Q: I have been taking Diovan 80 for two years. I have tolerated it well with the exception of ringing in my ears. I now am having a nervous feeling and have rapid pounding in my ears. This happened when I was on topryl xl. Is it possible to not tolerate meds after a few years? I am also on thyroid medication. Levothyroxin 75 which was changed recently to Levothyroxine. Any suggestions? My doctor does not want to change meds but I do.
A: Talk to your doctor. You can develop reactions to a medication at any time. Usually reactions occur when you first start taking a drug. You have been taking the Diovan for two years but just recently changed your thyroid medication. It is more likely your new symptoms are related to your thyroid medication. Some people are sensitive to different brands of the same type of thyroid medication.
(14 votes, average: 4.14 out of 5)
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I am curious, Dr. Sobczyk, why did you not mention Armour Thyroid to this person?
I’ve been taking Diovan 80 for 3 years and about 2 years ago I started having ringing in my ears and I don’t take anything else just Diovan, not even aspirin.
I took Diovan 160 and Hydrochlorot 25 (two seperate pills)for 2 years and after about 1.5 years I got Virtigo. When I told my doctor, I thought the Virtigo came from the Diovan he said no and increased my dosage to the highest. I took the higher dosage for about 3 months, than I got axiety and could not drive my car over a bridge, shop or exercise. When I told my doctor, he said no it’s not the Diovan. I took it for another 2 months and one night my pressure went up to 250/145, my head felt like it was going to split open; again my doctor said no it’s not the Diovan. Because I insisted it was the Diovan he changed my precription, but I stop taking anything except for the Hydrochlorot 25 and using the resperate on my own. I am glad to say that my average pressure is 130/80; which is better that what is was with the Diovan with no side affects. I went to a new doctor and he says my pressure is fine.
I have for many years been taking Micardis Plus to control my high blood pressure. I start having problems with my bladder which could not be fixed until I did not stoped taking Micardis. I think that the natural way of controling the blood pressure is the best way.
Changing one drug with another is not going to fix the matter.
I am taking Atenolol/Chlorthalidone 50/25 and I do have a constant ringing in both ears but I have never thought it was a side effect. Could this affect hearing further down the road? I am 53…..Thanks
I too have suffered through severe anxiety while driving on major highways and bridges to the point of panic. I have been operating motor vehicles since I was 17 (now 46) and am an avid motorcyclist. Prior to my long sojourn into taking anti-hypertensive medications I never experienced symptoms of anxiety while driving/riding since my first road test. I spent many years on Labetalol (600mg twice a day TD of 1200mg) and other beta blockers. All of them made me feel as if I was an unhealthy 80 year old man. I tried to talk to my physician to tell him that I think the medication is the source of this issue. Of course its all in my head. [ROLL EYES]. I have graduate degrees in psychology and social work so I am not averse to counseling and therapy, but I do not think the genesis of this issue (severe anxiety) is mental. I am currently taking bystolic 20mg and I feel a lessening of the anxiety attacks; but they are still there.
I am convinced that the bp meds give me anxiety!! I too have tried telling the docs about this. They also roll their eyes and don’t make any changes. I also find that the bp meds give me jolts of anxiety. I get these jolts in my body. When these jolts hit, there is anxiety accompanying the jolts. The anxiety, typically, last for seconds (fortunately). However, these jolts awaken me and the anxiety does not feel good. I have a degree in psychology and diagnose consumers consumers as a major part of my responsibilitis in my work setting. I don’t have the anxiety of the DSM. It’s brought on by some medical reason, not psychological.
