Blood pressure medication

I saw a pharmacist at my local surgery. I went every month until I got the meds sorted. Keep going back until you get the right blood pressure medication. You're not going to die but you do need to get sorted. Best of luck

My husband has been on BP medications for decades and most had nasty side effects. Some caused headaches, some caused swollen breasts so he had to go for breast cancer checks, others caused itchy skin, another caused such painful legs that you would think he had severe sunburn. He ended up on a cocktail of 8 or 9 pills and still had a major stroke which has ruined his life.

His BP was exceptionally high up in the 200s but he was an active non smoker and not overweight.

You need to see your GP and tell them how you feel about this. If necessary see a different one who understands a bit more. Don’t worry about a GP getting fed up with you, that’s their job.

My GP who first prescribed it changed my prescription until he found one ( a licensed brand) that produced no side effects. . (enalapril, brand Innovace). Years later when we moved house/GP and pharmacy, the new pharmacist told me " "I have to order this in specially for you, nobody else gets it because its so expensive most GP's won't prescribe it".

20 plus years later we moved house.GP/ Pharmacist again.

At the new GP, their in-house pharmacist rang me to question, why named brand ? Because no side effects. "Could we try another? ". No thanks.

And the very first time I went to our new local chemist to collect my prescription, the chemist had obviously put a flag on it and comes out to ask " Are you going to be a regular customer? Just asking because no other customers get this ACE brand, we have to order it in specially. "

5 years later,they are still "specially ordering it in" just for me.

My GP Practice refers you to the on site Clinical Pharmacist. So if the GP prescribed meds don't work this team can try other meds and if they can't sort re-refer you to the Hospital team. See if your practice can help. I too had issues with the run of the mill meds, I can't take Calcium Chanel blockers., ie Filodipine family As they make my legs swell, so I'm on Ibesartan and Diltiazan daily no problems.

Ibersartan for me too. Apparently, it also offers some protection against some heart and kidney problems too. It’s the only one I’ve ever tried, been on it almost 5 years with no side effects.

Persevere, OP, there is one out there for you. I have not had any problems with mine, but I know that it can take time for some people to find the right one.
This is a life saving medication so it's worth the struggle.
Good luck.

I suppose it depends how bad your blood pressure is. Mine is slightly raised and I decided I would rather have a potentially shorter life than an longer miserable one on blood pressure medication.

I felt like I was dying anyway…..

Now my chirpy self😬

Of course, Lathyrus, this is for each of us decide. I do not know the numbers in relation to the OP, but if they are high, then the risk is not only death, but a potentially life changing stroke.

Lathyrus3

I suppose it depends how bad your blood pressure is. Mine is slightly raised and I decided I would rather have a potentially shorter life than an longer miserable one on blood pressure medication.

I felt like I was dying anyway…..

Now my chirpy self😬

Mine is only slightly raised. The way I’m going I might have to take my chances without medication. I’ve felt so ill over the last few days, I can’t live like that.

I ended up on Irbesartan after trying others that all gave me really horrendous side effects. Good luck in finding one that helps you as I know how hard it is.

Chocolatelovinggran

Of course, Lathyrus, this is for each of us decide. I do not know the numbers in relation to the OP, but if they are high, then the risk is not only death, but a potentially life changing stroke.

Yes a stroke is the major worry. But I really couldn’t go on. I couldn’t even walk up the road. Pulse rate down to 38😱

I’ve been on Amlodipine5mg daily, for years, without any side effects.

Amlodipine gave me horrendous heartburn.

I went to my Dr with an ear infection he checked my BP and put me on blood pressure medication, I can't remember which one. I've never felt so ill in all my life, I could hardly walk, I was icy cold and then to top it all off I started having really dark thoughts about ending it all! The tablets went in the bin

I must be% ve=ry lucky cos with most medications the common ones work fine. However, in 2024 I underwent treatment for oral cancer and couldn't swallow tablets - and my GP almost refused to prescribe liquids cos of the price. Recently my usual brand of Ramipril has rocketed in price so I've been given enormous "bullets" instead. I simply can't swallow them and they don't dissolve either. My pharmacy did find a better one, but they are constantly "unavailable" - as are many medications since we left the EU. It's a problem I have yet to resolve cos I will be taking them for life.

Hi keep going, there seems to be a lot of choice these days. I was worried about starting BP tablets as I seem to get every side effects on the leaflet and more 🙄
The first one I tried Losartan did the trick, I’ve been on it 10 years now. The only side effect is I seem to wee a bit more than before. Long may it last because I hate starting new tablets . Good luck.

Hi @bnuyc123,

I’m really sorry you’re going through this — it sounds so frustrating. Side effects can be horrible, but there are usually other options out there, so don’t lose hope. If your GP isn’t helping much, maybe ask about seeing a specialist. And if the worry about stroke feels too much, please do reach out straight away for support. You’re not alone in this. 💙

I've taken amlodipine for several years now with no ill effects and my blood pressure is normal for my age every time I have it checked.

Try a light diet for the indigestion, but go to the GP with this whole problem, including PB meds, as you said it to the Grans.

zakimasood1

Hi @bnuyc123,

I’m really sorry you’re going through this — it sounds so frustrating. Side effects can be horrible, but there are usually other options out there, so don’t lose hope. If your GP isn’t helping much, maybe ask about seeing a specialist. And if the worry about stroke feels too much, please do reach out straight away for support. You’re not alone in this. 💙

Thank you, you’re very kind. x

Amlodipine made one of my legs swell up alarmingly. I could almost see it inflate. My husband can take it with no problems.

I contacted the GP via the online thing, and was prescribed Ramipril, which I can tolerate well. Apparently it is usual practice to start patients on the cheapest drugs and move up the expense list if the cheaper ones are problematic. It makes sense, really.

Hi
I feel your pain.
Drs have been trying to get my bp under control for 8 months.
Still struggling but will keep going.
Everyone i have taken and i have a,carrier bag full have given me terrible side effects but bp still the same.
So keep going.
A majority of my drs appointments have been on the phone.

Abnuyc123

Amlodipine gave me horrendous heartburn.

Amlodopine gave me swollenness legs/ankles eventually, but was on it since my 40 s without issue, then eventually after various tries of various brands on a combination, which worked fine for years, but recently ankles/ legs swelling again…tho this may just be old age, lack of exercise? I’m 80 next year!

As regards cost of meds. I was prescribed certain eye-drops by the optician to be used 4 x a day. After years I got the excuse no longer available, use this brand instead. Tried them for a while but they made my eyes sting and the bottle had no slim ‘spout’ for neatly putting in the drops to my eyes, just a ‘stub’ which meant the drops were no longer properly directions listed, but went almost everywhere but my eye! I looked up my original brand online and it was still in production!
Went along to the docs, left a message ( you can rarely get an appointment) that the new ones hurt, etc, … they immediately changed it back. It WAS due to cost, but if you make enough fuss they should change it back!