Latent TB and High Blood Pressure

[Dana02]

Did anyone have high blood pressure from the TB medication - Rifinah?

My mom is 63 and she has been taking high blood pressure medicine for over 5 years. She has been diagnosed with latent TB and was given Rifinah + B Vitamin. She has been taking them for nearly 2 weeks, but now her blood pressure is getting high even with the Medicine (180/70) and eventually drops to 160/70, but it is still very high considering she is taking medication for it twice a day. Before starting with Rifinah , the blood pressure was below 140 (130, 120).

I have told her to stop with the antibiotics until Monday when we can speak to the TB nurse)

I am really worried as the high blood pressure is really serious, but also hope that stoping the TB medicine for a couple of days won't give her other side effects.

Thank you,

D

[Deniseelk]

I think it would be wise to call to get medical advice as we are told that we must take the antibiotics daily for them to be effective. I wouldn’t just stop the TB antibiotics. Have you checked the medical advice sheet in the antibiotics as I recall it was very comprehensive about “ side effects”. Also check those of the blood pressure meds. Best of luck.

[Dana02 in reply to Deniseelk]

Thank you Deniseelk. 🙏

[HelenC Partner TB Alert]

Hi Dana02,

Hopefully you have now contacted a doctor? If not, speak to a pharmacist or (if you're in the UK) call NHS 111. You will be able to get the advice you need this way if you haven't got an appointment yet.

Best wishes,

Helen

[Deniseelk]

Hi there, what did you manage to sort out for Mum? How is she doing? How did she find out she had latent TB? Mine was through standard blood tests checking for underlying infections before starting an immunosuppressant drug for Rheumatoid Arthritis.

[Dana02 in reply to Deniseelk]

She is ok now, thank you Deniseelk. She has continued with the antibiotics and hopefully her blood pressure won't raise again.

I was diagnosed with active TB, so all my family was tested and unfortunately my mom was diagnosed with latent TB, but better to discover it while still latent.

Thank you and have a great day,

D

[Deniseelk]

I’m glad she’s doing ok and she’s lucky she has you to keep a close eye on her. Very sorry to hear you had active TB.... that’s a whole other issue / more serious drugs, etc. Do you mind me asking how you found out? Did you have the presumed persistent cough or was it another ailment? I still do not know how I contracted latent TB and it puzzles me still as it is meant to be very hard to contract!

[Dana02 in reply to Deniseelk]

Thanks Deniseelk. I had a persistent cough here and there + wheezing and crackles most of the times. I think I caught it while visiting a friend in hospital - in the Contagious Ward, but not 100%. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be that hard to contract. Hope you are feeling well now. Have you finished the treatment? How long did you have to take antibiotics for?

Thank you for your kind messages.

D

[Deniseelk in reply to Dana02]

I had no symptoms as it was latent. I needed to start an immunosuppressant drug for Rheumatoid Arthritis and as part of the standard blood screening they check for any underlying infections as there is a greater chance of them turning active when on this drug. I was on Rifinah ( antibiotics) for 3 months. Apparently the latent TB is killed off after 2 weeks but they extend the antibiotics to be truly sure it’s gone. They cannot carry out further bloods after as it leaves an “ imprint” that the bacteria has been in your system and would show a false reading. It is possible to contract it again but only ever from someone with active TB. I’m very pleased that whole experience is behind me and very relieved that they detected the latent TB before I started my immunosuppressant drugs! How are you doing as I suspect you need some serious drugs for an extended period of time! We can only be thankful these drugs are available!

[Bowred in reply to Deniseelk]

Hi just read on here what you put up it makes me feel positive as I have Latent hospital going to get in touch with me this week to start medication at time when I was told Felt like my whole world turned upside down

[Dana02]

Dear Diniseelk, glad to hear this experience is behind you and everything was fine.

I am good thank you. I have been really lucky to be diagnosed at an early stage and my body accepted the treatment well. I have got another 2 months of treatment. Yes you are absolutely right. Thank God for the treatment.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Dana

[Deniseelk in reply to Dana02]

Well, in a bad situation that sounds like the best results you can expect. Well done, you are so nearly there to also put all this behind you! Hope mum is doing ok now and i’m sure you will keep a close eye on her. Have a good weekend, too.

[Dana02 in reply to Deniseelk]

Thank you so much, Deniseelk. All the best to you too.

[Deniseelk]

Hi there, was just wondering how Mum was doing now with her blood pressure and taking her Rifinah? Hope all is looking better for her.

[jtallsmith]

Over 180 is a problem and can lead to abdominal aortic aneurysms in men.

170 should not cause any long term problems but I guess it would it might increase a persons risk of having a stroke.

John

[Doossa]

Myopic don’t stop the antibiotics. Same happened to me. My blood pressure was in the 140 and when I started rifinah it shot up to 170, 180. It will drop after treatment but keep an eye

Rifinah according to its leaflet reduces the efficacy of blood pressure medication