Fifty Plus (50+) - Hypertension / blood pressure medications? If you're taking what's yours?

I just got diagnosed with hypertension today, that and cervical radiculopathy (nasty). However that's as maybe.

I'm curious -- if any of you are taking blood pressure medications? and whether you are OK with them. Sites I have checked so far, folk are not too happy with DiovanHCT which is what I have been given. But then, human nature is usually to post up only if the medication is a problem. Conversely, usually if it works, on goes on one's merry way.

So, anyone out there taking BP meds, or even Diovan? What are your experiences? (Understood things work differently for everyone.)

attenalol, 25 mg per day, down from 50 because I've been good and have ridden my bike a lot. I can't seem to get down to 0 because I get cranky.

Atenolol 75mg daily and hopefully I will get the doc convinced to reduce it to 50 or even 25 on my next visit with her. BP has been low or at normal level for over a month and half since getting back on the bike.

I don't have hypertension, but have a leaky aortic valve. I take Toprol XL(beta blocker) and Lisinopril (ACE inhibitor) so I don't get so much backwash through the valve into my heart. My BP stays below 120/70, even immediately after exercise.

Beta blockers can cause dizziness and anxiety, so the first two weeks I took 1/2 a pill a day to get used to it. I also take it right before bed, which I think helps because if it makes me dizzy I'm already laying down or asleep.

Your dr may have other suggestions. Listen to her, not us!

Good luck!

c~

I take diovan and I take hcl, but no way would I take them in the same pill.

I monitor my BP carefully, and I adjust my hcl as I find my BP changing in some fashion.

I also buy the diovan in a double dose and cut it in half, saving mucho on insurance deductibles.

This bit about 2 meds in one pill is just a gimmick.

I have no side effects from the Diovan, but the hcl makes me go to the potty, and too much makes me dizzy.

I get terrible coughing from an Ace Inhibitor (which is a known side effect).

I take a diuretic (HCTZ, 25 mg) and an ACE inhibitor, (lisinopril, 10mg). I'm still getting regulated. With just the HCTZ I was around 140 over 80. A couple of years ago, they would have been satisfied with those numbers. Now they want you below 130 over 70. Minor coughing (only when exerting myself) and noticably more urination and have to pay attention to drinking enough on the bike. Other than that, no problems. Beats a stroke or kidney failure, good on you for paying attention and seeing the dog. I mean doc.

Where do i start? I take:
Diovan 80mg
Atenolol 100 mg
HCTZ 25 mg
Lipitor 10 mg
Aggranox 200/25

Was just on the Atenolol prior to a stroke in 2004. The rest have been added since then. I really don't do enough riding (that's what I keep telling my wife anyway). The combination of stuff makes me feel tired... but just getting out on the bike ( forcing myself sometimes) makes me feel great. Doc had me on 160mg Diovan....i slept most of the time lol.

Although i don't like to take the stuff, it is better than the alternative... following my stroke i had to relearn all the important life skills...tying shoes, using buttons, walking, riding a bike, and to my wife's regret, playing the banjo!

The atenolol does limit my HR.... but so does a fatal stroke or heart attack.

Pete

lisinopril 10mg per day, when I remember to take it. Seems to work with no side effects.

Atenolol, 50 mg/day. We tried to cut it to 25 mg. but I found my stoopid bp went up at that dosage. I had been hoping to get off it altogether, but not yet.

I've lost 76 pounds since June 2005 and I thought with a healthy diet and exercise, (you know, the secret ingredients to weight loss) most especially the bike riding, I could be drug free. I've got about 25 pounds to go, so maybe when I achieve that, I can deep six the meds.

Hyzaar. I'm prescribed the 100mg dosage, but at doctor's suggestion, I got a pill splitter, and so am taking the smaller dosage. I've been taking this stuff for about 10 years with no observable side effects. Buying the large dose and splitting it lets you choose between getting the stuff at essentially half price and ratholing a bunch in case the job and company assisted health insurance go south.

