High Blood Pressure?

[Rene S.]

Hi. I'm making the beta blocker rounds. Did atenolol for 1 month. Sometimes my pressure would drop too low, briefly (70/40 at it's lowest). But I've never truly had low blood pressure. Switched over from the atenolol to propranolol (small dose) and my pressure seemed better but still the high end of normal. Maybe 136/72. Did propranolol for 4 days but had stomach cramping and lots of palps. I know I shouldn't have, but I did a switch again to Zebeta 2.5mg on Monday and it made me so nervous and anxious that I thought no more and not only that but my resting b/p was 183/85. Not good. I layed flat and it did come down, thanks Firewatcher! I called the cardio yesterday and was due for meds at 1. He didn't call until later and read me the riot act that I was to pick either the zebeta or propranolol and stick with it.

Well, my pressure was high until around 2 then it dropped to normal without any beta blockers on board. I wound up taking 5mgs of propranolol at 5 but prior to that, my reading were better. 129/72, etc.

Ok, now I'm all over the place. Especially after movement of just walking around my b/p today has been as high as 171/80, h/r at 75. I'm to take 5mgs of propranolol 3 times a day. I realize that I hate all beta blockers. And don't know why my pressure is high.

I can't call the cardio for when I did tell him that my pressure seemed to rise with the bb he told me that was impossible that I was making it happen!

Thankfully, I will see the specialist, Dr. Goodkin in 3 weeks but in the meanwhile I'm stumped. I don't think can change betas again. It can't be good for my body. And firewatcher, you are right. The atenolol seemed to control my b/p the best, as well as my palps.

So now what do I do? I can't call the idiot cardio because he thinks that this is purely a psychiatric problem! That I can't accept the terms of my "illness".

So just checking to see if anyone else had h/p vs. low. Mind you in the am and late at night it's usually normal to low. So frustrating. I guess it would be called labile hypertension.

And I wonder how dangerous it was to switch from one beta to another. I was always on baby doses. atenolol 6.25-10mg daily, then the propranolol around 10-15 mgs daily and the one day of zebeta 2.5mg.

Thank you!

Rene

[potsgirl]

Rene,

I'm sorry I can't give you an answer on the beta-blockers. I have never been able to take them because my BP is dangerously low already. I do know about switching meds though, and the more slowly you make the changes, the least amount of suffering you should go through. I'm trying to increase one of my drugs right now and decrease the other, and it is a slow, painful process. I'm so sick of meds!

My message for you is to make sure you talk to someone before making any radical changes, and I'm so sorry that you're suffering through one more thing. I'm wishing you peace and keeping you in my prayers. Hang in there, girl.

Big Hugs,

Jana

[arizona girl]

Ru, first your doc is right about switching around, it can cause rebound hypertension. Stressing about it can also make it worse. Remember our blood pressure acts weird because it's our body's way of trying to get blood to brain. It is not the same as someone who has hypertension all the time.

My BP and HR jumps around depending on what position or environmental stressors I'm experiencing, it does this with or without meds. This may be whats happening with you as well. Real simple to check. First thing when you wake while lying flat without moving around a lot check your BP. That's your baseline, then check it after sitting a bit, then check it while standing after 1, 5, 10 minutes (poor mans tilt test), my BP continues to go up the longer I'm on my feet so I check mine as I stand longer. All I have to do to bring mine down is lay down. It also is starting to appear that no matter what BP meds I'm on, I will eventually overcome the BP meds and my BP rises. It is amazing how the body compensates.

I stuck with a higher does of Extended release propanolol for 6 wks. It was to much and my BP still got high with it. I am working with my doctors' to figure out what next so I don't have any answers yet. I'll let you know.

One other thing you might check. If you wake up in the middle of the nite, like me, I check my BP before I move, and I have low BP. I suspect that the hypotension is what is waking me, I usually have night sweats when this happens as well.

Do try to stick with one for a least a few weeks, most meds take about 6 wks for your body to adjust to, as any pharmacist will tell you. Of course, you should slowly wean down if they aren't working for you. DON'T ever stop a beta suddenly as it is very harmful, you must wean down and start replacing them with something else.

I have more but I have to get my hair cut. Hope this helps. Remember to lay down if it gets bad, and you'll be fine.

