Blood pressure drugs

[pippaandben]

After my pre-op assessment 4 weeks ago I was advised to see GP as my BP very high. |All other tests including ecg were fine. Was put on 2.5 mg Parmid but after 4 weeks this has made little if any difference and was 180/88 when I saw Dr at 4 weeks. He was new to me as 2 practices have joined but he explained what the different BP drugs do and has increased the Parmid to 5mg and added Ramipril. Have to return next week with am and pm BP readings from my home machine to see if others might have to be added to the mix or dosage changed.

Bit worried that this might have an adverse affect on my spine op as have been waiting 9 months now. But one comment GP made I thought I would share as he expressed utter amazement that I had not been put on BP drugs earlier as I was diabetic and why on earth had I not been transferred to the Diabetes Clinic on diagnosis!

I also queried with him if I might be Type 1-5 and the future implications this could have if I needed to go to a pump in the future. His response was -Oh you mean LADA that is quite possible - but lets sort out the BP and the op then we can concentrate on what else might be going on with you. I think I may have found that rare species of ordinary GP who understands diabetes and doesn't just say that I know more than he does as I have it!!

I am sure there must be others on BP drugs out there that can give me a guide as to the sort of questions I should ask when I see him next week. Any thoughts however ephemeral gratefully received as I don't want to scare myself by looking on the computer.

 

[grovesy]

At one point Diabetes were given lower BP targets.

 

[Amigo]

I use lisinopril and amlodipine for b/p and it acts as an additional protection for my kidneys being an Ace Inhibitor.

Diabetics do seem to require lower b/p levels which may in some part be kidney related.

In terms of your forthcoming op pippand ben, the anaesthetist will decide if he'll do it based on your levels. My GP ramped up my b/p meds prior to an op to get it as low as possible and the hospital took me off them once it was over.

Good to hear your GP is on the ball! 🙂

 

[Northerner]

I've been on a low dose of something called candesartan more or less since being diagnosed, although I would probably be fine without it as my BP levels are good. I was originally started on Ramipril at diagnosis, but had side-effects from it, so changed. The different 'families' do work in different ways, so sometimes are offered in combinations. My GP said that the candesartan was supposed to be more protective of the kidneys than the other meds, and this can often be the reason many people are automatically put on them. Read the leaflets and monitor for side-effects - mine was nausea when they increased the dose of ramipril, which identified it as the culprit out of the plethora of other meds I was on at the time. I get no noticeable side-effects from the candesartan.

Grovesy is right, as with cholesterol they look for tighter targets with diabetics, I think it was 140/80 for non-diabetics and 130/80 for diabetics when I was diagnosed in 2008.

Good to hear you have found a GP who is a more knowledgeable about the various manifestations of diabetes, I hope this leads to tests and possibly a change of diagnosis if indicated 🙂

 

[trophywench]

Had to look Parmid up - it's felodipine - which didn't touch my BP either, just made my ankles swell up alarmingly quickly - I could JUST get a pair of old trainers on my feet after only 7 days. No other shoes that I own, and wearing socks was purgatory, as even loose-knit hiking socks were too tight! Do keep a close eye on your feet and ankles for a while, in case. I'm back on 25mg Losartan and 4mg Doxasozin now, which seems fine.

Ramipril is an ACE inhibiter, which is usually the first drug of choice for anyone's BP. I took Lisinopril at first. ACE inhibiters (all the ~pril drugs) do have a very common side effect though - so if you too get the stupid, annoying, constant little cough - they'll change it to an ARB (all the ~sartan ones).