Blood pressure medication

PS: if not clear the opticians prescription had to go via the Docs surgery!

Madmeg

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.

It is probably no help, MadMeg, but I cannot swallow tablets of any kind, so I break them up and mix with chocolate spread. Not good for my weight, but works pill-wise

Do be careful crushing tablets - it can have a negative impact health wise as they won’t be absorbed correctly.

I was on two different blood pressure medications and when went into hospital recently they took me off one. I felt much better and my measurements have improved. You have to let medication take time. At least 2-3 weeks before you notice improvement or getting worse.

I was on Amlodipine along with Indapamide, with no problems, until recently, when I developed swollen ankles and breathlessness. GP changed my prescription to Ramapril, still with Indapamide. I had blood tests before starting and after the first few weeks to check liver cos it can cause problems there, but everything is fine. I have rediscovered my ankles! My BP was checked by Practice Nurse this week, 135 over 80, which she is pleased with.

When I developed HBP during lockdown, it was over 200. I asked if I could come off the statin I was prescribed at that time, but she said I'm at high risk of heart attack/ stroke so I'll just persevere with the aches and pains. I'm thankful to have access to these medications when I think of my parents and grandparents, who suffered heart attacks and strokes and didn't reach my age.

So please, OP, keep going back to your GP until you find a medication that suits you.

It's your GPS job to get your medication right whether you think he's fed up or not.....keep bothering him till he gets it right!

I have been on amlodipine for over 8 years and have been suffering from swollen feet and legs for at least the last two years. The Gp did an Ecg and took bloods which all came back fine and wouldn't offer any treatment to help. On a recent check up with a new dentist, it was suggested my swollen gums were due to medication not infection and that I should see the doctor. I saw a new one who straight away decided all my swellings were due to the amlodipine and changed my meds to ramipril, which I have just started. Hopefully this will help as the swollen legs are very uncomfortable. So glad this doctor listened to me,I previously just felt palmed off

I tried to get a GP appointment. The receptionist made me an appointment but it was with a pharmacist. I cancelled that and made an appointment with a nurse. I have two weeks to wait.

Abnuyc123

I tried to get a GP appointment. The receptionist made me an appointment but it was with a pharmacist. I cancelled that and made an appointment with a nurse. I have two weeks to wait.

Personally, I would rather have had the appointment with a pharmacist, who is trained to know about medications. Unless you have an appointment with a nurse practitioner, s/he won't be able to prescribe and will know far less about the effects of drugs.

The nurse is good, I’ve seen her before and she can prescribe.

There are many anti- hypertensive medications available.
So persevere .
Would an anti - acid prevent the heartburn ?
I suggest that you keep a diary so that you have an accurate record of the drug and side effects .
Your GP has to help you find the right medication.
Don't be embarrassed or inhibited .
Wishing you luck .

I’ve had my blood results back. The medication wasn’t actually upsetting my stomach, it was more serious than that. It was causing hyponatremia, low sodium. It’s a good job I stopped taking them.

The GP who reviewed my results obviously didn’t check why I’d had blood taken. The message just said, abnormal results, get another test in two weeks. The GP has no idea that I’ve stopped taking the medication. I could be still taking it and heading towards being really ill.

butterandjam

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.

That is good service. I was on one of those Ace drugs, gave me a hacking cough in the evenings. Even had a chest X-Ray to rule out lung cancer. Switched to amlodipine & losartan. Ok now 👍🏻

Like others here, took a good time to get my bp meds correct. I was only in my early 60's when a routine check discovered my bp was very high. I had been due to have a small procedure at the hospital where I worked, and popped over to have the pre-entry checks, when this came up. They would not even let me home that day until I had confirmed an appointment with my GP.

I had no symptoms, felt well and was very active, probably very slightly over-weight, but nothing much. Anyway GP put me on one of the cheap Rampiril tabs and I took these, bp came down.
Coughing fits became so frequent over next few months I got referred to hospital chest clinic. As each day went on, this coughing got worse, by the evening I would lose total control as I was racked with these.
Professor at chest clinic was brilliant, did all the checks and tests, but was correct in his first diagnosis that this cough was due to this bp med. Eventually he wrote to GP saying I was not ever again to have anything in the 'piril' range.

Took a long time to find a combination of drugs that really worked for me. Several years, but eventually Losarton and Bendroflumethiazide tabs taken daily keep my bp well within range and so confident am I with that medication that I have long ago lost my 'white coat' syndrome. And, as far I can make out - no side effects.

I know it is they that keep my bp good. I somehow lost a strip of one one them and ran out just for three days as I was away from home and could not contact doctor, and even in that short time, my bp started to rise.

We are fortunate, that for most of us there is the right combination that works for us. No good GP will get fed up with any patient that perseveres.

Abnuyc123

I’ve had my blood results back. The medication wasn’t actually upsetting my stomach, it was more serious than that. It was causing hyponatremia, low sodium. It’s a good job I stopped taking them.

The GP who reviewed my results obviously didn’t check why I’d had blood taken. The message just said, abnormal results, get another test in two weeks. The GP has no idea that I’ve stopped taking the medication. I could be still taking it and heading towards being really ill.

OMG, this makes so much sense for what happened to me when I took BP medication. I’ve looked up some clinical studies.

I really did feel that I was going to die soon.
My heart was ceasing to function at 38 beats.

I’m glad I listened to my body. Bet you are too.🙂

It’s the second time my sodium has been low on BP medication. The first was on Ramipril and I was admitted to hospital the second has been this recent one Bendroflumethiazide.