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2 months ago my Losartan 50 mg was reduced to 25 mg much to my delight as I hate taking pills.

Posted , 11 users are following.

jane243
jane243

I'd been on Losartan for 10 months and before that a Ramipril equivalent dose, in all I've been on meds for 17 months.  For many months my average readings were around 122/70 with many way below that figure and only very rarely anything over 140 [systolic]. After the reduction I monitored my BP carefully twice a day and all seemed fine with just a slight rise, to be expected with a lower dose. Then I went away for a lovely holiday for 3 weeks and was horrified on my return to find the BP has risen sharply. Oddly the same thing happened last year on my return from holiday. I find I have wildly fluctuating readings and the diastolic is way too high too, i think. 138/86 was average over just 2 days but there have been readings of 189/97 on occasion. I don't smoke, add salt to my food and am considered thin. I also walk at least half an hour daily. I need another prescription so do i ask for a repeat and wait and see if things settle down or would it be wise to ask for a GP appt and expect an increase in meds?  I'm not due for a check up for another 4 months.

1 like, 70 replies

70 Replies

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  • angela68374
    angela68374 jane243

    Posted

    Hi Jane.  I am 73 yrs of age and do have periods of high blood pressure.  I too dislike medication and prefer to try natural things if possible.  I have read about organic beetroot juice and it seems quite a few people have turned to that and there are reports that it does keep blood pressure low.  There are also reports about bananas and celery which seem to do the job!  The best beetroot juice (which is NOT concentrate) is called Beet It.  It is expensive but you only need to drink 250 ml a day.  Hope this helps. 
    • Tazchurch
      Tazchurch angela68374

      Posted

      Thanks I'll let my sister know that one too as they can't get proper control of hers
    • derek76
      derek76 Tazchurch

      Posted

      I'll warn you, I found that it tastes earthy and quite disgusting and repeats on you. Your urine turns red as does your poo.  
    • angela68374
      angela68374 derek76

      Posted

      Yes it is an earthy taste (which I like - you either like beetroot or you don't) and urine turns red but not for long.  If it is doing the job, who cares really !!
    • Tazchurch
      Tazchurch derek76

      Posted

      She loves the stuff, as you may be able to tell I don't smile
    • derek76
      derek76 angela68374

      Posted

      It stops being red when you adjust to it?

      I did not finish the carton. Even my wife who eats beetroot and does not waste anything would not drink it after sniffing it and taking a sip. 

    • jane243
      jane243 angela68374

      Posted

      I had some of that stuff once thinking it a magic potion. Who knows if it helps or not as the BP alters all the time,sometimes drastically in my case. However i thought it was disgusting, like drinking liquid soil ! and I really love beetroot as a vegetable. Yes it did make my pee pink: Quite a pretty shade actually!!
  • jane243
    jane243

    Posted

    Thanks everyone, I'll drop a line to my GP and see what she says
  • gill70346
    gill70346 jane243

    Posted

    According to my GP yesterday swings in BP are quite normal which is why she has encouraged me to onloy take it once per month, when I am relaxed and have not been doing anything too strenuous physically.  According to her the ontly time to worry is when it is consistently above 160/110 or below 100/60 if these are not normal for you.
    • jane243
      jane243 gill70346

      Posted

      Thanks Gill, that's interestingl: i'm inclined to take that on board probably because it's what I want to hear but really I don't want to just go back to the higher dose after a such a short time. Wisely or not I will just ask for another prescription and see what it does at the end of another month.  Fingers xed!
    • gill70346
      gill70346 derek76

      Posted

      No, not really. Going back to the GP does not necessarily mean going back on the higher dose, but it all depends on a patients relationship with their GP and how much they can discuss things with him/her. My relationship with my GP is very good and we discuss changes in medication rather than her telling me what she is going to prescribe
    • Tazchurch
      Tazchurch gill70346

      Posted

      Same here, tends to be I am thinking of ... because ... but what do you feel about it
    • derek76
      derek76 gill70346

      Posted

      GP's with their limited knowledge of hypertension prescribe from a very limited range of drugs that they are familiar with.

      When I had an appointment with a professor at Imperial College the first time I tried to get on the renal denervation trial program he suggested that I try Perindopril. He wrote of it in such glowing terms that my GP said that they had switched all of their BP patients to it. I don't know how well they got on with it but such were the side effects that I was soon back on Losartan.

    • gill70346
      gill70346 derek76

      Posted

      We'll, you have clearly got experience that I have not so I cannot disagree with you. I will remember that drug name for future reference 
    • gill70346
      gill70346 Tazchurch

      Posted

      It is good to know that some doctors actually listen! My eye consultant is the same.
    • derek76
      derek76 gill70346

      Posted

      I was surprised when the consultant at the Hypertension Centre told me that there are families of hypertension drugs that I have not yet had.
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