Difficulty finding a blood pressure med I can tolerate

I Take as follows:
Carvedilol 25mg Tablets (2 tablets/Twice Daily=4 Total Daily)
Amlodipine Besylate Tablet 10 mg (2 Tablets Daily)
Atorvastatin 20 mg Tablets (1 Tablet Daily)
2015 Type A-1 Aortic Dissection repaired by surgery. Metoprolol was terrible for me. Lisinopril caused a persistent nighttime dry cough after 45 days. I'd never touch either or them ever again. 60 yo male, 248lbs, 6'

I love these granular discussions we have here. I appreciate the honesty and abundance of information that goes way beyond what we get from the doctors. They know the technical side of things, thank goodness, but those of us with the condition know how it feels and that's important too.

I had a persistent cough for a long time. It's better now, but it went on for a very long time and the doctors couldn't find a reason for it. I never thought about it being the medicine I take, but that makes sense.

Is your blood pressure consistently elevated, or intermittent? Have they looked at your metanephrine levels? Usually, it's a 24 hour urine lab that checks for breakdown products of human stress response hormones, catecholamines.

I found out my ascending aorta aneurysm 4.2cm in an hospital emergency due to side effects of blood pressure medication Olmesartan.
Since then, I had tried Amlodipine 10mg which brought down my blood pressure effectively, but then had to stopped it from ankle swelling. Dr gave me Lisinopril 10mg and Metoprolol 25mg that made cough and headache, dizzy and heart rate went down to 40s. Now I just started Losarton 50mg, if the rate rate goes up 60s, take one Metoprolol. I just started 2 days ago, don’t know if this will work. The problem is my blood pressure is still higher than 120 and higher. I know I am sensitive to medication…..

I had that reaction to lisinopril, the cough.

Metoprolol was worse. I was like taking a pill to cause depression, and bradycardia.

Fingers crossed, I am doing okay on Losartan 25 mg.

Hi Lara. Not sure if your questions was directed at me. My blood pressure is pretty normal usually around 115/76. I will have fluctuations going up around 125/85. But my blood pressure isn't usually sitting there. Still, they want me on a bp med because of the dilations.
I've never heard of metanephrine levels. What would that tell a doctor and how would that influence medication choice?

Your BP doesn't sound like it goes high enough for metanephrines to be a concern. The test is to look for conditions causing elevations in stress response hormones, conditions like pheochromocytoma or carcinoid syndrome.

I just retired from nursing in March. Finding the right medicine to control someone's BP, can sometimes be difficult. I was just diagnosed in September with a 4.2 cm dilation in my arch and ascending aorta. I wasn't started on any BP meds. My systolic is usually 110-116. Diastolic 60s-70s. He did start me on low dose Crestor, even though my lipids are all within normal range. I see my cardiologist again April 1. After reading that you are all on a BP med, will be something to ask at my next appointment. It is a comfort to listen to other stories. What I learn from all of you will help me make sure I am getting the right treatment. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you.

I had problems taking Metoprolol but it was so long ago that I can't remember specifically what the issue was. My cardio suggested I take a half tablet, which I did and which worked well. Once I got used to the drug I was switched to the full tablet and no problems. I also take losartan 25 mgs, without problems.