100 mg. Metoprolol daily, a Beta-blocker. I believe this is the generic for Lopressor.
Haven't noticed any of the side effects other than an overly carefree attitude the first couple of weeks.
It takes both the medication and routine exercise to keep my high BP in control.

So, anyone out there taking BP meds, or even Diovan? What are your experiences? (Understood things work differently for everyone.)

I'm 56 and a new Dr about a year ago put me on a low dose Altace (ACE inhibitor), then in January he switched me to Micardis (angiotensis II receptor blocker). With the Altace, I had no symptoms. With the Micardis, I had back pain that I think was related to this drug. Since March I've lost 20 pounds and stopped taking all prescription meds (had also been on Crestor for cholesterol for 3 months end of last year). BP has stayed below 130/85 with the reduction in weight/increase in cycling mileage. No more back pain, so I will stay off the micardis even I have to take BP meds in the future. High BP and cholesterol run in my family.

Like Bobkat, I take 10 mg Lisinopril per day.

I have never been more than a few pounds overweight and I was exercising regularly before I was diagnosed with high BP so I can' say if riding the bike has affected my BP, but it sure can't hurt, my resting heart rate is below 40 BPM. I think my hypertension is related to my sleep apnea, which is discussed in another thread in BF.

I just got diagnosed with hypertension today, that and cervical radiculopathy (nasty). However that's as maybe.

I'm curious -- if any of you are taking blood pressure medications? and whether you are OK with them. Sites I have checked so far, folk are not too happy with DiovanHCT which is what I have been given. But then, human nature is usually to post up only if the medication is a problem. Conversely, usually if it works, on goes on one's merry way.

So, anyone out there taking BP meds, or even Diovan? What are your experiences? (Understood things work differently for everyone.)

May I ask what your resting blood pressure is without medication and what values the Dr. hopes to achieve with the medicine?

Lipitor, 40 MG. Been taking it for 20 years or so.

Al

lisinopril 10mg per day, when I remember to take it. Seems to work with no side effects.

+1, my BP was borderline at 90-93 Diastolic. The lisinopril has me consistently below 80 with no side affects.

I see quite a few attenalol users here. My doctor laughs when I call it "Sloth in a can" but as someone here has posted, low heart rate is much better than no heart rate.

I think that you can ride in spite of attenalol. There may be some leg discomfort that you just have to train yourself to work through (it feels like you just can't clear the lactic acid out of your legs) and you may have to use a slightly slower cadence at times. I schedual my water breaks for the midpoint of hills, stop, drink rest the legs and then get back on the bike and ride on up. The most important thing about attenalol is to not let it become an excuse for not riding. You may not feel like it at the start of a ride but after a few miles it all starts to get better. Besides, riding may be the way to cut back.

use three different kinds
diuretic (HCTZ, 50 mg once a day
Verapamill 250 mg once a day
and proazosin 5 mg once a day--->even though this is used for BPH it is also considered a B/p med.

the proazosin I believe can effect your cycling as does the diuretic just have to be careful with deyhdration the rest do not seem to cause any problems.

178 / 107

It had been 130 - 140 / 90 but recently went up. Ironically I lost 20 lbs over the last 6 months, so it should have gone down.

Thanks for all the replies, everybody.



May I ask what your resting blood pressure is without medication and what values the Dr. hopes to achieve with the medicine?

Hi there forumers, came to this thread while checking about for radiculopathy topics. Is there anyone else here with the radiculopathy condition?

No, but I've changed over to Diovan from Attenalol in the last 2 years and my biking improved.

My bicycles are my blood pressure and cholesterol medications.

For five years I took blood pressure medicine. Three years ago I went for an anual exam, you know, one of those things you do every few years. The doctor wanted to add more medicine. I said "STOP", I will take care of it myself.

I was not sure what I would do. I was getting zero exercise. My weight was over 260 pounds. I thought about it and chose riding a bicycle. I did not get serious about it until four months after I started riding.

