Anybody here take any blood pressure medications that actually work? Suddenly I am part of the crowd that has high blood pressure. "Here, take this pill...(Lisinopril)"...no effect..."Let's add this one ..(hctz)...nothing..."Let's double this one". Oh yeah, that made me twitchy and got cramps everytime I moved a muscle. Now I'm that guy I always vowed not to be - start every day with a handful of pills, which would be bad enough if they actually did anything. Anybody have a success story I can throw at the doc as a suggestion?

The only one I had that worked was Norvasc. I tried several before this one. They now have a generic version. Different strokes for different folks.

I take Diovan with HCT (hydrochlorothiazide) and diuretic. Mine worked so good my physician had to cut back the dosage. Unfortunately it is not generic, yet.

Medxam

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Doc Garrett
Dead Man's Doctor

HCTZ 25mg and Lotensin 5mg

Benazepril HCL 20 MG

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I drank what? - Socrates

Hyzaar. Been on it for years.

Try a low dose beta blocker. For example, Atenolol, 50 mg. Also gives good protection against myocardial infarction (heart attack). A secondary benefit to us is that it calms the shakes that we pistol shooters have and can help us settle on to target. Please discuss this with your provider. My experience as a former med tech and a long-time patient is that beta blockers in my case are fairly free of side effects.

Well, let's see. . . I take
Amlodipine (10 mg), 1 per day,
Benazepril (40 mg), 1 per day,
Metoprolol (100 mg), 1 per day,
Chlorthadidone (25 mg) - a diuretic, 1/2 per day, and
"Baby" aspirin (81 mg), 1 per day.

My blood pressure is down ALMOST to what my doctor would prefer, even with all this. However, I do smoke a pipe (about 5 per day), which has the opposite effect. But that's a habit I enjoy and won't give up - told the doctor it's a quality of life issue, and I guess he has accepted that.

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Quoth the raven:
"Nevermore"

You didn't say what your weight is. If you are over some pounds lose it and see if that helps. Stop using salt and products that have large amounts of salt. Read the labels.

Red wine..................

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Dom

When you adjust a carb. It takes a few tries to get it right. Unless you are a doc. give yours the benefit of a doubt. He will get you adjusted (via meds) and you will live longer for it and be happier. As an aside Norvasc and Amlodipine are the same thing, don’t fully trust anything you read on the internet over your Dr. that you pay to keep you alive. He only makes money if you are still kick'n Asking for advice is one thing but a hands-on bona-fide Dr. is your best chance at a long life.

To answer your question I take two BP meds and my Dr. constantly changes the dosages.

I was "on" Accupril or one another of the ACE inhibitors for years without a whole lot of results. The croaker finally put me on Benicar an ARB, about 3 years ago and it's like night and day. But there's no generic and it's expensive. The HCT is a diuretic, and if it's 25mg you'll have to pee every ten minutes. I retired last year and have lost 30 lbs.. I attribute that to no fast food, like I ate twice a day on the job. As mentioned if you're overweight lose it. Try to stay away from pills. They're like an albatross, I hate it.

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SOS USA

I was taking Lisinopril for years. Just last week at my check-up the Doc told me I could quit taking it. A change of diet and losing 30 pounds was the magic that worked. I just cut back on snacks and eat more veggies now. The last few times at the Dr. my blood pressure has been in the 117/75 range. GREAT

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USAF Retired IYAAYAS

Mine is maintained with Atenol 25 mg. No side effects. The only time my BP gets up is when a certain person is on TV reading his teleprompter.

This often works, and clears out "bad" chloesterol. It is also cheaper than many of these meds and more enjoyable.

I used to get a newsletter from a California winery that had a doctor's advice column, and it was fascinating.

Not all red wine works. Cabernet sauvignon is one grape that does. I doubt that wines made from Concord grapes is as good. Keep in mind that the famous great wines from Bordeaux use mainly C.s. although they may include Merlot, Cabernet franc, and maybe another one or two in small amounts. Elsewhere, the grape name is usually used. In France, the estate/Chateau name prevails.

Some of the best wine values come from Washington (state) and from Chile.

Ask your doctor if red wine will conflict with your meds. If not, that and a wise diet may be all that's needed. Avoid heavy drinking, smoking, and fried foods. Your blood pressure is a big deal. Don't fool around with lifestyles likely to abuse it.

I know one guy on BP meds and he still eats fried foods! Won't drink wine, either. Has a cultural block about it and says that he can't tell one wine from another. Pity...

Same here, seems to work.

My wife, 54, was put on Lisinopril about two months ago. She works at a Wal-Mart and has access to one of those blood pressure checkers and claims that her blood pressure has improved greatly. I think that the same meds work differently on different people. I kinda like the wine idea myself. wonder about beer? Just joking.
Peace,
gordon

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better have that checked

I take Lotrel or the generic Amlodipine Benazepril and the lowest dose of HCT. Works for me. Was 150 over 100 now 122 over 78 last time I checked.

