Dizziness from lisinopril-hctz
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Feb 10 2010
Q: I have been taking BP meds for 6 days and it makes me feel dizzy and lightheaded. The doctor said my body needs to get used to it and sometimes it takes a while. Is this normal? I take lisinopril-hctz 10-12.5 MG, he told me to take half of this to see if that helped the problem.
A: It sounds like your blood pressure medicine is working. Dizziness, especially when you stand up suddenly, is a common side effect of blood pressure drugs. It also may mean your blood pressure has been lowered too much. This is why your doctor wants to see how you do on a lower dose.
Tags: blood pressure, blood pressure drug, blood pressure drugs, blood pressure medicine, bp, Dizziness, dizzy, hctz, hypertension, Lisinopril, medicine, side effect, Taking BP MedsLowering BP with weight loss
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Jan 27 2010
Q: I am taking Norvasc (10mg), lisinopril / HCTZ (20/12.5mg); I also use Resperate for 20 min 4-5 times a week, and walk for 1 full hour 5 times a week. My current weight is 213lb, height is 5′10″, and BMI is 30.6. I have lost 53 pounds over the last year and increased my walking, yet my hypertension is still high. Is there a breakpoint, when my lower weight will bring down my blood pressure?
A: Congratulations on the weight loss. Keep on losing. Your BMI still isn’t in a healthy range. Even thin people can get high blood pressure. There is no magic weight where high blood pressure disappears.
Tags: Blood Pressure & Hypertension, bmi, bp, Diet & Exercise, hctz, health, high blood pressure, hypertension, Lisinopril, Norvasc, RESPeRATE, weight, weight lossPregnancy and BP medication
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Dec 02 2009
Q: I would like to become pregnant. My doctor says I have to come off of my medicine which is lisinopril. I used to be obese but I lost 325 lbs and no longer need all that medicine I took but I find it hard to part with the med. What works as well as lisinopril that I can take during pregnancy?
A: If your doctor feels it is safe for you to stop Lisinopril, you certainly should. It is best to take as little medicine as possible when you are trying to get pregnant and during pregnancy. Several medicines are available to control hypertension during pregnancy. Examples include Methyldopa and Labetalol.
Tags: hypertension, labetalol, Lisinopril, methyldopa, pregnancy, Pregnancy & Menopause, pregnant, Taking BP MedsDrug assistance programs
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Aug 27 2009
Q: How can I keep my blood pressure down without the use of meds? I plan on talking to my doctor about Resperate however my money is limited at this moment. I have been taking lisinopril and until I can get to my doctor I need a way to keep my blood pressure low without the use of meds. Basically I cannot afford the doc to continue my meds.
A: Call your doctor. Most doctors will work with you to find a drug you can afford, provide you with samples, and/or put you in touch with drug assistance programs. On the web go to: http://www.pparx.org/
Tags: blood pressure, drug assistance programs, Lisinopril, medication, meds, Misc, money, RESPeRATE, Taking BP MedsDrugs for treating hypertension
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Aug 06 2009
Q: Are there any guidelines as to how high on a daily, consistent basis, blood pressure must be in order to damage the kidneys or heart? Also, are there any meds besides lisinopril/hctz that are more effective to lower b.p.?
A: Blood pressure that is greater than 139/89 needs to be treated. The treatment goal is a blood pressure that is less than 140/90. There are many different types of medication used to treat high blood pressure. Your doctor will suggest a treatment plan that is best suited to your needs based on the severity of your high blood pressure and other medical problems you might have. This plan may include more than one drug and drugs that belong to different classes. To learn more about the different drugs used to treat high blood pressure click here.
Tags: Blood Pressure & Hypertension, drugs, high blood pressure, hypertension, Lisinopril, lisinopril hctz, medication, Taking BP MedsImportance of lifestyle changes
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Jun 22 2009
Q: I have high blood pressure and am drug resistant, taking HCTZ, Triamtrin, Dyazide, Atenolol, Clonidine, Verapamil, Lisinopril, and I have ordered the Resperate. Any other suggestions?
A: Don’t forget about lifestyle. What you eat and how much you exercise play a big role in blood pressure control. There are very few people who wouldn’t benefit from losing a few pounds and being a little more active.
Tags: Atenolol, Blood Pressure & Hypertension, blood pressure control, Clonidine, Diet & Exercise, dyazide, high blood pressure, lifestyle changes, Lisinopril, RESPeRATETime urgency to lower blood pressure
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Jun 09 2009
Q: My husband has been taking 10 mg of lisinopril and recently increased it to 20 mg. He has been on the 20 mg. dosage for 3 weeks and his blood pressure is still high, 176/96. He is very concerned as his upcoming job needs his blood pressure to be lower than this by September. If he goes on a higher dosage of this medicine or another, how long will it take for the MD to determine if the med is working to reduce his BP?
A: Your husband needs to make sure his doctor is aware of the need to have his blood pressure controlled by September. With a deadline, the doctor might change medications sooner to achieve control. In addition, your husband should consider using the RESPeRATE. It can be used safely in combination with drugs and generally starts working within four weeks.
Tags: Blood Pressure & Hypertension, blood pressure control, bp, drugs, Lisinopril, lower blood pressure, RESPeRATE, Taking BP MedsFeeling cold and spikes in BP
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Jun 09 2009
Q: My doctor put me on 25 mg. of hydrochlorothiazide for blood pressure spikes (up to 190/125). Feeling cold alerted me to the “spikes,” and I could bring it down only by jogging for a mile, taking a hot bath, or lying in front of a hot stove. The doctor added 10 mg of Lisinopril 2 months ago. I still have an occasional spike (160/100), but experience cold now more frequently than ever. I wondered if this is somehow related to the Lisinopril? My doctor can’t figure it out. Could Resperate help?
A: You failed to mention your usual blood pressure so it is difficult to answer your question. Whenever someone complains about feeling cold or hot, I think about thyroid problems. Thyroid problems can cause many symptoms that are hard to pin down, including regulation of blood pressure. RESPeRATE has been clinically proven to lower blood pressure. It may help you get your blood pressure into better control.
Tags: Blood Pressure & Hypertension, feeling cold, hydrochlorothyizide, Lisinopril, lower blood pressure, Misc, RESPeRATE, thyroid problemsWhite-coat hypertension and ambulatory monitoring
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Jun 03 2009
Q: I have been taking 40mg of Lisinopril and 12.5mg of Hydrochlorothiazide (diuretic) for a few years now. Since taking these medications my at-home readings are wonderful, averaging from 120/75 to as low as 90/56 at night. When
I visit the doctor’s office, my readings are high; from 140/85 up to 175/90. A doctor at the clinic felt that White Coat Syndrome could not spike up anyone’s readings THAT much. I am leery to start taking even more meds, or higher doses. In your opinion, can White Coat Syndrome spike numbers that high?
A: Since there is a difference between your home readings and those taken at the office, you might want to discuss ambulatory blood pressure monitoring with your doctor. This testing can help determine if your blood pressure is in control and if you suffer from white coat hypertension.
Tags: ambulatory blood pressure, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, Blood Pressure & Hypertension, blood pressure monitoring, diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide, hypertension, Lisinopril, white coat hypertension, white coat syndromeLisinopril and edema
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Apr 25 2009
Q: I’ve experienced pitting edema for three months, without any symptoms other than the swelling. Could it be caused by a reaction to Lisinopril, which I replaced for Avalide?
A: Edema can be caused by Lisinopril. This is likely if the swelling began shortly after you started taking the drug. You should discuss this with your doctor.
Tags: Avalide, edema, Lisinopril, pitting edema, side effect, Taking BP Meds
