Hello all
Long term use of steroids for GCA have given me hypertention. I have tried several meds. for this and all have given me side effects, and now affecting my kidneys.
Anyone else had problems with their blood pressure meds. " Losartan potassium, or Lisinopril ? "
Hello bowler,ritter here,I had high blood pressure before I was diagnosed with GCA and I am on bisoprolol with no side affect it has worked for me apparently it is used by student and the like before they go for exams and I have been on this for about 4 years now. hope this helps,just taken my BP and it was 158/78,not 2 bad.considering how ill I have been in the last 4 weeks,and now on warfarin, good look bowler,kind regards.x
Hello ritter
Thanks for your reply,
I'm sorry but I forgot to mention that I also take bisoprolol at night, and have no side effects from that.
However bisoprolol on it's own doe's not lower my blood pressure that's why I have to take 2 different ones. When I stopped taking the Losartan for a while my blood pressure shot up to 195/75 !!! so had to go back on it, but like i said it's affecting my kidneys. [ catch 22 ]
I saw My GP today and had more blood and urine tests done. She may have to refer me to the hospital.
Isn't life grand???
Hope you continue on the road to recovery
Pat [ bowler ]
Hi Pat, Like some others I also had hypertension before losing sight in one eye due to GCA.
Preds had the effect of dropping bp so replaced one of my bp pills while on high dosage. As
Now down to 2mg per day, back up to 5mg Ramipril, taken in 2 stages after lunch and evening meal, with preds at breakfast only.Sometimes need 2.5mg Andapamide if bp goes above 150 but this is at my own discretion. No big side effects from either of these meds, but everyone is different and the predis the worst for side effects for me. Hope this helps, raymck
Hi raymck Thank you for your reply.
I am waiting to hear the outcome of my blood/urine results from the surgery.
Perhaps the Dr. will try me on a different med. I have never taken Ramipril, or Andapamide before.
There are so many medications for B/P I suppose it's finding the right one, And like you say we are all different,
I know what you mean about the side effects of Pred. I have been taking them for 14 years,!!
Pat
Hi Pat,
Don't mention BP meds as far as I am concerned - my body seems to hate them with a vengence!
The first one - a simple diuretic prescribed by my GP had me hallucinating within 2 hours of taking it. Half an hour later, I fainted. Not good when you're nursing a frail, elderly client. Can't take it again! EVER.
I have been prescribed at least 4 other BP meds and each one has caused totally unacceptable reactions i.e. they put me in bed.
Ramipril at 5mg was fine until day 4 when I awoke to find I was in total pain in arms and legs, and had lost all sensation in both hands and feet. It is written in my medical notes by an anaethiatist that I must never take this drug again, but at half dose - 2.5mg I take it for a few days, then stop, and then resume. Not perfect, I agree, but what do I do? I seem to be in the famous 'catch 22 ' trap. But is there not a light at the end now? ---------------
I have heard there is a new cure, RADIO WAVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Apparently, they just blast your kidneys with these and they cure you - BP back to normal.
Of course, it seems to good to be true, but who knows, perhaps it is the answer. I hope so, because I am so sick of this on-going problem, and with pred making things so much worse.
Pats.
PS it doesn't help that I suffer from 'White coat hypertension' too. Is there any wonder?
Hi Pats and celtic
Cut a long story. I was taking Lisinopril for several years with no side effects, then I came down with a really bad kidney infection in Nov. and was told to come off them.
My blood tests improved without them, but my b/pressure started to get high, so was put back on the Lisinopril at a lower dose, but alas the blood tests wasn't coming back too good again, and this time I was getting chest discomfort/palps, pins and needles in arms,legs and feet, [ which I didn't get before ] so Dr. gave me "Losartan," well they were even worse especially with the chest/palps, and pins and needles.
The blood tests wasn't too good either on the "Losartan" bringing my GFR down to 39 . I have since been told that my GFR has never been that good only in the 40s. yet I was kept on the b/pressure meds.!!! so it seems over the years they have probably been doing their damage to my kidneys, but like you say it's a catch 22
I saw my GP who I thought would refer me to a Urologist, [ she did speak about it the last time I saw her! ] as I am up every 2 hours at night peeing, however she has decided to try me on yet another b/pressure med. "Ibesartan" I started it yesterday [Fri ] so watch this space!
