Losartan and side affects

Oh how I wish I could help you but I'm in much the same boat, except that I don't have any noticeble side effects from Losartan after experiencing horrid ones with at least six previous pills.  I'm unable to take higher than a 50mg dose due to kidney issues, so because 50mg isn't controlling my very high BP, they added a beta blocker, Bisoprolol, about 7 weeks ago.  Am feeling a little more tired and lethargic, probably as a result of the beta blocker's effect on metabolism.  minutes before taking it again to find it had dropped to 147/71.  Renal consultant tells me that I am going to need 3 different pills to get control over the blood pressure - tell that to my body that can't even cope with one!  Awaiting further direction from GP who is contacting consultant.

Have you tried adding a diuretic to the Losartan - that works for some people.  Not for me as it really adversely affected my already reduced kidney function

Yes, I do take an over-the-counter water pill, which helps.

My kidneys ache, but my GP said my kidney function looks OK from lab tests.

My GP just said to add an additional 50 mg of Losartan (which totals 150 mg a day) when I can't get my blood pressure down, but I don't want to do that.

I take Losartan in the morning.  An hour later, if it isn't down, I take a water pill.  An hour later, I take an herbal called Cardimap if it isn't down.  An hour later I take Beet Root capules if it isn't down.  An hour later I take Hibiscus capsules if it isn't down.  An hour later, I take Carditone if it isn't down, and an hour later I take Hawthorn Berry capsules if it isn't down.  By then, it is almost time to take another Losartan, and I have a terrible blood pressure headache that never seems to go away.

I'm going to an acpuncturist tomorrow to see if I can get help with my blood pressure and headaches.

Susie, I do hope you have checked out all those herbal preparations etc for compatibility with Losartan and with each other - you never know, a combination of one or two may be causing the headache.  The best person to check with is your pharmacist who knows more about drugs and supplements than a GP.  No-one should every take any supplements, including those bought over-the-counter, if they are taking medication without running it past the pharmacist first.

Good luck with the acupuncture.  The National Kidney Federation has  given me some recommendations.  I already do Tai Chi and walk daily, but they have suggested Mindfulness - I'm searching around for a class at the moment. 

Thanks.  I will check out compatibility issues.  I never thought of that. I'm just so sick that I'm not thnking straight.

Did you see Trust Me I'm a doctor the other week (catch it on iPlayer). They took various herbal items and vitamins and tested them. Many of them contained none of what was supposed to be in them. You could see from the packaging that some came from a well known High Street health store.

Personally I would ditch all of you are taking. I don't believe in concentrated products. If you can stomach Beetroot juice I would drink that. Todays Daily Mail again plugs Mr's O's Beetroot and Celery.

You may be pushing your BP up by constanly worrying about and checking it says one who has been there:-)

Morning, noon and night is quite enough.

 

Please understand, I am NOT constantly worrying.  I am a proactive person who is interested in being as healthy as I can be.  I have spent many hours researching alternatives.  Many have worked for me to various degrees, so it is not true that they don't contain anything.  Please don't discount the work and words of others on this forum.  Drugs are the least best alternative after all else has failed, but I am always open to all options.  If you can add something that is positive and supportive, that is fine.  You don't know what is "quite enough" for others.  You can only determine what is "quite enough" for yourself.  Negativity is not helpful.

I can see that you are a person after my own heart but eventually we all find that the Holy Grail we seek will not be found in a health food store or a hedgerow. 

You will find many on this Forum crying Eureka when their symptoms subside after trying something new but sadly a few weeks later things revert.

Your BP seems to be drug resistant like mine has been for the past fifteen years. You could Google for a Hypertension Referral Centre near you and ask your GP to refer you. I've had all manner of tests at one without finding a reason for it. Perhaps their best suggestion so far has been that I'm not truly hypertensive but just have BP spikes and that is why I react badly to all medications. How negative is that? 

Alas forget the Hypertension Referral Centres. I see from other posts that you are not in the UK. It does help if people from abroad put that in their posts on a obvious UK site as much that we say is parochial and based on our State Medicine experiences,services and lack of patient choice..

Tell you what Derek that sounds to me like they are totally stumped as what to say to you,    so its just spikes then after all the tests do you think they are right or fobbing you off?

At the last appointment I asked if it was worth him seeing me again.He said yes so I asked if he wanted to change me from Losartan as he had said at the very first appointmrent that there are families of drugs that I have not yet tried. He said to stick with the losartan. I often qoute him as saying that cardiologists are very clever people who do all manner of things that he cannot do but that they do not understand hypertension as it takes an expert like him to do that.