I took myself off the blood pressure medicine 8 months after I started riding. About 4 months later I went for another check-up. Everything was fine, or actually much better. The doctor said he probably would not have taken me off the BP medicine, but I was doing well. A year later I went in for an exam. I had been riding hard for that year. The doctor could not believe the difference.

I had a doctor visit on an unrelated injury two weeks ago. My blood pressure was checked with me standing, sitting, laying down and back up again. Very good results. The doctor was quite pleased. He said I was probably the "healthiest" patient he would see all day.

I am now on NO medicine. I do take daily vitamins.

Add me to both the atenolol (50mg) and HCTZ (12.5mg) lists. I've been on both of them for four years now. My doctor keeps telling me that if I lose enough weight, I can probably drop both - but so far, I haven't followed her instructions...
- Bob

Norvasc


I've never had my cholesterol checked. When the cholesterol drugs first came out, they killed more people than they saved. They are supposedly better now, but I am not quick to change my mind.

Been on Coreg 40 mg time release for around a year. No side effects. It does keep your heart rate way down so heart rate training does not appear to be an option. I have a difficult time getting my HR to 120.

Diovan HCT. I've had no trouble with it.

By experimentation I've found if I skip the Diovan on my hard riding days, my BP later in the day is still fine. I worry about the HCT on a hot day.

Lisinopril triggered miserable coughing spells and I couldn't take it, even though it controlled the BP well.

My bicycles are my blood pressure and cholesterol medications.

Same here, BD, but if I lived the average slothful, sodium-laced, and gluttonous American lifestyle, I would need medication to limit my blood pressure and blood sugar. As a "sodium retainer" with a family history of hypertension, I have kept myself on a low-sodium diet for 40 years, after a physician friend with the same problem said, "Use pepper and spices instead of salt -- that's what I do."

I have also found over the years that my BP responds nicely to dietary fat restriction and weight loss. Bicycling helps me burn off extra calories and sweat off excess sodium. Breathing exercises and meditation (just listening to music, in my case) are also very helpful.

All of you who are on BP meds are wise to track your own BP, because if exercise, weight loss, stress reduction, and dietary restrictions are indeed lowering your BP naturally, you are probably better off on a reduced dosage. If you have not already tried reducing the percentage of saturated fat in your diet, it's worth a shot -- I achieved my lifetime low BP, 100/60, when I was on a pretty strict Pritikin regimen.

After my one and only MI 20+ years ago, I got put on a host of drugs. My body WAY overproduced cholesterol so I got a heavy dose of Lipitor (80mg). Plus 50 mg Toprol, 25 of Lisinipril and 25 of Aldactone.

Started monitoring BP daily before I got back on my bike after a 10 year absence... from that time to now, I'm running an average of 118/65, measured right before I take the meds in the morning. Hard to conclude the bike riding had any actual effect, but that could be due to the meds. The riding has more to do with funtioning muscles and a good flow in the circulatory system.

Toprol XL mostly now. They had me on Micardis too, but they later took me off it after I started exercising and my bp was 100/50 on a consistent basis.

I regularly monitor my bp at home 130/80 most of the time now, I'm looking to drop it even further and get off Toprol entirely with a change in diet and weight-loss. My genetics are stacked against me since I've also been diagnosed with stage 3 CKD.

Benicar HCT 12.5/20

After my bypass- I was put on atenolol. Boy did that slow me down. I used to ride at HR of 165 max and that did hurt so not for long. Normally rode at 140 to 145 and uphills to 150 with the last bit of the hill- or to beat the young Tykes to the top at 165. Or to really finish them to 175 but that was lie down time before I fell down

After the bypass I got back on the bike and trained. Tackled a 30 miler that took in some hills and at 130- I felt I was at 175. No lungs- no legs and no brain. Continued training but kept myself to 120 max. Then at 3 months after the bypass I did an organised 40 miler that if I knew how hard it was going to be- I would have trained for.

Difference was- I had talked to the Doctor and we agreed that I would take the BB in the evenings and if I did a ride- I would take one after the ride aswell. Well did the ride and a mountain biker that had a Wally mart special annoyed me by telling me that I could not ride a bike at my age and that the only way to go was full suspension. Got to a hill where I knew the Ambulance would be at the top and went for it. Got to 165 halfway up and backed off a bit but kept at 165 to the top.

