Blood Pressure Medication

Bigger Stronger Leaner Over 35 Lifter
1

Last night a very good friend of mine said he’s going to start on high blood pressure medication.

Given his lifestyle (high stress, virtually no exercise) and poor diet, I’m not that surprised that it’s on the high side. He’s turning 50. His readings are consistently about 140/80. His doctor has him taking readings at home just to make sure it’s not the “white coat” syndrome, etc.

I tried to talk to him about making changes in his life that would have multiple and long-term benefits for his health beyond lowering his BP.

However, he feels it’s just easier to take a pill; and feels he can’t make those changes. I’d love to educate him on what his choices are.

I don’t know much about BP medication - but my knee jerk reaction is that this is the wrong approach, and only to be used as a last resort.

Does anyone here know much about BP medication? Relatively benign? Pretty effective? Horrible side effects? Outright dangerous?

3

BP meds, quite the double edged sword. I was on a beta blocker/ diuretic combo for years. Then it became ineffective. I moved to an ACE Inhibitor that had to be combined with the diuretic again.

From my experience the same class of drug can give marked different side effects. So your friend should be very aware of changes like cluster headaches, dry cough, muscle aches, etc.

If your friend wants to really think outside of the box, get Dr. Sherry Rogers “High Blood Pressure Hoax”. While I have not read it my father has and is constantly trying to get me to read it. Keep in mind he is still on his BP meds.

4

I think you’re wasting your time.

He “feels” that lifestyle changes are too much trouble.

You “feel” that meds are a bad choice.

These are emotional positions and facts don’t mean anything here.

Besides… he’s 100% right. Taking a pill is easier. His compass is set to “easy” and you’re not going to change that with “facts.”

Changing your lifestyle is the most difficult thing you can do. It is literally impossible for the vast majority of people. The only way it ever happens is when people undergo an emotional transformation first.

6

Smoke a joint.

8

[quote]happydog48 wrote:
I think you’re wasting your time.

He “feels” that lifestyle changes are too much trouble.

You “feel” that meds are a bad choice.

These are emotional positions and facts don’t mean anything here.

Besides… he’s 100% right. Taking a pill is easier. His compass is set to “easy” and you’re not going to change that with “facts.”

Changing your lifestyle is the most difficult thing you can do. It is literally impossible for the vast majority of people. The only way it ever happens is when people undergo an emotional transformation first.[/quote]

Good post.

9

[quote]happydog48 wrote:
I think you’re wasting your time.

He “feels” that lifestyle changes are too much trouble.

You “feel” that meds are a bad choice.

These are emotional positions and facts don’t mean anything here.
[/quote]

Indeed, that’s why I’m trying to gather some facts!

I imagine it depends upon the “facts” I provide him. If I were to discover and tell him that 50% of people taking these medications develop ED, for example, that might peak his interest in alternatives, no?

[quote]
Changing your lifestyle is the most difficult thing you can do. It is literally impossible for the vast majority of people. The only way it ever happens is when people undergo an emotional transformation first.[/quote]

^^^ Wise words these.

Thanks & Cheers! ~katz

10

[quote]bushidobadboy wrote:
There are at least 5 different types of BP med, that attack the problem from different angles.

The newer meds have the least side-effects, generally speaking.

Starting with the ‘worst’, we have beta-blockers which limit HR, therefore limiting BP, but also drmatically affecting exercise tolerance, etc.

Next we have diuretics. If you reduce blood volume (by reducing blood water content), you lower BP, but you also induce weakness and reduction in overal function and work capacity.

There are calcium channel blockers, which work by reducing the contractile ability of the heart muscle, thereby reducing pulse pressure and BP. These can cause muscle pain and weakness I believe.

Now we come on to ACE inhibitors. These work by suppressing the conversion of angiotensin I into angiotensin II, which is a powerful vasoconstrictor. Relax the blood vessels, and you reduce the pressure needed to drive the circulation, resulting in reduced BP. This type of med has the least sides, as I recall.

However, this is all off the top of my head, and I’m sure I’m missing a subtype of BP meds, so hopefully someone else will chip in. MODOK? Prisoner? Anyone?

Bushy[/quote]

Thanks Bushy!

From what I can tell, the most common (20%) side effect from ACE inhibitors is a dry persistent cough.

Others, aside from the “first does effect” and allergic reactions, include:

Tachycardia (abnormally fast heartbeat)
Edema (swelling) in the face, mouth, hands or feet
Headache
Drowsiness, weakness or fatigue
Loss of taste (especially with captopril)
Diarrhea
Nausea or upset stomach
Vomiting
Abdominal cramps, pain or distention
Joint pain
Chest pain
Jaundice (rare, but serious)

11

[quote]j_willy3 wrote:
BP meds, quite the double edged sword. I was on a beta blocker/ diuretic combo for years. Then it became ineffective. I moved to an ACE Inhibitor that had to be combined with the diuretic again.

From my experience the same class of drug can give marked different side effects. So your friend should be very aware of changes like cluster headaches, dry cough, muscle aches, etc.

If your friend wants to really think outside of the box, get Dr. Sherry Rogers “High Blood Pressure Hoax”. While I have not read it my father has and is constantly trying to get me to read it. Keep in mind he is still on his BP meds.[/quote]

Thanks, J_Willy - has the treatment been successful? Any side effects for you? Are you aware of treatments currently in the pipeline?

