souls, we are so lucky to have it as our go to resource. It has taken my mind off PMR completely, so that’s good. I was reading a Mayo Clinic article about ways of lowering BP naturally ( I do like the Mayo Clinic articles) and PMRPro’s link to them about different BP meds and how they work. I feel less scared now. I am going to try the prescribed diuretic called Indapamide 2.5 mgs unless I learn something contrary that freaks me out.
I was on Amlodopine last year and had horrible fat feet (not just ankles) and did not feel well on it. My GP was reluctant to change but I insisted. Was put on Candesartan 2mg to start and had 2 weeks feeling pretty ill and thought I was flaring, but Pred. didn't help. I needed to take a higher dose and then had 4 weeks of the ill feeling. I refused to increase further and then Indapamide ( diuretic) was added in and the combination worked!
Trouble now is that with my last operation 9 weeks ago, I stopped the BP medicine as BP dropped and has not really got back up to my usual levels. I have been off the BP meds so long that I am worrying that going back on the Candesartan might give me the previous side-effects again.
You really do have to have all your wits about you. Maybe it will stay normal. Let’s hope so. Remind me Suzy, what was your operation and how are you? X
When my OH was a student he volunteered ( cash was involved) to test a new flu vaccine. He was terribly ill, then developed life long eczema. He won’t have one now ( illogically). Mind you, he’s never ill.
I am on 125 mgs of Thyroxine. I have had radio- iodine treated Graves’ disease for over 30 years, my unremarkable blood tests are usually annual but may have been included in the copious batches I have had of late. It is never mentioned. Why do you ask MamaBeagle?
Hello SheffieldJane - sorry, you are having theses issues with your BP and feeling so grim.
A combination of Amlodipine & Candesarten has worked reasonably well for me since until the recent TIA/Pred issues sent it up and beyond your current levels.
I hope the diuretics help & you'll feel a little brighter soon. Kathy x
Thanks Pipalina. I am puzzling about where to fit in the Diuretic. I currently take Thyroxine on an empty stomach and Prednisalone 4 mgs about an hour later. I am advised to take the Diuretic in the morning too. Any idea?
I hope that you are enjoying a stable patch after all you’ve been through.🌺Can BP meds be taken with Pred do you know?
With the pred. The earlier the better to stop the night time trips. I didn't notice extra trips but with diabetes even well controlled a trip or two occurs.
I too take my thyroxine about an hour before eating anything in the morning together with my BP meds followed by my Pred about an hour later. Sorry, no idea about the diuretic - maybe mid morning??
Have been tapering down by 10mg every five days from 70mg given to me by Eye Clinic down to 30mg tomorrow...think I will be relieved to get back to 12.5mg without any further incidents. Haven't quite got to stable as yet Jane!
I would say the Amlodipine, It didn’t agree with me either. Similar symptoms to yours and shortly after starting it my feet and ankles swelled which is a known side effect and GP took me off it. I take Bisoprolol 2.5, Ramipril 2X2.5 and Bendroflumethiazide 2.5 each day. My BP does fluctuate a lot but when averaged over a week is just about acceptable.
I have been PMR free for 5 years and this is my first post on this forum!
Hello and welcome to the forum Melodyvine. Thank you for confirming my suspicions that Amlodipine was the culprit. Last night my BP had dropped to
157/72. This was without any additional meds ( to 50 mgs of Atenolol ). I have a diuretic to try this morning. I would hate to be stuck on more medication because of a blip.
I would be interested to know how you are generally., having been PMR free for 5 years. Do you suspect that it is creeping back?
A separate post about your current situation would be noticed more than a further kind reply to me.
I had a favourite doll that I called Melody Finch 😊.
My experience is taking 5mg of amlodipine twice a day and hydrachlorozide, a diuretic once a day for lowering blood pressure for the past 15 years is just fine. A cardiologist tried to change me to statins, but I seem to be allergic to them. After almost a year of being diagnosed with PMR, I have tapered down to 4mg of prednisone. I do not notice any reaction to the flu shot, which I have every year.
Thanks for this Noosat. I had no idea that Statins were interchangeable with blood pressure meds. Or is it just to reduce the overall risk to the heart?
Well done with your reduction - it has taken me almost 4 years to get there, I hope you keep well!
Not sure if they are interchangeable or just a different way of managing the issue. It has been almost 3 weeks on 4mg., and I have to admit that I often feel exhausted, just soldiering on in the hopes I will feel better eventually.
All the very best Jane . Hope this new treatment of a diuretic is successful. It’s always hard isn’t it when you seem to have one thing after another and then all the symptoms seem mixed up. Hope you have a smoother ride ahead. 🌷
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~ 
It has been almost 3 weeks on 4mg., and I have to admit that I often feel exhausted, just soldiering on in the hopes I will feel better eventually. 
Flu jab
FLU JAB
Flu jab 
flu jab