Didn't know how I felt- Elated or Shattered. That hill hurt but I had knocked the mountain biker into the hill and I had survived. Couldn't get my breath- legs felt like jelly but I had done it. Took a good 5 minutes to recover and I was standing by the side of the Ambulance all the time.

Decided then to come off atenolol but it was done slowly with the agreement of the doctor. Since the Bypass I have had a few periods of Higher BP- but as the doctor knows me- the only prescription he has given me was verbal. Do a couple of extra rides or get down the gym and come back in a weeks time to get checked again- It has worked.

My bicycles are my blood pressure and cholesterol medications.

+1

Since riding a lot more my BP has lowered from 140/90 to 110/60. If you have the time, riding longer distance is the best medicine.

Atenolol 75mg/day about 5 years now. I am practicing MED (medicine, excercise and diet) to control hypertension, high cholesterol and to keep healthy.

There was a study on the effects of beet juice to boost stamina that was published earlier this month. The research was done at the University of Exeter.

http://www.prohealth.com/library/showarticle.cfm?libid=14768

It's of interest to me primarily as a means to boost my endurance for an upcoming century, but the positive effects of beet juice on lowering blood pressure have been in the medical literature for a while.

It might be worth exploring. 500 ml per day was the dose given.

I've been on various antihypertensives for 30 years now. I'm presently on Tekturna, HCT and amlodipine. BP runs about 130/70 on this combination. My target systolic pressure is 110 because of my diabetes and proteinuria. The proteinuria has been normalized for about 20 years now.The only time I get the SBP in range is on vacation.

Diovan HCT. I've had no trouble with it.

By experimentation I've found if I skip the Diovan on my hard riding days, my BP later in the day is still fine. I worry about the HCT on a hot day.

Lisinopril triggered miserable coughing spells and I couldn't take it, even though it controlled the BP well.Diovan and HCT.

I've cut my Diovan by 2/3, and the HCT in half.

When I was on Tegretol for Trigeminal Neuralgia, my BP went up to 170/120, and nothing would bring it down. One day the doc said, "We have tried everything and nothing works."

I got off of Tegretol, and I am fine now.

I also got 5 kidney stones in one year with the Tegretol.

I have fairly intractable BP.
I can't bring the exact dosages to mind -if you really want them, I'll look them up- but I'm on Lisinopril, Cozaar, and Caduet (BP+Lipitor meds). I was also on Atenolol for a spell but that's a no-no for asthma patients so out that went. If I had to average out me BP now, it's about 135-140/75-80. This is why my cardiologist took off my HR restrictions when I saw him last month.

Atenolol for me, but not for HBP. I take it, and Flecainide, for nagging a-fib issues. The lower heart rate is an unfortunate side effect.

Atenolol 25 mg
Enelapril 5 mg bid

When I first started on atenolol it took me quite awhile to adjust to it. It made me tired.

On a side story, I was taking a stress test at the local horsepital when I noticed we had gone way past the 10 minutes they told me it would take. Wnen I asked why we were going so long the nurse said we are trying to get your heart rate over 125. I had to remind them I was on 75 mg of Atenolol and my heart would not go above 115.:notamused:

Metoprolol/Toprol XL--25mg, twice daily (beta blocker)
Amlodipine--10mg, daily (calcium channel blocker)
Enalapril--20mg, twice daily (angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor)

I don't know which is most responsible, but the result is that I'm sloooooow. Can't walk fast, can't pedal fast. But taking them beats the alternative...a total stop.

My bicycles are my blood pressure and cholesterol medications.

