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High blood pressure medications

(29 Posts)
Yogadatti Mon 02-Nov-15 10:02:03

I know there have been previous discussions about hbp, but am wondering what tablets people have been prescribed, and if they had side-effects? Especially Amlodopine which is banned in Holland?

Bug180 Thu 19-Nov-15 22:54:12

My DH didn't want to swap as had been happy on atenolol, but I convinced him to try the Ramipril and luckily it suits him, there are other options.

mollie Thu 19-Nov-15 18:14:52

Thanks Bug180. The foot thing has never been mentioned in connection with the drugs he's taking so I didn't think so. He had a heart scan in the summer and it was suggested he might have his BP prescription changed, the GP tried something else but it didn't suit OH so he happily went back to atenolol.

Bug180 Thu 19-Nov-15 18:11:28

Just copied this off Wikipedia.......
Atenolol was the main β-blocker identified as carrying a higher risk of provoking type 2 diabetes, leading to its downgrading in the United Kingdom in June 2006 to fourth-line agent in the management of hypertension.[3]

This is probably the cause of DH type 2, which is why he now has to take Metformin!!!

Bug180 Thu 19-Nov-15 18:05:04

No atenolol is not the same (34 years in pharmacy) amlodipine, is popular with our Drs, can't say I remember anyone having bad side effects from it.
DH takes Ramipril, 3 others for cholesterol and metformin, Drs swapped him from atenolol to Ramipril about 4 years ago after 20 years on it. Never had any problems with any of them.

mollie Thu 19-Nov-15 14:10:47

My OH uses atenalol, is that the same thing or something different? I'm curious because he has swollen lower legs and ankles. He tried something different recently for other reasons but it wasn't a successful change so he's back on the old tablets.

lilian1 Thu 19-Nov-15 13:59:54

My blood pressure goes up and down like a seesaw !!!! I prefer not to take medications due to the side effects but have read somewhere that drinking Beetroot juice helps to bring it down I am now having a glass a day with apple juice as the beet can have a strange taste going for a check with the nurse next week see if it works lots of people swear by it will see.....

Charleygirl Thu 05-Nov-15 12:19:53

I am on Amlodipine 10 mg and also Ramipril. My feet and ankles have swollen so much that I now take Hotter's triple width size.

I have had a venous scan recently and I go back next week to find out if I need surgery. Compression stockings were mentioned but as I have not worn suspenders since my teens I will not restarting any time soon and I will live with it.

JessM Thu 05-Nov-15 10:38:26

Might be nothing to do with the pills Jomarie lots of people feel cold who are not on Amlodipine. I've been on 5mg for years.
Best to be very cautious about scare stories about health on the Internet. These stories breed like flies - fuelled by those who sell unlicensed herbs and potions. I think this is one of those scare stories.

Jomarie Mon 02-Nov-15 23:12:18

Fascinating thread - have been on Amolodopine for a few years now and only just clicked (through reading this thread) that it's the tablet that's responsible for that Why is the rest of my body cold though?

Katek Mon 02-Nov-15 23:05:26

Hehehe!!!

Liz46 Mon 02-Nov-15 16:05:53

Yes, I remember that now! How could I forget that photo?

POGS Mon 02-Nov-15 15:57:32

Liz/Yogadatti

You could put blood pressure tablet threads into GN search.

On the 'Puffy feet' thread you will see a photo of KateK doing her impression of the dying fly. (smile)

downtoearth Mon 02-Nov-15 15:36:01

Amlodipine is one of the calcium channel blocker drugs(dont ask me what that means) but my GP did ask if I suffered from cold feet..yes says I ..well you wont now was the reply.Its true my feet are warmer and my feet swelled slightly in summer but nothing major...but then I take a diuretic,one counteracting the other maybe?

Liz46 Mon 02-Nov-15 15:23:15

I'm on Amlodopine 5mg and last February my holiday in Gambia was ruined by very badly swollen feet and ankles. I could hardly walk and was unable to leave the hotel. I went to the GP on my return and she ordered blood tests. They couldn't find anything wrong so I was advised to make sure I use flight socks.
We have just been to Turkey and I drank plenty of water and kept walking as much as possible and was not as bad.
I'm wondering now if the problem is the combination of Amlodopine, flying and heat. I'll watch this thread with interest and hope to learn more.

POGS Mon 02-Nov-15 13:38:44

Repeating myself here but I was on Amlodopine and I had terrible water retentention/feet swelling. .

My doctor told me I was better off with Indapamide as it didn't cause water retention/swelling and I never looked back. He was right.

downtoearth Mon 02-Nov-15 13:35:55

Amlodipine 5mg..2years
Bendroflumethiazide (diuretic) 2.5mg...11years
propranolol 8omg 20years

before that Navidrex k and lasix both diuretics in the late 80s my BP was problematic from my 3rd pregnancy when I had pre eclampsia..

propranolol is also a beta blocker taken for several types of conditions in differing doses....I do suffer from white coat syndrome and bought my self a BP monitor where I don get so anxious the readings have been fine
with regard to the beta blocker and Amlodipine and bendroflumethiazide and my escitalopram along with my cod liver oil one handful down the hatch swallowed by Benecol drink ...job done ..

side effects of Amlodipine ...havent had any
Bendroflumethiazide makes me pee for Britain kidneys have to be checked once a year
Propranolol slow heart rate,cold extremities,tiredness

harrigran Mon 02-Nov-15 11:59:37

I have been taking Amlodipine 5mg for 8 years without any problem, sometimes puffy ankles at the end of the day but nothing significant. I was warned not to take the Amlodipine with a beta blocker, that it must be taken at opposite ends of the day so I take a beta blocker in the morning and Amlodipine in the evening.

annsixty Mon 02-Nov-15 11:50:56

I was on 10mg of Amlodipine and my feet swelled up so much I couldn't get shoes on.GP said "oh it does that sometimes"!!!
She changed it to Felodipine and no problems now.

hildajenniJ Mon 02-Nov-15 11:31:52

My DH takes amlodipine 5 mg. without any trouble. He also takes statins and is really trying as they did make him dizzy to begin with, but gradually it is lessening.

KatyK Mon 02-Nov-15 10:45:03

Mine is under control usually. If I am stressed it can go up. I check it myself and last time I did it it was 130/72 which is OK I think. My tablets are 5mg and I take them along with another tablet.

Yogadatti Mon 02-Nov-15 10:36:00

So what is everyone's bp...and dose?

Katek Mon 02-Nov-15 10:30:49

I'm also on Amlodopine 5mg with little or no side effects. Been on it for around 4 years and bp is fine.

henetha Mon 02-Nov-15 10:20:28

I've been taking Amlodopine for several years with no side effects whatsoever. What side effects? Should I know about them?
My blood pressure is completely under control on it, that's all I know.

Yogadatti Mon 02-Nov-15 10:15:18

I think it has been banned because of the side effects it can cause. I have only found out through the Internet. I am looking for an alternative as I have had a side effect I think but it's one of those 1 in 10,000 which is typical for me......and no, my gps can't help, they are useless in my area.

Stansgran Mon 02-Nov-15 10:12:59

Should have added it's doing it's job. I think it's internet panic isn't it? It's just run out of its patent there and possibly name changed.