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LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

My BP was high but low enough to control with the minimal dose of Diovan HCT. Worked so well that I now take the smallest Diovan but without the HCT.

I take Hyzaar with no ill effects.

Don't want to scare you, but sleep loss can screw up BP. I've got an excellent doc, have seen 2 endocrinologists, 1cardiologist, a hematologist, and a sleep specialist. BP is under control, and they have identified the underlying cause.
Listen to your doc, ask to see a specialist if needed. It can take over a year to get the meds right, then other things change and you get to start over. What works for others may not help you at all.

Micardis hct has worked well for me for a number of years. I switched to lisinopril because I could get it via walmart on their $4 program, but three months into it I developed lisinopril cough, so back to the expensive Micardis.

Lisinopril Cough

Not a recommendation, just something to watch for.

HydroChloroThiazide and related medications! Anything which includes HCT in it's name/description.

Several years ago I was prescribed HCT for the usual reasons. After being on it a few days I developed a severe Anti-Histamine reaction, rash, blisters everywhere exposed to the Sun, extreme itching. If you are prescribed HCT and develop these symptoms get to your Doctor and get off the HCT immediately. It took nearly three weeks after getting off the HCT before the symptoms disappeared, and the Doctor said it would be 2-3 days!

Hope this helps someone.

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Gunsmithing since 1961

I have found with mine hctz/lisinopril and a stiff shot of crown royal does the trick. Not sure the crown helps but I ain't taking any chances. It has dropped from 180/120 to 125/82.

Another problem to watch out for, according to my doc, is gout caused by HCT. I was on Micarfdis HCT and am currently recovering from a 10 day gout attack. believe me, you DO NOT want gout! They switched me to straight Micardis, too early to know if it is as good and doesn't cause the gout.

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Old paratrooper in NC

I take a combination of about 4 or 5 and 40mg of a diaretic in the morning and two more in the evening.

Thanks everybody! At least now I have some specifics to question the doc about. I suspect sleep apnea is a contributor, and have a study scheduled in a couple weeks. Working on the weight thing, too ...but, man, BBQ season is just beginning here - still, my goal is to get this under control and be med-free...we'll see!

Hi Trooper, Do you believe this thread US "the baby boomers" talking about fn,,,,meds, anyway I`m on PB meds too and I wonder if it`s giving me Gout. How do you tell and what are the symptoms?
Thanks, Jack

I am 70 years old and just started on bp meds three or four months ago.

All my life, my bp had been about 145/80. Nobody ever got concerned. Now the doc says that has to come way down. I've been losing weight since September, and have lost over 40 lbs. using Weight Watchers.

I purchased a bp machine and take a reading every day and record it. Now I'm taking Lisinopril and Hydrochlorothiazide 10mg/12.5mg. This has lowered that "average down into the 125+ something.

I've noticed that before I take the pill, first thing in the morning, the bp is back up into the 140s. about 8 hours later it is in the 120s. As it get further into the night, is is going back up. The cycle goes on everyday. I can get a low or "high" reading just depending on what time I take my bp.

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G.P. Charlie

This sounds trite, but it's really the best advice. I give these meds everyday at work and they all have their downsides. If faced with a BP, or most any med problem, my first response would be to improve diet and exercise. Any other response, although sometimes necessary, is only attacking the symptom and not the problem.

Chris

8 or 10 years ag my BP went up & my Dr. wrote a prescription for it/ w/ stern warning NOT to drink ruby red grapefruit juice & the medicine brought it down to acceptable levels. When it was time to renew my prescription the Dr. again warned me NOT to drink ruby red so I asked the obvious "Why?" & was told it would make my BP too low. So I asked the next obvious question, "Why not drink the juice & skip the pills?" The Dr. looked dumfounded & said no one had ever asked that before.
For several years I've been drinking a glass every day & my BP is normal. I don't pretend to be a Dr. but this works for me.

+10 on the Atnolol. Have been on it for years with good results. Saw the doc today on an unrelated manor and I was 118/72 with a resting pulse of 56. Not bad seeing as I am pushing 60 and have been ridden hard and put away wet...a lot! (o;

What I do is hang out with The Prince of Peace, and ask Him to be my Head Physician. Flapjack.

At 59 my B/P went through the roof. 160/120 at times.
I changed my diet and exercise routine that helped a great deal, but the Dr. wanted it lower, try 10Mg. Lisinpril hekped some, still not enough. For two years did did the 10Mg. Lispinpril and 12.5Mg. hctz worked very well for me, EXCEPT I ended up with the bladder of an old woman, my god I had to go every hour. It was so bad I had to stop taking it 24 -36 hrs before getting on an airplane. Finally tried 20Mg. Lisinpril Without the hctz and it works great. B/P now runs 110/75.

