BP meds once started (kidney, blood pressure, overweight, cancer)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
How long did it take before your BP meds lowered your pressures to normal levels? Did you have to try many different ones before you found something that did not cause you side effects?
Is it possible to stop meds once you get BP under control with lifestyle as I've heard once started you have to take them for life which seems like a myth.
Did you ever stop taking them at any time? Also heard BP meds cause ED, how bad is it?
How long did it take before your BP meds lowered your pressures to normal levels? Did you have to try many different ones before you found something that did not cause you side effects?
Is it possible to stop meds once you get BP under control with lifestyle as I've heard once started you have to take them for life which seems like a myth.
Did you ever stop taking them at any time? Also heard BP meds cause ED, how bad is it?
There seems to be about 500 bp meds out there. Typically they take effect quickly. RE ED, some do, some improve 'masculine' functioning. Remember Viagra was developed initially as a BP med.
I joke that I got BP meds for may 60th birthday. Been on them over 6 years. Started on lisinopril - had a few minor side effects but then I developed "the cough" - a side effect that happens to some people. Doc changed me to Valsartan, then Olmesartan because Valsartan went under recall. Both did the trick and my BP was controlled with no side effects. I asked to switch to Losartan because it was cheaper. I was actually able to lower my dose when I lost some weight and started exercising regularly. Alas, age has caught up with me and I had to increase the dosage again. It seems to work pretty much right away - as in 24-48 hours.
The long term effects of high blood pressure scare me more than taking meds that have no side effects for me.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
44,576 posts, read 81,167,557 times
Reputation: 57813
Mine was changed due to kidney problems after cancer. The replacement was not effective enough so my Dr. added a 2nd one, that was two years ago. Within a few days it dropped to 130-140/70-80. When I saw him last week it was 122/60.
There's different types of BP meds because there are different types of BP pathologies. Some medicines work best for some people while different meds work best for others.
When it comes to side effects most BP meds will have common side effect including ED. When it comes to side effects, those are all dose dependent. One strategy is rather than increasing one BP med and introducing side effects based on dosage is to use two different BP meds to control pressure.
There are clear benefits in all cases to reduce excess weight and for proper exercise. If one isn't overweight and gets plenty of exercise then one might get stuck for life with the meds. Others are salt sensitive and get spikes when they eat a lot of salt. One avoids salt but salt is so important for taste that people have trouble avoiding all salt. One tries to reduce salt.
Most of the people with essential hypertension are stuck for life unless one does drastic changes in lifestyle that most are unable to tolerate. That would include avoiding most meat and going vegan and avoiding salt. One can get substantial decreases in BP.
There's different types of BP meds because there are different types of BP pathologies. Some medicines work best for some people while different meds work best for others.
When it comes to side effects most BP meds will have common side effect including ED. When it comes to side effects, those are all dose dependent. One strategy is rather than increasing one BP med and introducing side effects based on dosage is to use two different BP meds to control pressure.
There are clear benefits in all cases to reduce excess weight and for proper exercise. If one isn't overweight and gets plenty of exercise then one might get stuck for life with the meds. Others are salt sensitive and get spikes when they eat a lot of salt. One avoids salt but salt is so important for taste that people have trouble avoiding all salt. One tries to reduce salt.
Most of the people with essential hypertension are stuck for life unless one does drastic changes in lifestyle that most are unable to tolerate. That would include avoiding most meat and going vegan and avoiding salt. One can get substantial decreases in BP.
You are right about that. I love meat too much to be vegan. Easier to take the pill!
There's different types of BP meds because there are different types of BP pathologies. Some medicines work best for some people while different meds work best for others.
When it comes to side effects most BP meds will have common side effect including ED. When it comes to side effects, those are all dose dependent. One strategy is rather than increasing one BP med and introducing side effects based on dosage is to use two different BP meds to control pressure.
There are clear benefits in all cases to reduce excess weight and for proper exercise. If one isn't overweight and gets plenty of exercise then one might get stuck for life with the meds. Others are salt sensitive and get spikes when they eat a lot of salt. One avoids salt but salt is so important for taste that people have trouble avoiding all salt. One tries to reduce salt.
Most of the people with essential hypertension are stuck for life unless one does drastic changes in lifestyle that most are unable to tolerate. That would include avoiding most meat and going vegan and avoiding salt. One can get substantial decreases in BP.
^^Yep, I've found that to be so...
Also, little known, is to drink 8-8oz. glasses of plain water a day. (it's not really that much--just sounds that way). Dehydration can contribute to high BP!
Learning some deep breathing exercises helped me, too. I tend to shallow breath or hold my breath when stressed. Then the BP goes up.
Those really helped my BP go down. Dehydration can contribute to high BP!
(and 40 minutes of aerobic exercise 5x week is terrific--relaxing and lowers BP)
I like to cook and use lots of herbs and lemon or lime juice to spice up my dishes without a lot of salt.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
