Newly diagnosed with high BP- just wondering about general do's and dont's

Unfortunately if the high BP is genetic, lifestyle changes can only help so far. I was reluctant to take BP tablets but if I don’t, it still goes through the roof. No problems with Amlodipine 5mg, while the 10mg gave me palpitations. The only painkiller I take is paracetamol. I’ve been on medication for the past 20 years.

I was on Amlodipine 5mg plus Ramipril 10mg. But after I started having Afib take off the Amlodipine because my lower legs swelled. Swelling went done. Doing fine just on the Ramipril had taken both tablets for decades.

Loosing weight helps a lot if you need to . And I cut red meat out of my diet but eat chicken and Quorn plus plenty of vegetables and fruit and pulses.

My GP told me to have 8-10 drinks a day only as when I upped it to 12-14 made my sodium and folic acid levels to low. Had to take folic acid for 3 months.

Exercise if you can doesn't need to strenuous. Walking is good but you need something to raise you heart rate. Marching on the spot of 10 mins is enough to raise it.

But the best thing is don't make a worry of it.

I’ve been taking 5mg of amlodipine for some years. I had a long talk with my excellent GP ( sadly now retired.) He told me that in my case there was very little I could myself to lower my BP. I’m not overweight, drink very little alcohol and follow a healthy diet. I do exercise but should do more. This was proved when I had an operation 3 years ago. I was told to take the amlodipine on the morning of the operation but not the following day as the general anaesthetic lowers the BP and mine was low that morning. The following day when I was still in bed it was very high and so I was told to resume. So I never miss a dose. Like many people I don’t like taking daily medication but have no choice.

I've been taking amlodipine 5 mg for several years now with no side effects other than slightly puffy ankles by the end of the day. And my blood pressure has remained normal since taking them.
I never take ibuprofen as it upsets my digestion, but do regularly take paracetamol and codeine for my back.

PS Hetty's right about life style !

I have taken 5mgs Amlodiopine for years and have also taken painkillers if I wanted to do so. no ill effects. IMO Amlodipine is a very good medication. BTW I think this is the one where you need to not take grapefruit specifically.

mamaa are you able to walk - for about 30 mins - every other day or every day if you find you enjoy it?
I am same age as you and have genetic high BP/high Cholesterol and take 3 meds.
Keep my weight within normal range, try not to worry as you said, and eat well. These things combined with as much walking as I can have stabilised my BP for 4 years now.
Good Luck ?

Lots of exercise (long walks every day) brings down the BP. Fasting, vegan diet, tons of vegetables and good sleep cures it. I'm just amazed that most people can tolerate Amlodipine.

It seems to be the first BP drug prescribed (so must be the cheapest). I had a massive migraine and couldn't keep my balance - after taking one. Next, a long trial of all the others (horrid side effects) all unsuitable - and a trip to A & E with allergy to one. Lesson learnt, a bad diet and lack of exercise = HBP.

Losing weight and low salt intake are the two main can things anyone do to influence their B/P.

wellbeck I think it’s part of Covid, I woke up this morning and it’s gone.
It didn’t feel like a ‘normal’ earache, I’ve had some fleeting aches and pains this past week, from my head to my toes and I’m still testing positive, but I’m hoping the symptoms will tail off as it goes away.

Oopsadaisy1

V3ra it isn’t something I would normally take on a regular basis, but over the last 7 days I’ve taken it 3 times as I had an awful earache and Paracetomol didn’t sort it.
I’ve not had any worsening of Asthma when I do take Ibuprofen, but I wouldn’t take it (or Paracetomol ) for more than 3 days anyway.
Fortunately I haven’t been this unwell for years.

earache could be an infection, which would need antibiotics.
have you had it checked ?

That was to CrazyH and Oopsadaisy1

That's good that Ibuprofen doesn't adversely affect either of you. I think I read it in the warning leaflet in the box. I didn't find it particularly effective myself so stick to the paracetamol when required.

V3ra

Oopsadaisy1 I thought Ibuprofen wasn't recommended for people who have asthma?
(That's why I won't take it).

You're right. I have asthma.

V3ra it isn’t something I would normally take on a regular basis, but over the last 7 days I’ve taken it 3 times as I had an awful earache and Paracetomol didn’t sort it.
I’ve not had any worsening of Asthma when I do take Ibuprofen, but I wouldn’t take it (or Paracetomol ) for more than 3 days anyway.
Fortunately I haven’t been this unwell for years.

I am on Amlodipine 5mg daily. The Doctor started me on 10mg daily, but my feet started to swell. When I mentioned it to her, she reduced it to 5 mg daily.
V3ra - I have asthma and take Ibuprofen, when my knees play up. It didn’t have any negative effect on my asthma.

Oopsadaisy1 I thought Ibuprofen wasn't recommended for people who have asthma?
(That's why I won't take it).

avoid salt. best not to buy it. can use other flavourings, herbs, spices etc.
good luck.

I take Amlodipine 5m with Valsarten 40mg which is also a blood pressure tablet every morning too. Been on them quite a while now but still have my blood pressure going through the roof.
Mind you it could be my age.

I used to be on Amlodipine but my ankles swelled so much I had to try other drugs.

As others have said, maintain a reasonable weight, low salt intake and google the best food to take. Try to eat your 5 a day with vegetables and fruit. I never take a drug that has not been prescribed for me-analgesia is post-surgery only.

I take Amlodipine, have done for years. I have been told not to take Ibuprofen as it can raise blood pressure and also make the medication less effective. Therefore I don’t take the risk and just take Paracetamol if I need to.

I have been told this by doctors more than once.

I’m also on Amlodipine, I started to take them late last year, so I’ve changed to Decaf coffee (I don’t drink tea). But we don’t eat processed foods so I haven’t changed our diets.

I have Covid at the moment and have taken Ibuprofen and Paracetamol as I would for normal colds and fluey feelings, apart from Asthma prescriptions in not on any other medication
BP is now within the normal range.

I have had high blood pressure since my late twenties even though I eat different foods than my parents did. I have never been overweight and always been active it runs in our family as does bad cholesterol.
I have always watched what I eat and apart from the one meal a week eating out I cook everything from scratch. I am on a beta blocker and angiotensin but only relatively lose dose.
Basically cut down on salt and processed foods ready made meals are full of salt. Eat more rice grains and pulses flavour foods with herbs rather than too much salt. Cut down on carbs getting weight down helps reduce blood pressure don’t smoke cut down on alcohol. Basic lifestyle changes walk more buy salt reduced sauces etc eat less fried foods. Sensible eating is the key and it will make you feel better too.

If this is a medication that is not compatible with the tablets you have already been prescribed , you would ( or should have been ) informed by your Dr.
It would seem unlikely that this is the case ,but
A quick telephone call to your surgery will give clear clarification.

I was told headaches "can be" a side effect when you first take the medication and it is ok to take Paracetamol.