Blood pressure.

Could it be that all BP meds have side effects? One being water in the body used to thin the blood (I think).
I've been reading about the recent heatwave in France, many elderly people dehydrated and hospitalised. The link has just been made with BP meds which add to dehydration.
A bit late in the day?

I was a bit quick there - thought you were still on the Amlopidine and it is a sore point with me.

I don't know about candesartan specifically, but blood pressure medicines do muck about with the consistency of your blood and the elasticity of your blood vessels, so it takes a certain amount of trial and error to find the combination that suits you. Don't be put off - keep booking appointments and telling the GP about your symptoms until they find something that has minimal problems for you. Remember, the squeaky gate gets the oil, the quiet one just gets the rust.

Just reralised that you are talking about Amlopidine! If it was your GP he/she is talking bollocks and should go for a refresher course. If it was a non-medical surgery employee they don't know what they are talking about.

Swollen ankles are a common and well-known side effect of this drug - I have had them myself and asked to be taken off it. Create merry hell and/or change your surgery.

When my SiL visited us she complained of swollen ankles. I suggested she put her feet up when she could eg watching TV. Our sofas are designed to do this.

She was very reluctant (why?) but gave in to my nagging. And yes, it helped. The swelling was still there but reduced, and that was just in a few days.

She has continued this at home and started swimming 2-3 times a week and now her ankles are fine. She suffers from high BP too.

just a suggestion

BoPeep Don't be fobbed off, if you feel there is a connection, your fears are worth investigating and a substitute found.

Have you looked at the leaflet that comes with the medicine to see whether your experiences are mentioned as a known side effect? If they are, go back to your GP and show him/her the leaflet.

If not, and you feel that there is a link, anyone can report side-effects of a medication to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
Go to yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/ They keep all reports from the public and update the information if there is a problem.

If your GP won't listen to you, find another.

Just a quick update rung my GP surgery and explained the side effect i was having and got told that its not a side effect of the medication, and not to stop taking it. I know myself it is i stopped taking it for a few days no cold symptoms, started again they were back. I feel so poorly with them it goes into my sinusus and is very painful. I have tried to get an appointment to discuss it but no luck so far, a lot of GPs on annual leave, because of the school holidays. I really want to just stop taking it. Advice please.

I took Ramipril for years and it controlled BP. Then I was told it wasn't working as well and was given another(can't remember name) and suddenly started having dizzy spells, passed out couple of times and realised BP was too low! Taken off 2nd drug! Moved house new doctor, saw her for unrelated matters but she took BP and it was v low indeed! Off Ramipril (which made me cough!) and now have my own monitor which I check occasionally and always normal!

I smpathise with youBopeep - I take Amlopidine too and have swollen ankles, but not as bad as yours.
Before that I took a different one which made me pee a lot and led to too much sodium in my blood. and before that another one that made me cough.
So it seems to be trial and error.
They all controlled my BP though.
Do you take a betablocker too? I wish knew how all these things work (or not.)

What a rotten time you’re having Bopeep14, not surprised you needed a moan. Can’t give you any advice about high blood pressure but have had experience of being on cocktails of meds that caused various side effects. If you’re not already doing it keep a detailed record of the meds you’re on, who prescribed them and when, and the side effects that you have suffered. I used to type this up as bullet points and take the file with me to every consultation. If nothing else it makes the doctors stop and think and several told me how helpful it was not having to scroll back through their records to find information leaving more time for discussion with me. I would urge anyone with a chronic health problem to read Staying Alive by Dr Phil Hammond. Hope they find the right med for you soon.

There are a lot of different medications available to treat blood pressure so it is worth asking your GP to try something different. I have been on blood pressure medication for a long time and luckily have had no side effects, though the GP has changed it a couple of times. My blood pressure is well controlled.