54 and my BP shot up a few years ago out of the blue - I had always had low BP (even during pregnancies) and I think in my case it was a combination of menopause and weight gain (about 15 lbs). I’ve now lost 25 lbs and started medication last Fall. I am currently on 50 mg of Losartan and it makes me extremely anxious. Has anyone else had this side effect? BP is within normal range but the nervousness is really tough.

PP here who found this old thread and was wondering what the second line of defense is. I am not afraid of any side effect, nothing to lose at my age - early 60s. PP who took amlodipin, what dosage did you take? I was considering adding it to lisinopril/diuretic combo.

I've been taking Rampiril (Altace) for years with no side effects. Does wonders for my BP. What side effects are you worried about? Do you trust your doctor? If they recommend BP medication it is because they are weighing the risk of side effects worth it to mitigate heart risk.

Anonymous wrote:resurrecting this thread. What is the second line of defense against high BP after your first line (diuretic/lisinopril) fails? Early 60s.

I have been on so many. Usually the "sartans" - losartan, olmesartan, etc. Or amlodipine. Lisinopril made me cough. Amlodipine made my feet swell. The sartans were ok, but I was still itching. I am no on nebivolol and it seems fine.

400 mg magnesium glycinate taken at 8 pm drops my blood pressure 10-12-15 points

Eat unprocessed everything.

resurrecting this thread. What is the second line of defense against high BP after your first line (diuretic/lisinopril) fails? Early 60s.

OP I'm so glad you asked this question. I am in my early 40s and have always had normal (110/80) BP even through my pregnancies and have never had any problems and then bam, two years ago suddenly it shoots up to 140/90. It was like as if a switch had been flipped. Sometimes the readings are normal and sometimes high, and now I have white coat syndrome because I get nervous every time I have my BP taken, when it used to never be a big deal. I'm 15lbs overweight and basically exercising took a back seat after I had my second one, so I am sure weight is related, but my dr basically said at this point, just go on meds since it's unlikely to come down on its own without a significant change in diet/exercise. I have been exercising daily and my diet isn't terrible, but my BP is still high and at this point I think I will just go on medicine so I don't have to stress over it. I do not understand how I suddenly went from normal to high, but I think the lack of exercise and the resulting weight gain finally caught up to me healthwise.

Anonymous wrote:A friend who is a cardiologist says he'd put lisinopril and atorvastatin into water coolers if he was in charge.

Drug companies educated him well.