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Lowering Blood Pressure Meds?

LisaEileen
LisaEileen Posts: 185 Member
in Social Groups
If you're on bp meds and it's keeping your readings in normal range, how do you know when it's time to lower or drop them altogether? I've been on meds since 2007. I've lost 23 pounds recently. When I take my readings at home, they are very low/normal. Around 115/65. I get light headed at times and recently have been getting headaches. I have terrible white coat syndrome and my bp skyrockets when they take it. I wish I could just relax when I'm there so it doesn't do that! Because of the high readings at the office, my doctor won't even consider trying to decrease my meds even though my readings at home are low. I was on 40mgs of Lisinopril 2x a day and hydrochlorthiazide (sp?) 1x a day. I hate to admit this, but I cut out my pm dose of Lisinopril without Dr. approval about 2 months ago because I was sick of feeling so lousy. I felt better after that. But, now I'm starting to feel dizzy and headachy at times again which makes me think my meds need to be lowered again. BTW, after I cut out that pm dose, my readings stayed about the same as I stated above, about 115/65. They were lower than that many times before I cut out the pm dose. Besides switching doctors, what would you do if you were in my shoes? Switching doctors isn't an easy thing to do since I'm on Medicaid insurance. I never had high blood pressure until my weight went over 180 pounds. I'm right at 180 right now. Not sure if that makes a difference or not. Any suggestions?

Replies

  • ronaldmcyd
    ronaldmcyd Posts: 54 Member
    these are known side effects of the medicine. Talk to your doctor about switching meds. I wish I could help more, I would suggest googleing what happens when you stop taking them.
  • ronaldmcyd
    ronaldmcyd Posts: 54 Member
    FYI I'm on the same meds and have the same side effects, same type of situation actually
  • ScottFree_66
    ScottFree_66 Posts: 200
    I also get white coat syndrome... I have had high bp since about 1998. I log the bp readings I take at home and show them to my doctor.


    I woiuld tell the doctor the meds are effecting your quality of life and you would appreciate if if he would consider either changing the meds or lower them. Remember, he works for you, and there are a lot of other medicines out there.

    116/65 is a healthy bp... anything over 110/70 is considered Prehypertension. My doctor is ok with letting my bp be around 120/80 or a little higher... another thing to consider, is the time of day your taking your bp. your medications don't take effect immeadiately... they are typically time released. so your morning medicine is effecting your afternoon bp while your evening meds are effect your nighttime bp.
  • shvits
    shvits Posts: 249 Member
    You might need to change your dose, but your symptoms suggest that you may be low in Potassium. Are you eating a banana and or an orange daily? Fresh fruit is better then juice as less calories. Look on line for a list of other foods high in potassium. HCTZ causes you to loose potassium and your doc may have forgotten that small bit of information that is VERY important. K(potassium) keeps your heart beating. You can feel bad when it is low. Your blood pressure looks good and I wouldn't mess with the dose yet.

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