12

I have been running high lately and keeping a daily log then in 1 month I will average out and make a decission about meds. I think mine is from the lack of sleep I get. i noticed nights I sleep good it is around 120/70 and the nights I don’t 140/80. I excersize 5 days a week and eat healthy so mine is something not related to being unhealthy. It raise after going on HRT. so maybe the T-CYP. I believe if it is not above the 140/80 then meds are not needed. I will noy do any meds unless i have toi since I likethe life I have now without the ED and being fatigued all the time.

13

[quote]bushidobadboy wrote:
There are at least 5 different types of BP med, that attack the problem from different angles.

The newer meds have the least side-effects, generally speaking.

Starting with the ‘worst’, we have beta-blockers which limit HR, therefore limiting BP, but also drmatically affecting exercise tolerance, etc.

Next we have diuretics. If you reduce blood volume (by reducing blood water content), you lower BP, but you also induce weakness and reduction in overal function and work capacity.

There are calcium channel blockers, which work by reducing the contractile ability of the heart muscle, thereby reducing pulse pressure and BP. These can cause muscle pain and weakness I believe.

Now we come on to ACE inhibitors. These work by suppressing the conversion of angiotensin I into angiotensin II, which is a powerful vasoconstrictor. Relax the blood vessels, and you reduce the pressure needed to drive the circulation, resulting in reduced BP. This type of med has the least sides, as I recall.

However, this is all off the top of my head, and I’m sure I’m missing a subtype of BP meds, so hopefully someone else will chip in. MODOK? Prisoner? Anyone?

Bushy[/quote]

The only other one is the ARBs, which are cousins of the ACE inhibitors. I think that’s it anyway.

I don’t think OP should try to talk his friend out of taking these meds if that’s what he’s thinking. They could save his life.

14

katzenjammer, I have been on BP meds since I was 34, I am 47 now. The beta-blocker/diuretic worked well for 10 years. The only side effect was one brand gave me a dry cough at night. Like a dumbass I didn’t tell the Doc so he could switch it. I have had no side effect from the ACE Inhibitors, except an intitial headache and of course the diuretic makes me pee alot, so dont take the combo pill at bed time!!

That combo drug eventually became ineffective. Unrelated to the meds, but related to my lifestyle, my weight ballooned to just south of 300 lbs. in 2006

November of 2007 after much consternation from my colleagues I initiated a lifestyle change. I am 52 lbs lighter from the “high blubber” mark and 40 lbs lighter since 2007.

At my last Doc appt. my BP was 110/70, medicated. If I can loose another 40 lbs(my goal) I might come off the meds.

16

[quote]beebuddy wrote:

I don’t think OP should try to talk his friend out of taking these meds if that’s what he’s thinking. They could save his life.[/quote]

Good point.

This morning he sat down to talk about options with his doctor. Doc said that he’ll give him six months to see if he can bring down/stabilize his BP naturally, but also remarked that, in his experience, it’s very rare for some to have the discipline/knowledge to achieve this, and so predicts that he’ll be on BP medication at that point. The only way he is going to make the necessary changes is if he himself concludes - based on possible/likely side effects - that the medication is a last resort option. Otherwise, as noted above, I think he’ll just muck along until he’s given a prescription.

17

[quote]bushidobadboy wrote:
jakeman124 wrote:
I have been running high lately and keeping a daily log then in 1 month I will average out and make a decission about meds. I think mine is from the lack of sleep I get. i noticed nights I sleep good it is around 120/70 and the nights I don’t 140/80. I excersize 5 days a week and eat healthy so mine is something not related to being unhealthy. It raise after going on HRT. so maybe the T-CYP. I believe if it is not above the 140/80 then meds are not needed. I will noy do any meds unless i have toi since I likethe life I have now without the ED and being fatigued all the time.

You may well be right. I read a study in which loud/irritating night time noises can increase BP by about 10 points systolic and 15 points diastolic.

So there is likely to be a link between sleep and BP, certainly.

Bushy[/quote]

Bushy, lack of sleep > raises cortisol, right?

18

I’m a high school teacher and my BP always drops in June.

I take Lisinopril, 20 mg/ed. I started when I began taking HRT. Also have to give blood every 2 months, since the androgens also increase blood volume.

19

[quote]j_willy3 wrote:
katzenjammer, I have been on BP meds since I was 34, I am 47 now. The beta-blocker/diuretic worked well for 10 years. The only side effect was one brand gave me a dry cough at night. Like a dumbass I didn’t tell the Doc so he could switch it. I have had no side effect from the ACE Inhibitors, except an intitial headache and of course the diuretic makes me pee alot, so dont take the combo pill at bed time!!

That combo drug eventually became ineffective. Unrelated to the meds, but related to my lifestyle, my weight ballooned to just south of 300 lbs. in 2006

November of 2007 after much consternation from my colleagues I initiated a lifestyle change. I am 52 lbs lighter from the “high blubber” mark and 40 lbs lighter since 2007.

At my last Doc appt. my BP was 110/70, medicated. If I can loose another 40 lbs(my goal) I might come off the meds.[/quote]

Great job on the lifestyle changes and fat loss! Good luck bro on the next 40lbs. Cheers, ~katz

20

[quote]Headhunter wrote:
I’m a high school teacher and my BP always drops in June.
[/quote]
lol!

Interesting. I’ve been thinking about giving blood for many reasons - the other day I filled out a form at a local donation center. It turns out I can’t because I’ve spent too long in England at the wrong times.