+2,,,, Doc sez it was 165/90 and that I should take my pressure twice a day for 30 days and then start taking some meds...So I started riding again (I had stopped for the winter), 45 to 60 mins per day at at least 155 bpm...
In 30 days it was down to 125/80 and still falling..gave him the chart, he said forget the meds,,, Its now 116/65.a year later...YMMV

Bud

+2,,,, Doc sez it was 165/90 and that I should take my pressure twice a day for 30 days and then start taking some meds...So I started riding again (I had stopped for the winter), 45 to 60 mins per day at at least 155 bpm...
In 30 days it was down to 125/80 and still falling..gave him the chart, he said forget the meds,,, Its now 116/65.a year later...YMMV

Bud

+1

Not everyone can control their BP with diet and exercise though. But for those of us that can and have the time and drive to do it, it is the best medicine.

Metoprolol/Toprol XL--25mg, twice daily (beta blocker)
Amlodipine--10mg, daily (calcium channel blocker)
Enalapril--20mg, twice daily (angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor)

I don't know which is most responsible, but the result is that I'm sloooooow. Can't walk fast, can't pedal fast. But taking them beats the alternative...a total stop.

How is your potassium levels when taking 40 mg of Enalapril a day?

I had to quit OJ and bananas because of the potasium raising side effect of Enalapril.

I also agree with it is better to be slow and alive than the alternative!:thumb:

Not everyone can control their BP with diet and exercise though. But for those of us that can and have the time and drive to do it, it is the best medicine.

Indeed, many tend to think that what works for them, works the same for everyone else. After my MI, my cholesterol was around 325, the first thing they had me do was go on a "third world diet." It was god awful, 'cause I love to eat. I think it dropped my level about 5-10 points, so I went on... Questran (which is a whole 'nother thing that only old timers may recall). I still have some telling me to drop the Lipitor and go with diet... but I overproduce way too much for diet to make ANY difference at all.

I know this thread comes up now and then... it's been interesting to read especially since for the last 2 years I have been struggling with the issue of finding the right medication.

2 years ago my BP was 135/90. Really, just mildly hypertensive, not bad considering my age and weight. The doctor, ever cautious, decided it should be lower so I started out on Diovan. Besides the serious dizzy spells, it kept me from riding. I never felt good. My legs were heavy and I was sluggish. I asked to be taken off Diovan after 6 months and was put a water pill, Hydrocl...something or other. It started out OK by then I started getting seriously dehydrated on rides and all the skin on my face started to peel off (:eek:). In the year I was on both pills I gained 25 lbs. Not good. Due almost to the lack of energy and lowered exercise level because I didn't feel well most of the time. Before BP meds, I always felt great.

I refused to take the water pill anymore and the doctor then put me on Lisinipril. At first she prescibed 20mg. The first day I fainted 3 times (once inside a Target store - how embarassing). My BP was 80/50, alittle too low. With some adjustment I am now taking only 5mg every other day, and my BP is 120/70. At least I can ride but now I have those horrid little coughing spells. Like right now, I can't stop.

I know, I just need to lose weight and will get off this stuff altogether. It can't be right especially if you exercise. BTW if I know I am doing a hard ride, I won't take anything 2 days before otherwise my BP drops too low. I've fainted several times out on rides. Not good!

Mine was about 145/90 when first diagnosed. 5 years earlier, it was always around 110/70.

I tried diet and exercise for 6 months. I ate lean meat, bushels of salad, cut way down on all the carbs I'd been eating and built up to riding >100 miles/week.

I managed to drop 20 lbs and brought my resting HR down to about 46.

My bp was still 145/90.

So she put my on 10 mg of Lisinopril and 25 mg of HCTZ daily. This morning, 114/70.

Been on Hyzaar 100-12.5mg for over a year and its doing the job. One per day along w/all the other pills I have to take for diabetes, fish oil, etc. Doc is satisfied w/results and only drawback is frequent urination.

FYI, Toprol and it's generics also restrict heart rate. In my case, it won't go over 135, maybe 140.

Interesting to see I seem to be taking higher doses than most, but am relatively free of identifiable side effects. Then again, I have sat and watched my heart muscle pump away... only on one side with the other half dead.

Diovan works great for me. Tried something else - the name escapes me - briefly and it gave me a chronic cough.