Q: I’ve recently started working out (one of the more physical programs) and the other day I began to experience signs of energy loss, some diziness, physical weakness, and fatigue. I’ve been feeling better since I quit the routine, but I wanted to ask if my BP meds or my BP itself (which had been in control)could be “interfering” with my workout. The spirit is willing but the flesh got weak.
A: Sounds like you did too much too soon. Rather than stopping working out, you should choose a less vigorous program and gradually build up your strength and endurance. Certain blood pressure medicines can keep the heart from to beating fast enough to keep up with the demands of exercise. You should discuss your medicines and exercise goals with your doctor.
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Are you still checking your BP? Now that you are exercising you could be naturally lowering your BP. The BP meds could be causing your BP to get too low which would cause any of the above symptoms. If this is the case you might ask your doctor about lowering your dosage or taking you off completely from the meds .. if you feel you can keep up this healthy lifestyle.
This answer from the experts didn’t address a very common problem – YES – those meds can definitely be making you dizzy and can affect your workouts. I am on 3 meds – all of them are clearly labeled “can cause dizziness”. One, Hydrochlorathorazide (spelling?) – anyway, it’s a diuretic, so I need to make sure not to get dehydrated in general and especially during workouts. Losaartan is an ARB, which is another that can just make you feel tired in general. Another one, Metoprolol, can definitely lower heart rate significantly and make you feel lethargic – which is why a secondary use is as an anti-anxiety drug. So, always look up your drugs to see what side effects they may be having, always keep an eye on your blood pressure outside of doc visits and don’t be afraid to ask your doc if there are other meds that can do the job for YOU – that might have less side effects. It took me three years to get to a reasonable blood pressure treatment plan that works most of the time (I had and still occassionally have hypertensive emergencies – something you don’t want).
DO NOT GO OFF THOSE MEDS COMPLETELY WITHOUT DOCTOR SUPERVISION!
Once you have gotten your weight down and can exercise in a normal range – also watching your diet – you might be one of the lucky ones who can go off those meds and stay off. I thought that and did it myself and ended up in the ER just before having a serious stroke or heart attack. I have brain lesions now that caused some mild neurological damage and am lucky. Make sure to be proactive with your doctor and if you don’t feel your doctor is answering your questions or taking the time needed to find a solution that works for you – then find another doctor.
i feel the exact same way, even when i’n not exercising. I am on a relatively low dose of lisinopril 12.5. I’m only 18 years old but heavily overweight at 270 pounds.My guess is it’s i’m too high of a dose.
Supposedly lightheadedness is a symptom of low BP but I’ve been lightheaded with my 20mg of Lisinopril and my BP is not too low.
They will take all the test required for a phsciyal i highly doubt that you are going to get to request something to be done and not get charged extra for it they will prolly tell you to go to a reg. doctor for other test not required for a phsciyal!!
I have been on Ramipril 10 mg. I am also a gym goer. I go twice a week. But some weeks ago I started taking only 5mg sometimes in the morning sometimes in the evening. They do make me tired and I get head aches. I am a bit confused for the last couple of days I have been having a dull head ache all around and my scull feels hot too. I made the change on my own and some times I stop taking them when I am about to go to the gym. Now,keep swapping and changing like this,would it make my head aches worse?? I wa also on Losartan for a week ,50 mg. It made me so tired that I stopped it but did not inform my doctor…just told the pharmacist only!! Whwn I was prescribed Losartan the pharmacist made me sign a consent paper whic I found odd!! Have you any idea why he asked me to sign it?? Now,all these BP medicines always have some side effects. It is so complicated to find the right one whis is suitable. I really enjoy my gym activities,I train with weights and I am 72 this month.This head ache and the hot flashes in my face and head is worrying me now. I took paracetemol but it did not help!! Anybody has any suggestions for me?? Thank you.
I hope you are checking your BP. The headache and the red flushed skin are all signs your blood pressure is up. The pharm was probably informing you about the potassium loading effects of Losaartan – you were on the lower dose. You have to be careful not to take extra potassium on it. The other person was correct about possible diuretic effects, but that is only if that was added to the drug – it would say Losaartan HZT or something. Tylenol doesn’t do much for the hypertensive headaches, you have to get that blood pressure down. Did you talk to doctor about this? Lisinopril did work better for me for lowering BP in beginning – unfortunately it does create a terrible cough in many patients and I developed that after several months on the drug. You might want to consider the RESPeRATE. It does work, I’ve looked it up. I haven’t gotten one yet. I do try to lay down and do slow breathing exercises. If you can stand a light version of yoga and/or pilates – they both focus on breathing also. It’s worth a try.
here’s some more info on the breathing..
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/resperate/AN01523
I took Ibufren but with Ramipril ,it made my lips swell suddenly. So I was give antihistamine to stop it which it did within three days…!!!My head ache is still with me right now still. So annoying!! To say the least!!
I had headaches with Norvasc similar to what you describe. It also made me so dizzy I almost passed out. I had the doc switch me to Lisinopril which was a big improvement and worked better for lowering my BP as well. I also exercise regularly and these meds all too affected my exercise tolerance as well.
Every medicine (drug) is a potential poison because it is not a natural substance from the body and it causes side-effects from which there is ‘no escape’ ! One of the most disadvantageous side effects of the HBP drugs called Diuretics is severe Potassium loss from the muscle cells along with dehydration which causes a feeling of listlessness and severe weakness and as someone said, ‘the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak’, indeed it is weak because the Potassium from the muscle cells has been ‘peed’ away by the Diuretic drugs for the HBP ! And it takes quite a while for the body to recover the losses and regain normality as it awaits the dietary supplements of Potassium and redistribution from the other compartments of the body to regain equilibrium which could be interpreted as the muscle strength ! It is a complicated ‘pharmaco-physiological’ response of the body but in simple terms this is what it boils down to !
I ran through the gamut of 4 different antihypertensive medications and all were successful at producing side effects, some worse than other. Some actually worked and others did not. In my quest to find a better alternative, I gradually began changing my diet to one that was plant based and my BP came down naturally. In combination with daily exercise, I was able to discontinue my use of medications. Careful diet is the key. In non Westernized cultures where plant based diets are common, hypertension rates are very low.
Wow I have read most of the responses and found them to be very helpful. I will contine my gym routinue but at a slower moderated pace.