Blood pressure tablets
Discussion
When I was 38 I was 'borderline' around 140/90 about the norm for me. Not particular fit but not particularly fat either. Big family history against me. I was tried on 3 different meds (amlodipine, lisinopril & indapamide) but none did much until they were all combined in smallish doses.
I'm now 46, still on the same doses and suffered no side effects whatsoever, even at the beginning. I'm solid 120/80 these days, or even lower. Exercise is tricky after a couple of very bad knee injuries playing rugby as a teenager but I do try to go for 5 mile+ walks twice a week, which I enjoy.
Was reluctant to go on meds in my late 30's but glad I did as I'm in heart attack country these days!
As an aside, I think one of them meds is derived from the venom of a Brazilian snake!
I'm now 46, still on the same doses and suffered no side effects whatsoever, even at the beginning. I'm solid 120/80 these days, or even lower. Exercise is tricky after a couple of very bad knee injuries playing rugby as a teenager but I do try to go for 5 mile+ walks twice a week, which I enjoy.
Was reluctant to go on meds in my late 30's but glad I did as I'm in heart attack country these days!
As an aside, I think one of them meds is derived from the venom of a Brazilian snake!
They can exacerbate Erectile Dysfunction, although weight, fitness and stress will do that too, and did with me. Being prescribed Cialis was a godsend for my psyche, although it didn't do much for the towel rail's self image...
I'd use the tablets to get the Blood Pressure under control, then look at the underlying causes of health and stress. Feel free to PM if you want to know more.
I'd use the tablets to get the Blood Pressure under control, then look at the underlying causes of health and stress. Feel free to PM if you want to know more.
I was on medication for raised BP and getting some quite severe leg cramps which were getting an unsympathetic reception from the other side of the bed due to me thrashing about. The GP joked that he was treating her as well as me when he prescribed Quinine Sulphate* which has certainly helped a lot.
- I don't care. It's still sulphate to me.
Been on three so far.
1) gave me horrendous paranoia ; Amlodipine
2) gave me a terrible tickly throat and cough to the point I struggle sleeping ; Ramipril
3) doesn't seem to effected me adversely ; Losartan
Still not quite where it needs to be but then I've only just found out I have sleep apnoea too so that's not helping.
1) gave me horrendous paranoia ; Amlodipine
2) gave me a terrible tickly throat and cough to the point I struggle sleeping ; Ramipril
3) doesn't seem to effected me adversely ; Losartan
Still not quite where it needs to be but then I've only just found out I have sleep apnoea too so that's not helping.
A friend recommended this product "Fruit Flow"....did some reading and have started taking it myself. Natural product which for me is good although obv makes you cynical whether it works but there's a lot of scientific evidence backing it up looking at the website.
https://www.fruitflowplus.com/
https://www.fruitflowplus.com/
So I spend quite a lot of time prescribing these - interesting discussion. My 2p below - conflict of interest - I do feel strongly about treating high blood pressure...
1) Unless your BP is really high, taking the tablets won't make you feel any better as most people don't notice anything when they have high blood pressure. This is about preventing future events (and particularly stroke).
2) The risk of cardiovascular disease (and specifically stroke) goes up very steeply with blood pressure so even small decreases in BP are worth it. I would (and will when the time comes) happily take a drug that reduced my stroke risk by even a small amount.
3) Lifestyle measures are always worthwhile but unless your lifestyle is really poor at baseline it probably won't make a big enough difference to avoid tablets for many patients in the long-term.
4) Therefore needing treatment isn't defeat. Nor is needing more than 1 tablet (I have patients taking 4 or 5...)
5) The way side-effect leaflets are generated isn't particularly scientific - patients in studies are asked to note down anything they notice. This is a key part of making sure drugs are safe and monitoring them. Problem is this - as a bloke in my late 30s, not a couple of days go by without some odd twinge or ache. It might only last a few seconds and I don't write it down. But if I was asked to write down everything that happens, I'll quickly have a long list of an aching knee (monday evening), itchy ear (tuesday morning), watery eye (wednesday lunchtime) etc. If I was in a trial all this would get written down and form a list of things to accompany the drug. Actually what is more scientific is to look at what the symptoms are in patients in a trial getting the drug and subtract the symptoms from people getting a placebo (fake drug) but this isn't what generally happens despite this being the symptoms due to the tablet.
