1. Community
  2. Heart Health
  3. Hypertension

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

Prev Next
  • jane243
    jane243

    Posted

    Hmmn..  feeling rather at a cross roads. All your input is most helpful. One thing I do know is a reading in the surgery will be off the scale - it always is! With my concerns already I'd be surprised if I wasn't put back on the higher dose plus a few more besides!! 

    Prudence says I should make an appt or at least send the letter I wrote. Thankfully I have an excellent rapport with my GP and she will always explain her reasoning to me so I shouldn't really be afraid of being overdosed.

    • Tazchurch
      Tazchurch jane243

      Posted

      There is something known as White Coat Syndrome, nicknamed that because of the white coats medical staff wear, called it this themselves, which is why many Drs prefer a check by patients at home, if it is possible,so write down your readings and take them with you. Also make sure to do some the day before and tell her if usually higher at surgery than at home so factors this into her thinking.
    • jane243
      jane243 Tazchurch

      Posted

      Will let you know what she says. Thanks all of you you've all been most helpful in helping me to get a grip.

       

  • helen_07568
    helen_07568 jane243

    Posted

    Hi Jane just got back online after a while away I too have been monitoring my own bp it generally has been acceptable levels in the summer months, but seems to have gone up since the cooler weather is now here. It is a puzzler I think mine is down to anxiety in the surgery at the moment I am taking beetroot pills 3 a day from holland and barrets.  My problem is night times it is 150/90 when I wake up and then back   down again.   no way would I have a 24 hour monitor seems daft when we could take it every 20 mins at home and would be more relaxed for sure.

    Hope you get it sorted with your gp let us know how you get on.  I still do the 30 mins a day on me bike and feel amazing afterwards it gets rid of all the stress, and brings the bp readings down too, I will not take rx meds so its beetroot for me.

    Cheers and good luck to all you lovely people on this forum love reading your experiences and the never ending mystery of our ever changing bp readings xxx

    • jane243
      jane243 helen_07568

      Posted

      Hi Helen, I've only just seen your reply. Interesting how BP falls in warm weather and rises in cooler weather, I think it's fairly normal though. I had a 24 hr monitor once, before a definite diagnosis and it was a ghastly 24 hrs to be sure.
    • derek76
      derek76 jane243

      Posted

      They say that people with angina suffer more in winter as the heart has to work harder in cold weather.
  • jane243
    jane243

    Posted

    To update you all - I'm afraid that I chickened out of visiting or phoning the dr about my fluctuating BP. I know should have done so but was afraid that I would just be put back on a higher dose of Losartan and I hate taking the things anyway. It's psychological rolleyes!

    I was on the point of sending her a letter, in fact I'd written it but not sent it, and just thought I'd give it a few more days. Strangely things settled back down to where they were before I went to France for 3 weeks. My main reason for waiting was that it happened last year too - I went away for a relaxing holiday with my daughter and the BP had risen on my return. That time I was about  to switch from ramipril to Losartan so put the blip down to that.  However it's strange that it should have happened again and I admit it did scare me. I can't imagine what can have caused it unless it was the quantity of red wine and cheese that was consumed.

    I'm keeping a close check on things but actually although I did have one reading of 167/86 the rest have been no higher than 130. The diastolic are still a little higher than I'd like but I think are mostly OK, averaging at 85 most mornings. Evenings are lower.

    Did I do the right thing I wonder in not going to the dr?

    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey jane243

      Posted

      Well that sounds like good news Jane, so I would keep monitoring it and if it stays within the normal range, then just put it down to the extra salt (cheese is loaded with it) and alcohol whilst on holiday.  And maybe don't go off on holiday again any time soon!!! lol
    • derek76
      derek76 jane243

      Posted

      You should have gone to see a doctor in France. I'm told that they are much more efficient and thorough than here.

      I could tell of my long, hilarious visit to a Swiss hospital when I broke my metatarsal on holiday.

    • jane243
      jane243 derek76

      Posted

      I didn't actually find out until I eturned home Derek. Certainly didn't take the BP machine with me !! 

      Actually it's not as easy with drs in France as we often like to assume. My daughter, who's married to a Frenchman, says we are so lucky in this counry. There they have to pay for meds up front then reclaim it back. And they pay something to visit a dr, and it costs more if it's not your  designated one - should it be an emergency and the regular one isn't there.

       

    • derek76
      derek76 jane243

      Posted

      My BP monitor has been all over the world with me.

      Is it not the case that they have more and better staffed hospitals and quicker treatment.

  • deb73716
    deb73716 jane243

    Posted

    Had a nasty episode with high blood pressure almost a year ago.  After two days in the hospital,  nothing was determined as to why.  I am 65, thin, active, smoke lightly.  They blamed my lifestyle and age then medicated me.  I have been seeing a GOOD chiropractor since.  My atlas was out of  kilter.  As it has been adjusted, blood  pressure came down.  I am now on my second reduction of dosage.  Blood pressure is now too low.  Will be off meds in 30 days.  Something to consider.
    • derek76
      derek76 deb73716

      Posted

      How many chiropractor sessions have you had? Experiences I am told of seem that they never want to let a patient go.
    • deb73716
      deb73716 derek76

      Posted

      This is not an overnight cure.  It will have taken a long time to create the condition so fixing it can take a while.  I have been going for 9 months now. One has to be sure you are seeing a GOOD practitioner. Just as you look for a good medical doctor.  My chiropractor takes initial X-rays, explains where the problems are (and shows it to you) and after a period of treatment, follows up with new X-rays and analysis.  I can see improvement and experience improvement.  You have to look into the science of it.
  • gill70346
    gill70346 jane243

    Posted

    Not sure what you mean by atlas out of kilter. I thought chiropractice was to do with the back so wonder how it can affect blood pressure.
    • jane243
      jane243 gill70346

      Posted

      Maybe this is quite wrong but is the 'atlas' one of the bones at  the top of the spine i.e. part of the neck?
    • deb73716
      deb73716 gill70346

      Posted

      Chiropractic deals with the nervous system and the skeletal system.  Your neverous system dictates everything.
Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.