I started taking Leflunomide today and know one of the regular things to be monitored is my blood pressure. To save the 8 mile (45 minute) round trip to the GP surgery I was wondering if it was worth me purchasing a monitor. But the choice is bewildering and prices seem to vary considerably. There seems little point if it isn't going to be accurate. (Or accurate enough.)
Does anyone have thoughts/recommendations? TIA.
I'm not in the UK, but reliable devices don't have to cost a fortune. Ours was bought online. You can find some from about £25 or £30 which have good customer reviews. Look on the big A!
My rheumatologist says it is not worth lashing out a lot on BP monitors. I got mine from Amazon. I usually look for the one with a high star rating and lots of reviews. I use a free app called Blood Pressure. Go to Google and type in Blood Pressure App and there are a few you can get for free. I just type in my blood pressure daily and it draws pretty graphs!
When ZOE did a study they recommended this brand - OMRON {one I already have} - so whether they had a vested interest or not I'm not sure.
But I had purchased mine well before [so not the updated one shown in link]- and I chose it because the GP had same model on her desk !
See this link for comparison.. but you probably need to view at pharmacy to see which you like best -
top10bloodpressuremonitors....
Omron site -
I have an Omron. In the days when the surgery was helpful I took it down to compare with theirs when I had BP done.
ditto.. and the replacement one- but as you say in days when helpfulness was around.. 😏
You don't really need an all singing all dancing one and a basic one will do - not too bad and cheaper than petrol in the car! I always get mine from the village chemist - easy to whinge if it goes wrong! But I'm averse to online shopping ...
I have an Omron but you certainly need one with a armband that goes above your elbow (probably not the correct terminology!)
I bought Boots monitor. it seems my surgery uses the same. Perfectly priced and functional.
Thanks everyone. That’s been really helpful. Ordered from boots and collecting tomorrow as we are driving past. And for some reason they gave me a good discount.
A discount - that’s always good..😊
I have an Omron one, I was recommended to buy one that will pick up irregular heart beats which this one does. It is so much useful to take a few readings at home relaxed than the one in the surgery which is inevitably much higher. e
Hi, I have an Omron, which is the same as my surgery use. I also use my smart watch which is calibrated to/with the Omron and regular checks show it's reading is virtually identical to the Omron. The watch also does an ECG.
Hi , I've got one from Boots been on Leflunomide for a month no issues with blood pressure.
I got a Kinetik one from Amazon. Had it for years. It's a wrist monitor as the tops of my arms are very fleshy and hurt and bruise badly with the incorrect size of cuff. I read that the wrist ones are not as accurate but it seems to match my doctors readings so gives me a good idea of what my BP is doing. I've had it for about 10 years now. It takes AA batteries and I use rechargeable ones. I only paid about £20 for it. It does the job x
I've had an Omron for years. As I have white coat syndrom the GP is happy to rely on my readings which I take morning and evening for seven days before I attend any GP or hospital appointment. If they take it at the appointment it simply proves the syndrom!
When I said about the WCS one of my 'long ago' GPs, he rubbished that and said 'well if it goes up for that, it will go up for anything'!
Wasn't a very patient-friendly man!
Maybe should take his own BP!!! Plenty better doctors than him suffer from it in clinic - Sarah Mackie was horrified to discover so does she! In her own clinic ...
I have a St John's Ambulance BP machine which was from Amazon and is pretty accurate and was not expensive. I go through phases of taking my BP when I get up and in the evening and keep a record. My doctor is happy with an average over say 7 to 10 days which I submit on line. You could always go in if you find you are having high BP readings.
Following Which? invetigations into Amazon's copious fake 5* reviews I no longer trust them. I bought mine from the British Heart Foundation web site, hoping that they would only be selling good ones.
Blood pressure 
Very High blood pressure
Blood pressure warning
LOW blood pressure
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