6) Which tablet you take is less important than getting the BP down - i.e. it is the result not the mechanism - though we have protocols for which we think are most effective. So asking for a different tablet if one doesn't agree with you is a very reasonable strategy.
1) Unless your BP is really high, taking the tablets won't make you feel any better as most people don't notice anything when they have high blood pressure. This is about preventing future events (and particularly stroke).
2) The risk of cardiovascular disease (and specifically stroke) goes up very steeply with blood pressure so even small decreases in BP are worth it. I would (and will when the time comes) happily take a drug that reduced my stroke risk by even a small amount.
3) Lifestyle measures are always worthwhile but unless your lifestyle is really poor at baseline it probably won't make a big enough difference to avoid tablets for many patients in the long-term.
4) Therefore needing treatment isn't defeat. Nor is needing more than 1 tablet (I have patients taking 4 or 5...)
5) The way side-effect leaflets are generated isn't particularly scientific - patients in studies are asked to note down anything they notice. This is a key part of making sure drugs are safe and monitoring them. Problem is this - as a bloke in my late 30s, not a couple of days go by without some odd twinge or ache. It might only last a few seconds and I don't write it down. But if I was asked to write down everything that happens, I'll quickly have a long list of an aching knee (monday evening), itchy ear (tuesday morning), watery eye (wednesday lunchtime) etc. If I was in a trial all this would get written down and form a list of things to accompany the drug. Actually what is more scientific is to look at what the symptoms are in patients in a trial getting the drug and subtract the symptoms from people getting a placebo (fake drug) but this isn't what generally happens despite this being the symptoms due to the tablet.
6) Which tablet you take is less important than getting the BP down - i.e. it is the result not the mechanism - though we have protocols for which we think are most effective. So asking for a different tablet if one doesn't agree with you is a very reasonable strategy.
ikeepbuyingd5s said:
So I spend quite a lot of time prescribing these - interesting discussion. My 2p below - conflict of interest - I do feel strongly about treating high blood pressure...
1) Unless your BP is really high, taking the tablets won't make you feel any better as most people don't notice anything when they have high blood pressure. This is about preventing future events (and particularly stroke).
2) The risk of cardiovascular disease (and specifically stroke) goes up very steeply with blood pressure so even small decreases in BP are worth it. I would (and will when the time comes) happily take a drug that reduced my stroke risk by even a small amount.
3) Lifestyle measures are always worthwhile but unless your lifestyle is really poor at baseline it probably won't make a big enough difference to avoid tablets for many patients in the long-term.
4) Therefore needing treatment isn't defeat. Nor is needing more than 1 tablet (I have patients taking 4 or 5...)
5) The way side-effect leaflets are generated isn't particularly scientific - patients in studies are asked to note down anything they notice. This is a key part of making sure drugs are safe and monitoring them. Problem is this - as a bloke in my late 30s, not a couple of days go by without some odd twinge or ache. It might only last a few seconds and I don't write it down. But if I was asked to write down everything that happens, I'll quickly have a long list of an aching knee (monday evening), itchy ear (tuesday morning), watery eye (wednesday lunchtime) etc. If I was in a trial all this would get written down and form a list of things to accompany the drug. Actually what is more scientific is to look at what the symptoms are in patients in a trial getting the drug and subtract the symptoms from people getting a placebo (fake drug) but this isn't what generally happens despite this being the symptoms due to the tablet.
6) Which tablet you take is less important than getting the BP down - i.e. it is the result not the mechanism - though we have protocols for which we think are most effective. So asking for a different tablet if one doesn't agree with you is a very reasonable strategy.
Great to have that informed view. Plus today I had my BP taken at the docs and always happy to get 110/82 precisely because of the tablets I am on. 1) Unless your BP is really high, taking the tablets won't make you feel any better as most people don't notice anything when they have high blood pressure. This is about preventing future events (and particularly stroke).
2) The risk of cardiovascular disease (and specifically stroke) goes up very steeply with blood pressure so even small decreases in BP are worth it. I would (and will when the time comes) happily take a drug that reduced my stroke risk by even a small amount.
3) Lifestyle measures are always worthwhile but unless your lifestyle is really poor at baseline it probably won't make a big enough difference to avoid tablets for many patients in the long-term.
4) Therefore needing treatment isn't defeat. Nor is needing more than 1 tablet (I have patients taking 4 or 5...)
