bernmart

Sorry for what will probably be a long post. For years I was on a blood pressure med--Lisinopril and a diuretic--which moderated my bp but had me peeing a dozen or more times a day. Embarrassing and inconvenient on long rides. A few months ago I was switched to a new med--Amlodipine-- which has me urinating more normally. BUT I've been feeling less strong, particularly on long, steep climbs. A nurse noticed the other day that my resting heartbeat, which used to be 55/62 bpm, was down to 43!

Could there be a connection between the lowered heart rate and decreased strength at max effort? My docs are so fixated on even mild hypertension as the root of all evil that I can't get straight answers from them about this kind of side effect.

BTW, I'm 75, 6'2", 200 lbs, and did 8000 miles last year, including six centuries.

Nick94804

My MDs freaked out when my resting heart rate hit 51. They wanted to call it bradycardia, except that it gets very normal ( as it can get with beta blockers) with exercise. Its a normal sinus rhythm, just slow. What you need is a cardiologist that treats athletes, not geriatrics.

Null66

I am grateful you started this thread. BP meds have trashed my riding over the last year or so.

Yes, they can limit your strength, endurance, heat tolerance.

My attempts at reducing BP: 1 did nothing, 1 made me horrifically depressed, 1 inflamed gout, 2 hair fell out, 2 couldn't breath, and several caused uh, social issues. None of these acceptable.

Been Russian roulette. I think I finally found one that doesn't effect me negatively.

Check out how many people have to be treated for 1 negative event to be prevented. This varies by BP level and other risk factors.

When my BP was borderline it was something like 200 treated to prevent 1 negative result. So to me not really worth it. The reduced riding induced more risk of negative events, then the BP med prevent.

Unfortunately for me, over time my systolic went up enough that in the long term would induce damage. So it has to be treated. But I'm 48...

I have not responded to lowering sodium intake and increasing potassium intake, as it does for most people. I'll maintain this going forward regardless.

Dr. Hadler has a very interesting perspective. Boils down to informed personal decisions based upon actual effectiveness, considering alternative treatment modalities, and negative consequences of treatments.

Rethinking Aging: Growing Old and Living Well in an Overtreated Society: 9780807835067: Medicine & Health Science Books @ Amazon.com

Nightshade

I get "doctor know best all the time" crap all the time. There is a reason that a doctors job if called a "practice" and not a profession. Doctors are always guessing on how to treat patients!!

I will try what is prescribed and then monitor the effects on my body. I find that the effects are negative or neutral (not helping) I TELL the doctor that medicine no good for me and
I will no longer take it.

If your old BP med worked well for you then TELL the doctor to put you back on it 'cause you're not taking the new medicine any longer. If the doctor refuses your request find a new doctor 'cause the one you have isn't interested in you well being!!

Remember, Doctor or baker they are both businesses. YOU are the customer that they must please.

John E

Nightshade, you and I are very much in agreement. We make the best patients for doctors who understand the type of working relationship we demand, and the worst patients for those who want docile clients who were raised in the "good children lie flat" school of kindergarten teaching.

With a resting pulse rate in the mid-40s (for at least the past 35 years) and a normal body temperature of about 37C (96.8F, rather than 98.6F), I am amused by all of the "textbook normal" discussion above.

10 Wheels

72 and just started Amlodipine..

doctor j

I am not an MD. As I understand it, Lisinopril is an "ACE inhibitor" and does not affect heart rate. From the little I've read, beta blockers can have that effect. Is your new med a beta blocker?

KenshiBiker

The thought of starting BP meds is what got me back on the bike (and losing weight and giving up my beloved potato chips) three years ago. It sounds like you could use a second opinion from a sports medicine physician. Methinks you aren't the typical 72-year old a GP sees.

bikepro

It is a Calcium channel blocker.

Amlodipine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs): Drug Side Effects

fastcarbon

Isn't Amlodipine a combo of Beta Blockers and Calcium Channel Blockers? I tried them a year ago and ended up with blood pressure of around 90/50 and was so weak I couldn't go up a hill. I use Benicar (an ARB) and find that I cannot take it before a hard, mountainous ride as BP gets too low. My Nephrologist is the one suggesting this. But when not riding it can get up to 150/75. I have read that endurance athletes in good condition can have high systolic pressure due to high stroke volume coupled with high peripheral arterial pressures from the heart to the arm due to large vessels from the heart pumping into smaller vessels in the arm creating high resistance . As I read it the diastolic remains normal. Your problem is probably not related to pulse but your max and working heart rates due to the Beta Blocker effect. Ask your Doc about ARB's as they do not effect athletic performance and if needed can be gotten with hydrochlorothiazide. I rarely use the Thiazide version as I too have to pee about every half hour. I'm 72 and unfortunately have vast personal experience with BP meds.