mad mike

i took my blood pressure this morning after doing the 31 miles and it was like 110/70 with my pulse about 75...

my question? i'm prescribed blood pressure meds, and have noticed lately that when i take them, i'm just down and out for a couple of hours, can barely move... fall asleep... etc...

i think its time for the doctor to look at this again...

so today, i took all of my medicine except the actual bp med, the atacand... i did take the betablocker and the hctz...

i checked the bp while ago, and its still in the normal range... wouldn't it be wonderful if i could get off that stuff? i contend its what made me gain all this weight the past few years... slows my metabolism down... esp the beta blocker...

gotta call doc tomorrow and see... can't wait!!!

seey'all....

bigwies

Let me know how it goes. I started a beta blocker about a year ago and gained weight right away. Good luck with the Doc.

Halthane

Could be that if you have lost weight, you atacand is hitting you to hard. Most of those medications are weight based and pretty sensitive to changes in weight. Also if you have been cycling your bp is probably dropping a little anyways. So you put the two together and your really shoving your BP way down, thus passing out.

mad mike

i've told them and told them that i feel the toprol xl is the culprit.... yet they still deny it...

i'm beginning to think of it as a form of malpractice... they continue to ignore my complaints....

but i'm afraid to stop taking the beta blocker... i've been told that it could be hazardous...

cohophysh

...

go get a second opinion

Halthane

I'd agree with the suggestion about a second opinion, but yes suddenly stopping your beta blocker can cause problems.

cohophysh

ya know, along with getting a second opinion, do some research if you haven't already. There is so much information out there about almost anything. I would search the American Medical Association journals (JAMA). Maybe you can find some information regarding the medication and the side effects you are having. I found that going to my doctor fully loaded with information and research does a world of good. Remember, this is your life and you have the right to, and should question everything. Some doctors can have a complex and won't even listen to their patients because the docs think we should just roll over and do what they say because they know best. Wrong answer for me. Before taking any prescribed meds I get on the internet and read everything I can. If I have a problem with it I make an appointment to see the doc. Just my suggestions...good luck!

but as the last comment, don't go off the meds without consulting a doc...

East Hill

I took a beta blocker for my migraines--which did absolutely no good and caused me to gain horrible amounts of weight.

I stopped and never went back to taking it. Every time I see a neurologist they want to start me back up on beta blockers. I absolutely refuse. I don't need to gain any more weight, and keeping it off is hard enough.

Not to mention that my blood pressure is currently about 107/80, and it was even lower then. Not a good thing.

East Hill

JeeperTim

I get a big dip in blood pressure about 1/2 hour to 45 min after a ride. I get sleepy and sometimes take a 10 or 15 min nap - like right where I happen to be setting. The docs have me on 3 different BP meds - I stopped taking the most expensive one and have been monitoring my BP closely to see if it causes problems or not. I'm getting a lot more exercise than I was 8 or 10 months ago so my BP just keeps going lower - I'd like to be off all meds by the end of the year. I have appointments this month and November with the doc to make sure everything is cool though. Last winter I had BP of 210 over 135 a couple of times - don't want to go back there!

Hasselhof

If you're hypertensive normally without medication, I'd be inclined to remain on the anti-hypertensives if you regularly exercise vigorously (and since your a cyclist I'm tipping you do) for their protective nature. If you sit systolic 150+ diastolic 90+ and start exercising, the subsequent increase in cardiac output can dramatically increase both of those numbers and you run risks of increased damage during those periods. If your resting BP has been dropping with a constant level of medication, by all means go talk to your doc about changing your meds, but going cold turkey on anything a doctor has prescribed you and you've agreed to is just dumb.

Also, explain to your doc that you do exercise vigorously and frequently. A beta blocker may not be the best approach given its mode of action.

Again, TALK with your doctor. Don't talk AT your doctor, and don't let them talk AT you. You're a major part of your own healthcare team.... the IMPORTANT part.

JeeperTim

I had a "health blip" last year - not sure what it was and the doc's don't seem to know either - I have a theory my ex was poisoning me----JK, I think.
Resting BP is about 110/65 now, highest in the last week was 140/75 after vigorous er.... exercise.

Wogster

If a medication is having unwanted side effects, tell your doctor, they can either change the dose, or try a different medication or a completely different treatment. One thing you don't want is another medication to deal with the side effect, because that then introduces it's own collection of side effects one or more that may have a detrimental effect, and before you know it your popping 47 pills to deal with one problem. If a medication slows your metabolism so that you start gaining weight, and you don't want to gain weight, that is an unwanted side effect.