Blood Pressure Medication

[Gardener]

Anybody found similar to me that having just started Blood Pressure meds, they upset my stomach and make IBS C worse, also aggravate palpitations, which I also suffer from particularly after food? Oh dear, it’s such a minefield when you have a very sensitive body. Any suggestions welcome, as I am stressed about my recently diagnosed high blood pressure and increased palpitations. x Ros

[Hidden]

Stress won't help your BP or stomach. If you find your stomach doesn't settle down with the BP meds ask for a different medication until you find something that suits you. Mild exercise and dietary changes can also help both. With every medication there are side effects, some people can tolerate and some can not. For those of us who can't tolerate particular meds it becomes trial and error to find meds we can live with. Sometimes we just have to accept being uncomfortable with meds, when the choice is life or death it becomes tolerable.

Cheers

[Wickerman]

I had the opposite, I was put on lisinopril which gave me chronic diarrhoea. I couldn't tolerate any of the ones called ACE inhibitors, which are apparently the usual first choice. They put me on losartan potassium which is an ARB, Angiotensin Receptor Blocker and that worked for me. I would go back to your doctor and explain, there are other medications out there.

[fibnum]

My experience with BP meds was that they led to gas buildup and bloating which led to Afib. Other factors were in play, I'm sure, such as diet and the need for exercise, which I have dealt with, the formula for avoiding Afib and controlling gas seems to have included: no gluten or excessive-gas-producing foods, exercise, no alcohol, 35-pound weight loss and, yes, getting off of most of my BP meds.

[drax83]

I have had bad griping pains, intermittent normal to explosive ones ever since I was put on Doxazosin, my doctor who should no better wanted me to take Andlopene to, which I refused, as know there many problems with that particular one. My ibs is particularly affected by medications. I don't really know what to do, as the doctor I have, has a not good relationship, because she keeps interfering with my Diazapam I been on many decades for GPD and GAD. Ever since too, I been tired to the end, that I just can't be bothered doing things I like doing. My patience is running out really. I had no idea that BP tablets even had an effect on the gut, so grateful for bringing this up👍👍

[azaelea]

Hi Ros, I have just seen your post which relates very much to my situation. I’ve been suffering from bad griping tummy pains and diarrhoea for a while and was sent for Sygmoidoscopy recently after having FIT test etc .fortunately nothing nasty showed up apart from chronic diverticulitis which I’ve had for some years, though nothing like recently. Consultant says diarrhoea and wind and tummy pains are caused by the diverticular disease. Nothing ever mentioned or suggested about IBS. Just left to get on with it. 2 weeks ago my BP suddenly shot up to 200 systolic and Nurse practitioner put e straight back on the BP pills I had come off in March as GP stopped them, saying it was too low. The next day it had plummeted to 75 systolic, so onto another I’d come off, Bendroflumethiazide ! Still all over the place so last week, given yet a different one Indapamide along with the Bendro. I’ve been feeling horrible all week, nausea, shaky legs and am getting an ache in my chest on left , making me wonder if my heart is being affected. The BP has become more regular although still too high. I also have a body that does not like medications! My appointment with nurse not till next Friday to check up. Been back and forward so much recently so much I’m just going to battle on. Haven’t seen a GP since. before the Sygmoidoscopy ! Sorry this is so long, but I know exactly how you feel Ros. Oh also forgot to mention after at least 3 or 4 trips to the loo every morning, urgently. This BP tablet has constipated me and I’ve hardly been this week at all. Hope we both get sorted. Regards, Fran

[drax83 in reply to azaelea]

I have diverticular and IBS, and a hiatus hernia, I have had awful week with with burps and colicky pain early in morning. Used to get quite normal stools up to around 4 weeks ago. Then my bank card had to be changed, in the middle I was trying to pay for a car I bought, but although had correct pass code, bank wouldn't let it go through. Ever since all that I just can't get my tummy back to some normality. I'm a nervous person anyway, so seems I'm in a loop that's hard to break, since I now worry about what is going to go wrong with my banking activities. I mean there are so many stresses now, I waited on PIP help line yesterday 45 blooming minutes, before anybody answered, even then she wanted last payment details, a load of personal stuff before even starting the call. I needed pip certificates to get my blue disablexbadge a tax exemption, full entitlement award, now waiting for all this, with bank holiday in way.... At 72 this digital problem has left me exhausted lately, because I was VHS engineer and analalogue repairer of stuff and 20 years a car mechanic, but car I have now, I struggle to understand 290 pages of unnecessary mountains of sensors and stuff that was never seen or heard off in the eighties. I know I go on, but all this culmination of digital stuff implementation far to fast for us older generation to take in😟😟

[Gardener in reply to drax83]

So sorry to hear of all your anxieties, I’m in your age group too, so understand how you feel. Hope you have a better week.

[drax83 in reply to Gardener]

thank you most kindly😘

[Gardener]

Thank you all for your replies. I’m so sorry everyone is having so much difficulty with BP meds. I’m new to this particular problem, but have stopped taking Amlodipine as I was experiencing terrible palpitations. Waiting to see Clinical Practitioner (what are all the Drs doing?). They tell me being stressed is making it all worse, how not to be I don’t know, also now suffering from another UTI, so feeling sorry for myself. I wish you all well and perhaps sharing any tips on the problems could be helpful.x

[drax83 in reply to Gardener]

Amdlopine has known issues, I won't take it. It was once banned by Canadian health athourities. It's certainly is not for people with IBS

[MatthewU]

If your blood pressure isn't too high maybe try a betablocker instead along with a diet and exercise such as walking will help

[Railman40]

Some BP meds upset the stomach - probably more so for IBS sufferers. I originally had Ramipril but that upset the stomach. Eventually tried Candesartan which didnt affect me. Came off the BP meds for some time but had to go back on them and Candesartan then upset my stomach. Am now on Losartan and Bisoprolol which appear OK - hope you find one that suits.