Further To My 24Hr Blood Pressure Cuff......

[kylesmum]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Body-and-Soul/Question1237141.html

I was prescribed Lisinopril 10mg as my average was 164/70.

I have been back to my Doc for a blood test for kidney function.

I am back again on Friday to see how the medication is doing with a view to upping the dosage to 20mg daily.

It isn't decreasing. I have also bought a home BP monitor and to my mind the meds aren't doing anything apart from making me very tired and weepy.

Anyone else found this with Lisinopril ? Also can anyone say from experience if this is just the start of a long journey to stabilise my BP, perhaps with other meds added into the mix?

I have a healthy lifestyle although my cholestoral is also high (that's next to be dealt with)

I'm a tad stressed with this, my GP is adamant , in a nice way, that it's genetic and I ought to stop worrying and to look upon this as an insurance policy.It's difficult to stop stressing though.

No heart disease in my family apart from my elder brother having a very unexpected heart attack when he was 40.He's been fine since.

Any help or personal experiences would be appreciated. Thank you .

[Sqad]

This indeed going to be a "trial and error" period of BP stabilisation which may take weeksmor months to accomplish depending upon your response.

Lisinopril is what is know as an ACE inhibitor........you don't really need to know that, but Google it if your are keen ;-)

Yes it will take time...you will feel weepy and tired until your body is accustomed to the drug, so persevere.

Depending upon the response of your BP you may even have to "up the dose" or even add another drug to the regime e.g beta blocker, but your doctor will decide depending upon your initial response.

You are starting a lifetime of BP control and it will extend your life.

[Matheous-2]

I think you probably feel the way I do KM - I refuse to accept that there's nothing you can do except 'keep taking the tablets'....I am determined to reduce my BP one way or another. I can't help thinking that GPs are receiving some sort of gratuity for pushing certain drugs....(sorry about the word 'pushing') I'm sure that many drug trials and favourable findings are sponsored by the big pharmaceuticals.
I have also made drastic changes to my diet - which is soon to be followed by a fitness regime to lose weight. There is huge amounts of literature on this subject although there are some really 'hard sell' websites which will bulldoze you on to 30minute video clips finishing with a discounted book offer!
There are some good videos on Netflix and one book I have (Kindle) is titled "The High Blood Pressure Solution" by Richard D. Moore M.D. which is pretty thorough on the subject. At the very least, I would be delighted to be able to stop taking one of the two tablets I'm currently taking....

[kylesmum]

Thanks Sqad for your very reassuring answer, I will persevere with it as the potential consequences far outweigh any of the side effects. BTW...I did google ACE inhibitors, still none the wiser ;)

Matheous, thanks so much for taking the time to reply.I'm at the denial stage, I know it's not a big issue compared with what other people go through but it doesn't half give you a start when you think you're treating your body pretty well and it lets you down !
I'll follow my GP's advice atm until it can be stablised then look to testing alternative practices as, like yourself, I really didn't foresee being on BP and potentially cholesterol tabs for life.
I shall have a look at the book you've recommended.
Docs tomorrow for Round 2...ding ding :)

Thanks both for your very helpful replies.

[EdmundD]

I sympathise. I was taken aback last year to find I had high blood pressure and high cholesterol. My GP simply prescribed Amlopidine for the BP and Simvastin for the cholesterol. No dialog about diet, exercise, alcohol, etc., just take the pills. After a few weeks of this regime I had a number of side effects and my GP stopped the Amlopidine and switched me to Ramipril for BP. I stopped taking the Simvastin as that seemed to be the major source of the side effects. Since then my BP is around 145/80 and I have tried to have a healthier diet and lifestyle. I feel a lot better without the Simvastin.

[Sir Alec]

I have been on Adizem XL 300 for about 15 years, yet my BP remained high. The GP recently added in Ramipril 5mg and my BP is now the best it's been for 20 years. There are heart problems on both sides of my family, so it's important for my BP to be stabilised.

[Sqad]

Sir Alec........good move by your GP.BP lowering combinations are becoming more and more common..