This response is based on my experience and is my opinion. YES, I believe you can develop sensitivities to ANY medication, including blood pressure medication. I was on Atenolol for quite some time (more than a year). Eventually, I couldn’t talk, dance, or walk fast without gasping for air. I told my doctor who, fortunately, at least, sent me for testing. Unfortunately, the result of test didn’t show anything. The unfortunate part was that the interpreter of the tests said I must have some damage to my lungs due to having asthma as a child! Although I told the test interpreter that I was breathing fine for over 35 years, he did not change his interpretation or try to find out what was going on. I began researching the Atenolol and found that it can cause breathing difficulties. I told my doctor, who listened to me, and he decided to try a different medication. I returned back to normal breathing within about 2 weeks. My breathing problem was due to the Atenolol even though in the beginning months I had not noticeable negative side effects. My journey didn’t stop there. I have been on blood pressure meds for quite some time now. I have many, many, very negative side affects to blood pressure meds – hair falling out, neurological “jolts” that make me feel like I am having a “fight or flight” reaction (adrenaline rush, I guess), swelling of the throat and tongue causing me to stop breathing until I woke up and tried to make my breathing apparatus work; jolts in my whole body, including head and chest which give me an anxiety- like feeling that can last for a second or hours. No, it’s not psychologically based and I don’t have anxiety, per se. Without the jolts, there’s no anxiety! The jolts occur mainly after I fall asleep. The jolts startle me awake. Sometimes, when the jolt jits, I can hear a “swhoosing” like noise or like a door slamming. I do not hear these noises if I am not having one of those jolts. I could go on and on with my experiences with the very negative side affects. I feel fortunate, at this time, that the physician with whom I am working, an internist, is listening to me and trying to find a blood pressure med that works. Actually, my goal is to get off the meds once I find a successful holistic regimen. Yes, I am losing weight, eating less meat, etc. But the journey continues. I feel that some of the meds I have taken, have caused medical conditions which increased my blood pressure! I had to take Protonix to control the side affects of acid-reflux which was brought on by Hyzaar. While on Protonix, I landed in the ER on two occasions, and had developed faint-like feelings. I couldn’t stay standing for more than a few minutes before feeling like I was going to faint. This phenomenon occurred after a former doctor told me I had to take the Protonix every day or he would “fire” me as a patient. I did follow his orders and landed in the ER. So, I fired him, found my current physician who also listens to me. I told her about my ER and fainting-like experiences. At the following appointment, she said she recently read an article that said that Protonix could give someone the symptoms I was experiencing. She discontinued the Protonix and I discontinued going to the ER!!! So, in summary, and in my opinion, YES, you can develop intolerable and very serious side affects to a medication that you have tolerated well for a long time. Trust yourself!
Please keep in touch. Very interested in whether you can get off all meds and how. I want to also, but have not yet found a new doctor. I think some one should start listening to our symptoms. Drugs sometimes so more harm than good. Waiting to hear how you make out.
You can read 8 weeks blood pressure cure by Robert Kowalski. It is an interesting and useful publication and shows how to get off drugs easily and effectively. I am down to 1 10mg lisinopril from three with diet and exercise plus partial supplements and average bp 121/79 over a period of 6 weeks. Once my weight gets down to ideal I will see and hope to get rid of the drug. I am almost following the DASH plus diet by Dr Mirkin and is again very effective for me.
Does the resperate really work? I am thinking it is just a gimmick.
I have the same problem as Linda. I take 80mg Diovan and some Vitamins and no Aspirin for about 4 yrs now. Ringing of the ears started about 8 months ago.
I bet it is your thyroid medication. Synthetic thyroid is famous for side effects. Your doctor is obviously very allopathic and uses only Big Pharma drugs. Tell your Dr. that you desire a natural thyroid product like Armour or Nature-throid. Your body will probably tolerate it better.
I take 160mg of Diovan twice a day plus 32.5mg of Nature-throid twice a day with no problem. If you have trouble finding either Armour or Nature-throid, e-mail me at [email protected]. I use a pharmacy that has lots in stock, and there is a nationwide shortage of the natural thyroid products.
There was a shortage during the big N1H1 scare………..it is readily avaiable now
My Doctor says you should never take generic thyroid medication. They are not required to hold correct tolerances needed for thyroid problems with generic medication. My Doctor said he would not treat me if I used generic blood thinner or thyroid medication.
Ah yes, potential variations caused by generics vs brand thyroid meds. Experience via trial. Even in the canine ranks this has been proven out.
I’ve had reactions to blood pressure meds after several years of no problems. One caused a nasty “headrush” on lying down, the other, a calcium channel blocker, caused restless leg syndrome, again after several years. I know it was the meds both times because I stopped and started them twice and each time the effects co-incided. My doctor changed them and everything’s fine – for the time being…
Thank you. I have to get this doctor, or a new one to change prescription. I am ready to change now.
Rapid heartbeat is a side-effect of Topryl XL. It is decidedly not recommended for people prone to any sort of fibrillation.
I too had a very bad reaction to generic Topryl XL. Now i can’t take Beta blockers at all. I too take Thyroid meds.
That makes me believe that the Topryl is not good for thyroid patients. Doctors seem to just push the meds at you. What blood pressure med do you take now?