So don't give up without trying several combinations of meds. Best of luck!!

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Always Stay Strong!

I used to have high blood pressure. I was put on an unrelated medication to treat another condition, which had the side effect of making me lose a lot of weight. That also returned my blood pressure to normal.

Yeah, I've been taking BP pills for about three years now. It averages around 128/88.

I have yet to be convinced that someone my age (63) should have exactly the same BP that you did when you were 19. I remember going through my physical prior to basic training ( I was 19) and the nurse said my BP was perfect at 120/80. My doc now says that is where he wants me as well. Huh? My body is not the same as it was back then. My weight is about the same at 165 lbs, but everything else is different.

Like Gutpile says above, my BP changes throughout the day, some days I don't even take a pill and it stays about the same.

Good thing I don't pay any more than 4 bucks at walmart or I might drop it altogether. Besides, I'm getting more and more leery about putting things through my body nowadays.

But then, I can get old and cranky.

Good for you! Same here (I lost 35 lbs. and don't need it for HBP), only thing is that my body is used to the diuretic properties of the pill and I retain fluids without it. Doc and I are working on a natural remedy. Good luck to all....

Scott

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Huntsville, AL

I have been on blood pressure meds for only one year. Stared with lisinopril which worked well, but I developed a cough that got so bad I could not stand it. This is a known side effect of this med. After being on 2 or 3 other meds, I am now on Avapro which seems to be working Ok and no side effects - other than on my wallet as it is not a generic so is more costly.

High blood pressure is better than no blood pressure...

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In dog years I'm dead.

My blood pressure was great until last year.For some reason it went from normal to a constant 185/125.No wonder I had headaches every day for almost a year.
The VA doctor was the one that found the high BP and I ended up in the emergency room that day for CT scans to make sure I didn't have any bleeding in my 62 year old noggin.Scary day for me.Made me realize that when your body gives you warning signs (headaches every day) that you had better get them looked at.
My Doc put me on Benicar/HCT and my BP went down to 120/70.
After a few months on Benicar I was getting bad lower abdominal pains so he changed me to 20/mg Lisinopril and 12.5/mg HCT once a day and my BP is still holding at 120/70 with no side effects.

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U.S. Army Viet Nam Vet '68-69'

I take Benecar. I alternate the pills with and without HCT every other day. If I don't do it that way I wind up dehydrated.

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SOS USA

I eat rafts of bacon and drink a gob of coffee.
The way I understand it, you need the high blood pressure to push that cholesterol out.

Seriously though, I ran into the same thing when I quit smoking and put on weight. Even though I know if I lost the extra 30 pounds, ate better and exercised regularly my problem would be solved, it's easier to take a pill.

Which leads to my pet peeve about health care - we don't want better health care as it would require our input and effort and we would be partially responsible for the success or failure. Studies show time and again that we are our own worst enemy. Diet and exercise. Diet and exercise will cure most of what ails all of us. But do we listen? Hell no. We want "easy".
Some take the extreme measure of suing restaurants for making fatty foods available - like we have no choice in the matter or no control over our own minds.
What we want is more, better and cheaper drugs that will give us the ability to gorge ourselves on our vices and not have to deal with the consequences of our actions. And that last statement was indeed intended to sound a whole lot like a flashback to the drug-crazed 60's and 70's.

You can take this with a "grain of salt". Doctors are practicing physicians. Unfortunately they practice on you. Get a BP gizmo so you can check your pressure at home. Take it with you to the doctor to make sure it's calibrated correctly, as in match your readings on your gizmo with his machine. I took accupril along with several other meds (one at a time) that end in "pril") for a long time (years) without much result. They are classified as ACE inhibitors. I finally was switched to Benicar which is an ARB. Both of these I'm told have the effect of making your arteries more flexible to compensate for hardening of them as you grow older. I do not rely on anything out there on the web. That said you can do some research on what you are prescribed and what to expect. I'd give any new meds at least a couple months to give a reliable test. Then after tracking your BP, if your current med doesn't work demand a new approach from your doctor. Every medication you take is gonna have some effect on you. You have to learn to live with it. Losing weight is the best approach. It's a boring PIA I know. Butt your hips and knees may last a lifetime along with a lot of other stuff.

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SOS USA

Accupril(Quinapril), 10 mg for the last 17 years. I also take Plavix, Vytorin, and an asprin. I have one coronary stint. Heart disease runs in my Dad's family. One of the best medicines, is "don't worry, be happy." Angry paranoids don't have a good prognosis.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

Generic Norvasc does the trick for me.