Q: I have been on Lerbex XL 4 mg 1 twice a day, Amlodipoine 10mg 1 once a day and Ramipril 10 mg once a day since July 2010. I’m still taking them and my BP is still 215/ 110!! They are not working yet and I’m still given them…why?
A: If you are not seeing a kidney specialist, you need to ask your doctor for a referral. You are on three different types of medicine and your blood pressure is not in control. You may have a kidney problem. Make an appointment to discuss this further with your doctor. To learn more about difficult to control blood pressure go to this page at the Harvard Health Site.
Not a doc and not saying this is the cause, but a contributing factor could be your diet. I gave up grains, sugar all processed flour, and eat mostly lean protein, good fats and vegetables with a little fruit. I also cut down on legumes and potatoes. With this low carb diet and regular exercise, I was able to control my BP, although it was never as high as yours. You probably do need to be on mes, but perhaps they’ll work better if you change your diet, and cut down on the carbs and sugars especially. Good luck!
I’m not a doctor, either, just someone struggling with BP myself. Your readings are very high, so don’t fool around. You need to have some tests. Do you test your BP at home? Is your weight in a normal range? Do you eat lots of fruits and veggies, and get enough fiber? Just as important, is daily exercise a part of your life? If you do all the things you should, and your BP is still high, get yourself to your doctor right away. But one thing I’ve learned, meds alone often don’t solve the problem, so don’t make the mistake of thinking popping pills is going to control your BP if you have an unhealthy lifestyle.
Have you ever had a 24 hour blood pressure monitor that you wear and it automatically takes your blood pressure to see if it varies and by how much? I have extreme fight or flight reactions that cause blood pressure similar to yours, and yet most of the time my BP is in the normal range. BP meds have no effect. What helps me is turning off the radio and TV and listening to soothing music, going for a walk or working in the garden, doing something I enjoy like creating art, and slowing my breathing and practicing EFT, emotional freedom technique, and prayer.