Why are some Dr's reluctant to refer patients to the hospital?? My friend's GP is so different, and is quick to refer, Surely in the long run if something is picked up/diagnosed, it can be treated quicker.
Having recently been on a higher dose of Pred. hasn't helped, as this can raise the b/pressure, and I have been told that taking Pred. over the years had caused my high b/pressure anyway, so another catch 22.
I also have white coat syndrome, and monitor my own b/pressure at home then take the results with me to the surgery, and at one time they didn't believe my readings, and I had to take my monitor in to show them, as it saves the last 6 readings, so they could see I was right.
Like you I am sick of the "devils Drug" which has caused all my problems
Pat
Hello Pats
That could have been me writing your post on the problems you have experienced with BP meds.
I've tried 3 different pills in the past with all of them causing unwanted side effects. I took a Beta Blocker for 3 years during which time I became ill but remained undiagnosed (now believed to have been PMR). Towards the end of that 3 years and having recovered from the undiagnosed illness of the previous year, Chronic Kidney Disease was diagnosed and a kidney consultant switched me from the Beta Blocker to Ramipril. Within several days of starting Ramipril I developed incredible head pain etc, plus a return of the undiagnosed body pain of the previous year, and GCA was diagnosed along with PMR. Coincidental maybe (untreated PMR we know can lead to GCA)......or maybe not, as the inflammation of GCA is in the arteries/blood vessels, and Ramipril (like many other BP meds) widens the arteries/blood vessels to allow the blood to flow through more easily, thereby reducing blood pressure.
I was then prescribed Candesartan but the first obligatory blood test came back showing raised Creatinine. That was stopped and a diuretic was prescribed but having read the accompanying leaflet I feel guilty in saying that it remains unopened in the cupboard.
I tried to avoid the GP at all costs - I even get palpitations whilst sitting in the waiting room and know that the BP will be off the screen by the time he gets the cuff on my arm! On one occasion just over a year ago I attended an appointment for something unrelated to BP and as he'd only taken it a couple of months before, didn't even think about it. However, he sprung it on me and to great surprise it was almost normal at 144/80 - as far as he was concerned the (unopened) packet of diuretics were doing their job!!!
Unfortunately, he has retired and another GP called me in for a review recently - BP was sky high (well a car had just reversed into mine in the surgery car park and driven off!!). Anyway it's remained high at each subsequent check and the 24-hour BP monitor refused to record overnight! Now seeing a renal consultant next week and dreading taking whatever he prescribes.
My friend in Australia had the new treatment you mention with the radio waves a few years ago - she was on a trial so one of the first patients. She is fine BUT she still has to take BP meds! The problem for her previously was not side effects of BP meds but just that her BP didn't respond to them before the surgery. I won't be in line for that treatment I'm sure as I only have one kidney and that has reduced function.
I hope this hasn't bored you but if you've read this far without falling asleep, then you will know that I empathise with everything you have been through. Good luck and take care.
Hi I have fun and games with BP tablets also, I have had them all, the worst one for me was doxidozin I think thats how its spelt that landed me in hospital having had three total blackouts in 24 hours I know other people on it but it didn't suit me, \i was then put on losarten 25mg and 50 mg Atenolol by a consultant cardiologist and havent had a problem since my BP has gone down to 140/56 most days which when you consider it was 230/ 110 before. The cardiologist said it was white coat syndrome and to only visit GP when absolutely necessary!!!!!
Hi Celtic,
No, not asleep, just laughing! What else can we do. I know it's a serious subject, but when I heard about the 'radio wave' treatment, the doctor presenting the program said it's being tried because in most people BP meds just don't work - there are so many problems with them and they can, in many people, ruin their quality of life.
My father, who by the way had PMR, also had, according to his GP, hypertension. He was given various pills to cure it which he never took because, as he said, they make me ill. He lived to be nearly 80 and died of lung cancer.
I know my BP is high sometimes, but often it is low. My partner has told me that when I am going to see the doctor, he can tell because I get very red and blotchy in the face and bad tempered. BP rising?
Pats.
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