[maggee]

HI Rene,

just my 2 cents.....

i tried many bb's..and propanolol/inderal...in small doses [2.5-5mg]...a few times a day...finally works for me---along with the ballancing of BP with himalayan salt/pure water, and thigh high compression hose.

salt and BB-i do prn.......

quite a job--but WHAT ISN'T FOR US,,,HUH?-UGH!

what i wanted to tell you--is my BP will rise sometimes i think due to what i eat---and sometimes i don't know why.

yet--one thing i do know that interacts with propanolol---- are NSAIDS---LIKE MOTRIN...ETC.

i was on motrin for years...and now==no-can-do--due to the BB.

i believe the same to be true for antacids...with aluminum__hydroxide?????? in it--so--i use wee sips of ginger ale, when i get stomach issues.

i also have negated sugar--refined--from my diet.

do eat fruit...minimally , with some protein intake tho'.

anyhoooooo--the motrin thing--really WAS THE THING I NOTICED--SENT MY BP SORING--WITH THE BB INTAKE.

JUST THOUGHT I'D LET YOU KNOW, IN CASE THE NSAID interaction...applies in your life.

am so sorry for the crap you're enduring...

are we sick of doctors----or what?????

we all have about had IT-WITH 99% OF THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!

IN FACT--they make me/us sicker--i do believe.................

sorry..the anger trip arising here...for all of us!

gl hun,will be praying for you!

best regards, Pam [maggee]

[Rene S.]

Rene,

I'm sorry I can't give you an answer on the beta-blockers. I have never been able to take them because my BP is dangerously low already. I do know about switching meds though, and the more slowly you make the changes, the least amount of suffering you should go through. I'm trying to increase one of my drugs right now and decrease the other, and it is a slow, painful process. I'm so sick of meds!

My message for you is to make sure you talk to someone before making any radical changes, and I'm so sorry that you're suffering through one more thing. I'm wishing you peace and keeping you in my prayers. Hang in there, girl.

Big Hugs,

Jana

Thanks, Jana. I know I shouldn't be switching, but they make me feel so awful that I don't know which is worse - the dysautonomia or the betas.

I'll try to give you a call later. thanks for your well wishes,

Hugs,

Rene

[Rene S.]

Ru, first your doc is right about switching around, it can cause rebound hypertension. Stressing about it can also make it worse. Remember our blood pressure acts weird because it's our body's way of trying to get blood to brain. It is not the same as someone who has hypertension all the time.

My BP and HR jumps around depending on what position or environmental stressors I'm experiencing, it does this with or without meds. This may be whats happening with you as well. Real simple to check. First thing when you wake while lying flat without moving around a lot check your BP. That's your baseline, then check it after sitting a bit, then check it while standing after 1, 5, 10 minutes (poor mans tilt test), my BP continues to go up the longer I'm on my feet so I check mine as I stand longer. All I have to do to bring mine down is lay down. It also is starting to appear that no matter what BP meds I'm on, I will eventually overcome the BP meds and my BP rises. It is amazing how the body compensates.

I stuck with a higher does of Extended release propanolol for 6 wks. It was to much and my BP still got high with it. I am working with my doctors' to figure out what next so I don't have any answers yet. I'll let you know.

One other thing you might check. If you wake up in the middle of the nite, like me, I check my BP before I move, and I have low BP. I suspect that the hypotension is what is waking me, I usually have night sweats when this happens as well.

Do try to stick with one for a least a few weeks, most meds take about 6 wks for your body to adjust to, as any pharmacist will tell you. Of course, you should slowly wean down if they aren't working for you. DON'T ever stop a beta suddenly as it is very harmful, you must wean down and start replacing them with something else.

I have more but I have to get my hair cut. Hope this helps. Remember to lay down if it gets bad, and you'll be fine.

Hi. Same way. Laying down in the am it 's low to normal. Standing increases. I think for me the propranolol is just making me depressed and causing more palps. And I too get the nightsweats then find that my pressure is lower!

As soon as I lay down pressure does drop. But I don't want to spend my whole day laying around. But Im so dizzy on the bb's that I have no other choice.