5) The way side-effect leaflets are generated isn't particularly scientific - patients in studies are asked to note down anything they notice. This is a key part of making sure drugs are safe and monitoring them. Problem is this - as a bloke in my late 30s, not a couple of days go by without some odd twinge or ache. It might only last a few seconds and I don't write it down. But if I was asked to write down everything that happens, I'll quickly have a long list of an aching knee (monday evening), itchy ear (tuesday morning), watery eye (wednesday lunchtime) etc. If I was in a trial all this would get written down and form a list of things to accompany the drug. Actually what is more scientific is to look at what the symptoms are in patients in a trial getting the drug and subtract the symptoms from people getting a placebo (fake drug) but this isn't what generally happens despite this being the symptoms due to the tablet.
6) Which tablet you take is less important than getting the BP down - i.e. it is the result not the mechanism - though we have protocols for which we think are most effective. So asking for a different tablet if one doesn't agree with you is a very reasonable strategy.
My grandmother was dead at 47 and my uncle at 57, both of strokes. I bet they would have happily taken the drugs given the chance.
Read up some more on "Fruit Flow" there seems to be decent science behind it
http://provexis.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IJF...
http://provexis.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IJF...
Cheib said:
A friend recommended this product "Fruit Flow"....did some reading and have started taking it myself. Natural product which for me is good although obv makes you cynical whether it works but there's a lot of scientific evidence backing it up looking at the website.
https://www.fruitflowplus.com/
Having reading this, it does rather seem like it is a Mediterranean diet in a pill. Why not just eat healthy? Tomatoes & oily fish, which have been a recommendation for years. https://www.fruitflowplus.com/
The_Doc said:
Talk this over with your GP.
some people get zero side effects
Some people can get their borderline blood pressure back into range by losing weight, reducing salt intake, regular exercise and healthy lifestyle. None of which have any side effects.
Sounds good, but is reducing salt still being recommended? https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/...some people get zero side effects
Some people can get their borderline blood pressure back into range by losing weight, reducing salt intake, regular exercise and healthy lifestyle. None of which have any side effects.
GT03ROB said:
Cheib said:
A friend recommended this product "Fruit Flow"....did some reading and have started taking it myself. Natural product which for me is good although obv makes you cynical whether it works but there's a lot of scientific evidence backing it up looking at the website.
https://www.fruitflowplus.com/
Having reading this, it does rather seem like it is a Mediterranean diet in a pill. Why not just eat healthy? Tomatoes & oily fish, which have been a recommendation for years. https://www.fruitflowplus.com/
Collectingbrass said:
They can exacerbate Erectile Dysfunction, although weight, fitness and stress will do that too, and did with me.....
Yup, I had this amongst many other side effects in the 4 years it took to get a sensible cocktail that worked. Coughing, cramps, mood swings, insomnia, all sorts.My worst unmedicated reading was 240/160 - it's now a fairly stable 130/90 on a cocktail of 5, one of which is a statin to mitigate the potential cholesterol increase from one of the other pills.
As has been mentioned, you won't feel any different when taking the pills (assuming you've tested for side effects) but the risk of stroke is reduced.
I have a feeling I'm going to be joining you on BP medication.
Found out at the weekend that mine was 155/73, and remember from a gym induction a few months back the guy saying I had a high BP, so not the first time.
I'm only 30 so hadn't ever paid attention to it before.
But I'm not overweight, BMI is 21 (healthy range is 18.5 to 25
I exercise 3-4 times a day.
I don't drink during the week, and have about 4 glasses of wine on avg over a weekend.
Cook meals from scratch so no excessive salt being used
I get 7-8 hours sleep a night.
I do smoke occasionally, so that works against me (maybe 4 on a Saturday night) but none during the week.
I do drink coffee every morning.
Bit apprehensive about going to the GP and getting out on medication for the rest of my life.
Found out at the weekend that mine was 155/73, and remember from a gym induction a few months back the guy saying I had a high BP, so not the first time.
I'm only 30 so hadn't ever paid attention to it before.
But I'm not overweight, BMI is 21 (healthy range is 18.5 to 25
I exercise 3-4 times a day.
I don't drink during the week, and have about 4 glasses of wine on avg over a weekend.
Cook meals from scratch so no excessive salt being used
I get 7-8 hours sleep a night.
