blood pressure meds.

I take a diuretic lunchtime and Beta Blockers and another one at night. Duirng the heat wave in Germany which lasted several weeks my BP plummeted so I cut one of the meds out and now take only a half of one of them. Its no use saying what as they all have different names here.
I also feel tired but then I have heart trouble and that robs you of energy.
When its so hot and sultry I 'm quite housebound, but the worst of the heat is now over.

Lillie and Marydoll thank you for replying, I will go and buy one plus a little note book to record BP in.

I haven't maybe noticed a cough with the BP meds as I have asthma and take meds for that....

durhamjen you've just reminded me that my doctor calls blood pressure pills and their properties A B or C which would fit your description. In that case, why can't they make combination pills for those on two or three drugs? It would be so much easier, but I guess it's to do with different dosages.

I think there must be several types Tricia - some are something to do with blocking calcium, some stop water retention and some are beta blockers. I gather that the ones ending in ' olol' are the beta blockers - don't remember which family Ramipril belongs to but any ending 'pril' are likely to make you cough. I take a tiny dose of spirolonolactol and that it seems makes the Valsarten more efficient. !!!!

I've been on three different types, Tricia, alpha-blockers, beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers.
You weren't supposed to take beta blockers with the other two, so I came off them, but am still on the other two.
It annoys me when I go to the surgery and they ask why they put me on them. I have to tell them they didn't; it was the surgeon after I had an aortic dissection.
They then tell me I'm lucky to be alive; I know I am.

I think there are even more than that. The GPs prescribe more than one to work on it in different ways. You can end up taking three or four different types at the same time (and still have high readings!)

I wish I understood how BP meds work.
I have a bit of understanding of 'blood thinners' and anti - cholesterols, but no idea about BPs.
I think there must be at least 2 basic types.

I have an AND machine which we bought about 14 years ago - it was the same as the Dr was using. The machines which are not so accurate apparently are those which go around the wrist rather than the top of the arm.

Amlodipine gave me an irritating cough and Rampril swollen ankles GP changed to Losartan and that was fine.

I'm obviously very fortunate as I've been on Amlodipine 10mg daily for about 15 years and never had a leg/ankle problem. I do have the irritating little cough though, shysal, but am learning to live with it because it took so long to sort out a regime that didn't have horrendous side effects but does work.

I am on a low dose of Amlodipine (5mg), which the pharmacist suggested I take in the morning. I have had minimal ankle swelling in the hot weather which might not even be related to it. However, I do have a bit of a dry cough. Has anyone else found this? It is way down the list of possible side effects. I am due for my first 6 month review soon so will mention it. BP seems fine anyway, I have to do home readings due to white coat syndrome.

My doc insist on seeing it on paper! I keep forgetting.

I think there is a memory function on the machine, (I haven't found it yet), so you don't have to keep note yourself.

I have been told to take readings twice in the morning and twice before I go to bed. I keep a note, then doc has a look when I go to surgery.

I too have an Omron M2, which I bought in a well know high street store begin with A.
I bought it to replace the one I had for about 10 years. I thought the old one wasn't working properly, as my BP was so high. Unfortunately, my BP readings were still as high with the new one.
My GP asked me to bring the new one to the surgery to calibrate it with his. He, too had an Omron2.

Back to CoKenzen TriciaF, I was prescribed that in the UK, but when I moved to France my stomach didn't like it in a big way and the doctors in France took me off it.

I have a machine, an Omron M2. It's very easy to use, runs on AA batteries. I take my BP at any point in the day and the readings can vary anything up/down to an extra 40/10. Add on an additional 10/10 when I visit the doctor's or hospital and I reach your heights SparklyGrandma. I'm convinced the doctor's machine will blow up on me some day, so I've considered taking my own along to the surgery! (That won't do any good though because it's all down to my being wound up.)
I take 3 different medications.

For the bp I take Rampril 1 x 10mg and Bisoprolol 1x 10mg daily. They tried me on Amlodopine but my legs below the knees became tingly with swollen ankles so hard they affected my stability when walking. My bp was 190/105 3 weeks ago at the surgery. In my area there is not a regular BP clinic.
Has anyone bought their own home BP machine and what hour is it best to take a reading? Thanks.

I was advised it is preferable to take BP meds at bedtime to lower the likelihood of getting diabetes. I also recall being told to take one sort in the morning and the other at bedtime. It's confusing.

I was taken off Amlodipine because of ankle swelling, and put on Lercanidipine, which doesn't make my ankles swell.

Elegran I think you should go back, there are many similar drugs you can take instead of Amlodipine. I was on it for a while, Doc asked if my ankles were swollen and I said slightly but I could put up with it. He replied that I shouldn't have to and prescribed a different drug.

I have mentioned it and was told that "If it gets really bad" I am to come back and she will find something else. I've been putting up with it, but after measuring my feet (2cm more round them at night than in the morning, and heaven knows how much more than they were before I started the Amlopidine) I mean to go back.

The pharmacist told me that the ankle swelling should have stopped after a month and if it continues the meds are not suitable for you and to ask the GP to change them.

My ankles and feet are swollen with Amlodipine too. I have difficult feet to start with, EEEE width, and I was very pleased to have found a manufacturer who makes wider fit shoes that fitted me perfectly. So pleased to have shoes that fit that every time they have a sale I have bought any shoes that I like the look of until I have several pairs unworn and waiting.

Then Amlodipine was added to my BP medication, and now my feet have gone up at least one fitting, possibly more. I can only wear an old pair of boots which let in water. I ordered a pair of 8Es which arrived today - most comfortable from toes to instep but too wide at the heels. They have been returned to exchange for 6Es, which I hope will not prove too tight. It's a bugger.

My tiredness is after I do any activity or strangely when I have eaten. I looked up about having reflux and it seems some BP meds X an cause or increase that too! Ramipril gave me a cough and Amlodopine caused swollen ankles.