Q: You might not be able to answer this, but your input would be helpful. I am new to HBP. I am a 59 year old woman, in good health otherwise. I take Norvasc and at 5mg it seems to hold the numbers. My doctor and I tried to reduce it, but the numbers shot back up quickly. Her instructions were to go back to 5 mg if I had 3 days of high readings, which I did. My question is: I do not know when I am overreacting to the numbers. Should I be concerned about several days of numbers like 140/90,for example or just expect them to go down again? I have been given mixed advice about this. I am extremely uncomfortable with numbers like 170/100, not so uncomfortable at numbers below that. Thank you
A: It sounds like the 5mg dose of Norvasc is what your doctor is recommending to control your blood pressure. Your doctor tried you on a lower dose but your blood pressure did not remain in control. If your blood pressure is consistently at 140/90 or more and you are taking Norvasc 5 mg every day, you are not in good control. With good control, your pressure should be in the normal range. You should discuss changing your treatment or adding the Resperate with your doctor.
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Yes,diferent doctors wil give you different advice and even health newsletters and health books contradict. I’m 70 years old and was told one number can not fit all age groups. 120/75 is great for somebody 20 years old. However to try and bring an older persons presure down to this with drugs is foolish. My doctor and I am confortable with my reading of 133/76–140/87. during high stress it goes higher but returns after the stress. If you can get your blood pressure down without having to suffer the side effects of the drug-go for it. side effects could include insomia,depression,digestive problems etc. been there done that
Jerry, Thank you so much for your wonderful answer. I totally agree. I am 71 years of age, be very careful of all the medications. Many are not needed.
Boy, do I agree with Jerry Cooke. AARP released an article where a study was done by Dr. Izzo at NEW YORK at Buffalo along with several other Dr.’s and their findings totally supported what Jerry said. I sent the Dr. my BP readings of a few times a day over a 12 month period where it is being treated with 80 mg of Diovan in the morning and at dinner time that keep it in the range of 135/90+- and he said I was fine for a 68 year old male that’s about 185, takes about 11/2-2 miles walk every night and does moderate weight training! The 120/80 seems to be a great metric to prescribe med’s for the pharmaceutical company’s enrichment, make you keep returning to monitor the med’s and inconvenience you with side effects! Initially I felt like the Dr.’s were throwing darts for different med’s with all the different prescriptions I was given. Then I said “Hey, this is rediculous–if you can’t get it close to the Bull’s Eye after three or four you’re adding to the problem rather than finding a solution”! Changed Dr.’s got overdosed with 320 mg Diovan and cut it in half and then split that into half dose morning and half at night and I am right on the Bull’s Eye at the 135/90+-. The side effects were horrendous–hair loss, loss of lido, sleepiness every afternoon, loss of muscle strength and tone. Quality of life down the toilet–now it6’s med’s down the toilet except Diovan. May not work for everyone because all the others didn’t work for me. Good luck. My reading as I finish writing is 126/81/99?
The modern teaching is that blood pressure must be controlled at 120/80 and below. Trying to reduce Norvasc from the minimum recommmeded daily dose of 5 mg is foolish and is not cardio-protective. Irrespective of your age, the presure must not get to 140/90 and above.
I agree with Jerry. we should plan for reduction without increasing the medication though medication can not be totally avoided.
Best ways are go for a morning walk of 2-3 kms. it keeps you fresh and free you from mental tension thereby reduces pressure. it also helps in reducing psychological problems. coupled with go for lean diet. switch over to vegetarian food at least for 4-5 days a week.Keep yourself happy always as worry is not a solution.Go for blood thinning if you have high cholesterol.
Medication is making me crazy. I have tried many with side effects each time. I have been on Diovan 80 for about 3 yers. Have ringing in ears, incomplete elimination of food, insomnia and my pressure has now sgtarted to climb. Dr. wants to increase to 2x a day. I am not sure I can handle this. Want to get off meds completely or find one with less side effects. Any one have good results on other drugs.
I’ve been on 10 different BP meds with nothing but side effects. I developed gout while on Benicar – no one had told me it could cause gout, but it does. Switched to Bystolic, and the gout continued. I finally stopped taking all meds due to side effects, and got the Resperate. I’m also using my treadmill 15-20 mins a day, and my numbers are reasonable for me – 140–150s/70s–80s. Lisinopril made me cough, Toprol and Toprol XR, Norvasc, Micardis, hydralzine, all made me ache all over, couldn’t sleep at night, chest pains. Hydrochlorothiazide is a sulfa drug and I’m allergic to sulfa – again, doctor knew I was allergic but prescribed it – I also was on an alpha blocker. It lowered my BP for about 4 hours, but my heart raced at around 100 bpm, then BP went back up.