I do smoke occasionally, so that works against me (maybe 4 on a Saturday night) but none during the week.
I do drink coffee every morning.
Bit apprehensive about going to the GP and getting out on medication for the rest of my life.
Greshamst said:
I have a feeling I'm going to be joining you on BP medication.
Found out at the weekend that mine was 155/73, and remember from a gym induction a few months back the guy saying I had a high BP, so not the first time.
I'm only 30 so hadn't ever paid attention to it before.
But I'm not overweight, BMI is 21 (healthy range is 18.5 to 25
I exercise 3-4 times a day.
I don't drink during the week, and have about 4 glasses of wine on avg over a weekend.
Cook meals from scratch so no excessive salt being used
I get 7-8 hours sleep a night.
I do smoke occasionally, so that works against me (maybe 4 on a Saturday night) but none during the week.
I do drink coffee every morning.
Bit apprehensive about going to the GP and getting out on medication for the rest of my life.
I felt like this but I was a bit older than you and as not in as good nick. But not bad nick. But I have a massively family history of it, if your genes are against you not much you can do. Except take the medicine. Look back at the Dr's response earlier, I'd agree wholeheartely.Found out at the weekend that mine was 155/73, and remember from a gym induction a few months back the guy saying I had a high BP, so not the first time.
I'm only 30 so hadn't ever paid attention to it before.
But I'm not overweight, BMI is 21 (healthy range is 18.5 to 25
I exercise 3-4 times a day.
I don't drink during the week, and have about 4 glasses of wine on avg over a weekend.
Cook meals from scratch so no excessive salt being used
I get 7-8 hours sleep a night.
I do smoke occasionally, so that works against me (maybe 4 on a Saturday night) but none during the week.
I do drink coffee every morning.
Bit apprehensive about going to the GP and getting out on medication for the rest of my life.
It seems less 'manly' to admit any kind of physical 'defect'. But we all have them and taking the meds are a whole lot better than dropping dead in your 40's or 50's.
My cousin's ex husband had terrible genes in his family. For his stag do we went go karting, his cousin set off a great speed but didn't turn the first corner, didn't even attempt to and hit the bales of hay. We rushed over and he was dead. Not dying but dead. The autopsy showed a massive coronary incident and he was 38. His dad died at 43 of exactly the same thing.
When I was told about 10 years later I needed meds, I took them but still felt a bit uneasy about it, even seeing that a decade before.
I'm due to have the 24 hour BP monitor fitted towards the end of the month. Was found to have high blood pressure when visiting the docs about 18 months ago, figure around 150/90, though it tends to be a good bit lower at home (hate going to see the Dr - nice though he is). I was offered the monitor at that time but didn't take it up. Since then, I've been trying to eat better, exercise more and manage stress more effectively, though I wasn't starting from a bad baseline. I'm 37, 5ft 10", about 11.5 stone currently.
I'm fairly terrified about taking meds but realise I may need them. Has anyone had problems with their car insurance over taking such medication? If I couldn't drive for a time then I'd likely lose my job, which is unsurprisingly adding to my angst over the whole thing.
I'm fairly terrified about taking meds but realise I may need them. Has anyone had problems with their car insurance over taking such medication? If I couldn't drive for a time then I'd likely lose my job, which is unsurprisingly adding to my angst over the whole thing.
Those 24 hour monitors are dreadful. It is impossible to relax or sleep with the little f
ker going off on one every fifteen minutes. I don't know how anyone expects a representative reading out of them. Maybe that is the aim.
My experience with the pills was a selection that did nothing (Cozaar, Cozaar Comp), some that caused insufferable tingling of the head (Candesartan), and a brief foray into statins which boxed my kidneys and damaged my eyes and God knows what else that they cannot see or don't check for, until finally lifestyle changes and low dose of Felodipine.
I would recommend the lifestyle changes.
ker going off on one every fifteen minutes. I don't know how anyone expects a representative reading out of them. Maybe that is the aim.My experience with the pills was a selection that did nothing (Cozaar, Cozaar Comp), some that caused insufferable tingling of the head (Candesartan), and a brief foray into statins which boxed my kidneys and damaged my eyes and God knows what else that they cannot see or don't check for, until finally lifestyle changes and low dose of Felodipine.
I would recommend the lifestyle changes.
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