I do have a call into my pcp since my cardio has me convinced that there is no way that a b/p med can raise your pressure. Grrr.

When you say wean down and replace them, I'm taking such baby doses does that mean you would be on two at the same time?

Thanks for your info.

Rene

[Rene S.]

HI Rene,

just my 2 cents.....

i tried many bb's..and propanolol/inderal...in small doses [2.5-5mg]...a few times a day...finally works for me---along with the ballancing of BP with himalayan salt/pure water, and thigh high compression hose.

salt and BB-i do prn.......

quite a job--but WHAT ISN'T FOR US,,,HUH?-UGH!

what i wanted to tell you--is my BP will rise sometimes i think due to what i eat---and sometimes i don't know why.

yet--one thing i do know that interacts with propanolol---- are NSAIDS---LIKE MOTRIN...ETC.

i was on motrin for years...and now==no-can-do--due to the BB.

i believe the same to be true for antacids...with aluminum__hydroxide?????? in it--so--i use wee sips of ginger ale, when i get stomach issues.

i also have negated sugar--refined--from my diet.

do eat fruit...minimally , with some protein intake tho'.

anyhoooooo--the motrin thing--really WAS THE THING I NOTICED--SENT MY BP SORING--WITH THE BB INTAKE.

JUST THOUGHT I'D LET YOU KNOW, IN CASE THE NSAID interaction...applies in your life.

am so sorry for the crap you're enduring...

are we sick of doctors----or what?????

we all have about had IT-WITH 99% OF THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!

IN FACT--they make me/us sicker--i do believe.................

sorry..the anger trip arising here...for all of us!

gl hun,will be praying for you!

best regards, Pam [maggee]

Hi Pam,

I can't take NSAIDS so no problems there. I try to eat healthy but the bbs take away my appetite. How much of the propranolol are you taking? I see you take 2.5mg -5 mg is it three times a day? They're so hard to break even though they are scored. Frustrating. I'm to take 5mg three times daily. I took my first dose this morning at 7:30 so I guess in theory being that it's 1:45 here I should take another 5mg? I don't know why it seems to be raising my pressure not lowering it.

Also, do you experience palps? I have lots of PVCs and PACs.Great

Oh please, this dr can't be believed. Yelling at me on the phone that the reason why I can't take bb is because I can't accept my illness. He knows nothing. Just three more weeks till I see the specialist. Seems like forever.

I won't do the salt - although a few weeks ago on the atenolol I had to since my b/p dropped so low. Now it's always high.

Thanks!

Rene

[Lizzegrl]

Rene do you take an antihystamine? When I was in the hosp. they took me off of Claritin because every time I took it, my BP went way too high. My doc said he didn't like it for that reason - some people react in that manner and he switched me to zyrtec. It works just as well, no bp increase and my pvc frequency lowered. Granted, I have messed up rhythms regardless, but it is a thought.

I also have to agree that bouncing around on the bbs might be part of your issue. I have been on 4 cardiac meds in the last 5 months and one thing they were really cautious about was starting and stopping them quickly, because it can make what they are trying to treat much worse for a time! I thought I was not going to be able to take the new (procardia) but after a week, it got muuch better! You have to let your body adjust and get used to them. Very hard to do, but essential!

[Rene S.]

Rene do you take an antihystamine? When I was in the hosp. they took me off of Claritin because every time I took it, my BP went way too high. My doc said he didn't like it for that reason - some people react in that manner and he switched me to zyrtec. It works just as well, no bp increase and my pvc frequency lowered. Granted, I have messed up rhythms regardless, but it is a thought.

I also have to agree that bouncing around on the bbs might be part of your issue. I have been on 4 cardiac meds in the last 5 months and one thing they were really cautious about was starting and stopping them quickly, because it can make what they are trying to treat much worse for a time! I thought I was not going to be able to take the new (procardia) but after a week, it got muuch better! You have to let your body adjust and get used to them. Very hard to do, but essential!

Hi. No antihistimines, they make me crazy! Seriously. I get the opposite effect. Wire me. So that's not the cause.

I'm glad you got used to the procardia. I don't know how I'm going to get through the next 3 weeks till I see the specialist. Laying in bed is the only time I feel semi normal.

Thanks!