I had nothing but problems with Armour and find I tolerate Synthroid much better. I guess we’re all different to some extent, but the Armour crowd is vehemently religious about their choice of thyroid. Your mileage may vary.
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Posted March 24, 2010 at 9:19 PM
I took Diovan 160 and Hydrochlorot 25 (two seperate pills)for 2 years and after about 1.5 years I got Virtigo. When I told my doctor, I thought the Virtigo came from the Diovan he said no and increased my dosage to the highest. I took the higher dosage for about 3 months, than I got axiety and could not drive my car over a bridge, shop or exercise. When I told my doctor, he said no it’s not the Diovan. I took it for another 2 months and one night my pressure went up to 250/145, my head felt like it was going to split open; again my doctor said no it’s not the Diovan. Because I insisted it was the Diovan he changed my precription, but I stop taking anything except for the Hydrochlorot 25 and using the resperate on my own. I am glad to say that my average pressure is 130/80; which is better that what is was with the Diovan with no side affects. I went to a new doctor and he says my pressure is fine.
I am taking corvadil A from past 10 years,one tablet a day,and also have the similiar ringing in my ears,should one take same medication or change it after some time
Thanks everyone for your replies. You helped me make a decision to change Drs. and to ask for alternatives to all meds. I think all meds take a toll on your body and any that we can eliminate would be better.
I feel better knowing others have same symptoms. My dr. wanted to put me on an antidepressant. UGH
I do not take any prescribed medicine without checking “Worst Pills, Best Pills” the guide developed by Public Citizen Health Group. My doctor prescribed Armour for thyroid because she is holistic and Armour is natural. “Worst Pills, Best Pills” gave good reasons for NOT taking Armour so we switched to synthetics.
what were some of the reasons the guide by Public Citizens Health Group gave for not using the Amour- Why didn’t you try the other natural item for thyroid- Nature-throid? Thank you.
I’ve been taking Clonidine .3mg for about 3yrs., three time a day because it’s the only thing I can seem to tolerate. I’ve tried every type of BP pill there is, almost. The reaction I have to other pills is total exhaustion, chest pains and waking up at night with very high blood pressure. Also the Ringing in my ears is much louder than it use to be. Drives me nuts at times. Another problem is I get an awful dry mouth to the point where I can hardly talk. The doctors prescribe sugar candy, six to 10 a day.
Also if I miss a pill, I get extremely nervous and start to get chest pains within 15 to 20 minutes. The only other pill I take is .81 aspirin. I’m 73 so I guess that’s just the way it’s going to be. I don’t have diabetes
i was taking CRESTOR BECAUSE MY LEVEL OF CHOLESTEROL WAS TO HIGH.AND I STARTED FEELING IN ALL MY BODY SOMETHING LIKE MY BONES HAVING SOMETHING VERY BAD. I HAD MUSCULAR EACHES IN ALL MY BODY, I COULD.NT SLLEP WELL. STARTED A STRONG FEELING IN MY NECK AND A STORNG HEADACHE.
MY DOCTORS TELL ME , MAY BE THE SINVASTATINE, ITS THE CAUSE OF THIS STRONG BAD FEELING IM MY BODY, IN ALL, STARTED IN MY FINGERS , MY ARMS, MY LEGS, AND MY NECK.
DO YOU THINK COULB BE THAT MEDICIN CRESTOR(SINVASTATINE)?
BECAUSE I TOOK FOR A LONG TIME VYTORIN ALSO SINVASTATINE, ANDA I DIDNT FEEL ANYTHING. BUT WHEN I CHANGED NOW THIS FOR THE CRESTOR, I START FEELING THE SAME SYMTOMS.
WHAT YOU RECOMMEND ME BECAUSE THE CHOLESTEROL SO HIGHT?
DIETS NOT ANSWER….AND I KNOW I HAVE TO TAKE SOME MEDICIN FOR THAT. TELL ME ANYTHINK , PLEASE/
THANKS//////// MAGGY
get off the crestor & go to healthy choice naturals on line & get their Natural cholistrol Med.
Larry
After years on diovan,my blood is going out of control,I am unemployed I asked the phamarcy about a genetric brand and ahe atold me cozaar will be genetric this month GIVE ME SOME INFORMATION ABOUT COOZAR,lET me also know what function do you adrenal play in reference to your blood pressure.