bustersacc11 Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 Good Evening:Been on Methyldopa for 4 years. I really have been complaining about the side effects of Methyldopa and pleaded to try something else. My Dr is willing to try Losartan to help with elevated BP and adrenaline surges but not sure if it will work as well. Wasn't keen on clonidine since Methyldopa and clonidine are in the same class of drugs and both have similar effects of reducing sympathetic tone and would have similar side effects. Their experience they have found methyldopa to provide more steady effects and that the advantage of methyldopa is that it reduces activation of both alpha and beta receptors. He is very reluctant.Anyway, I am going to try losartan together with methyldopa and if it works tapper off the methyldopa. It is a shot in the dark but I have to try something.Would really like to hear any feedback on losartan takers out there in DINET world! Has it worked or not? Any annoying side effects?ThanksBuster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anna Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 I have been taking Valsartan (is used alone or in combination with other medications to treat high blood pressure. It is also used to treat congestive heart failure (condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to the rest of the body) and to improve survival after a heart attack. Valsartan is in a class of medications called angiotensin II receptor antagonists. It works by blocking the action of certain natural substances that tighten the blood vessels, allowing the blood to flow more smoothly and the heart to pump more efficiently) for a long time now. I guess it has reduced some of the very very high spikes, as I can not tolerate BB's at all this was the next option! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arizona girl Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 I'm hyper diagnosised by Dr. Grubb in Toledo. He prescibed me labetalol the short acting form, I am on baby dosages of it and have the flexibility of increasing the baby dose on bad days. Labetalol is an alpha beta.I was on clonidine prior to seeing him and it was a terrible drug for me. I was first put on the patch form and developed a skin allergy to the adhesive. It also never completely controlled the hypertension. Of course at the time I had no idea I was swinging posturallly. When we switched over to the pills is when it got really scarey, it was almost like my body developed an addictive response, requiring more and more of it to keep my pressure down.Labetalol has worked fairly well, at low doses it keeps me down most of the time, however I still do get spikes. I can also not take it at all with no serious rebound. We are however treating my underlying causes, so I have had some improvement from those treatments.I swing from low to high as a result of autoimmune small fiber autonomic neuropathy which was probably caused by autoimmune disease/immune deficiency, accompanied by hypermobility and an mthfr gene defect. Take your pick which ones the underlyer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellgirl Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 I've been taking Losartan for about 12 years now, and it's been working well for me. I now am on the highest dose 100mg HCT, which is a small amount of Hydrochlorothiazide, 12.5 mg because of swelling in my ankles. I also now take a beta blocker, Bystolic (Nebivolol), 5mg. for my tachycardia, which according to some Pharmacologic Genotyping I had done, I should be very sensitive to this medication. I actually half the Bystolic and take half in the morning and half at bedtime. I take the Losartan in the morning, after getting angioedema with Lisinopril after taking for several years. I also have a Mitral Valve Prolapse, and did have PVC's daily before taking the Bystolic. Now I seldom have any arrhythmias on these meds. I'm on 5 meds and many supplements, which are listed below. My doctor says I have Pure Autonomic Failure. I've always thought I am more hyperaderenergic- subtype, though. I'm not a doctor, but a retired RN, and have done a lot of research, and I really think I fit that mold, if there is one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaos Posted February 2, 2013 Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 Kimbellgirl- good to see you back. Have missed seeing you around!I think Jangle also has done well on Losartan. You might try sending him a PM as I haven't seen him around the boards much either recently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellgirl Posted February 2, 2013 Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 I've been helping on another two sites that I have asked to be a part of Chaos, one is a private dysautonomia site on Facebook, and the other is a Fibromyalgia group in my area., too, so I stay rather busy. I'm also doing better on my meds and not spending as much time on line; trying to get out more. I just became a great Aunt to twin boys, too!! Haven't forgotten you guys, and always appreciate all the medical knowledge on this site!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HyperPOTS8 Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 Losartan quickly made me worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenna Posted February 6, 2013 Report Share Posted February 6, 2013 My son has low flow POTS. The Merck brand of Losartan - Cozaar - has improved his symptoms dramatically. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anoj Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 anyone have any more experiences with this? I just got a script for it. I think it's a little weird to be taking it with a beta. Is that unusual?Also, the doctor told me it helps some POTS patients with fatigue. I thought that was a little odd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellgirl Posted October 22, 2015 Report Share Posted October 22, 2015 I'm now taking clonidine .1mg daily, so my Losartan dose has been decreased to 50mg. because of it. They work well together for me anyway. I'm no longer taking the HCT. I'm on Florinef for retaining more fluid, because of fluid and electrolyte balance. I also take Flexeril fairly regularly at night for muscle spasms, but I also have Fibromyalgia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headhunter Posted October 22, 2015 Report Share Posted October 22, 2015 I take Losarton....I don't feel great but its the best drug so far.I also was on Clonidine years ago...believe .2. Made me feel very very weird and tired and super dry mouth...I now take the Losarton 50/12.5 and 60 mg Inderal 2x. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellgirl Posted October 23, 2015 Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 Clonidine helps with blood pressure spikes. Most people are only on it for emergencies for high blood pressure, but I'm on it daily. It keeps me stable, but I'm also on Losartan and Bystolic is my beta blocker. I've had high blood pressure for almost 18 years, 15 of those years I've been on medication. I had what I believe was a slight stroke on my right side, because I wasn't on medication. Strokes run in my family, so I can't fool around. I'm not saying this to scare anyone, but so you will be informed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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