Blood Pressure Meds (ARBS). Has anyone had a POSITIVE experience?

@lilac2025 I can tell you a little of my journey. At 50, with a stressful joband limited time for exercise, my BP was moderately high and my family histories (both sides) of cardiovascular disease was awful, so I began taking a low dose of losinopril. It was okay except for a nagging cough, which I attributed to, my asthma and allergies. Then I learned it was a common side effects of the medication.

At 57, I had an unfortunate medical situation that caused a very rapid heartbeat, so this was switched to metoprolol. Around that time, my asthma became more difficult to control. Seven years later, in consultation with a clinical pharmacist, my primary did a med review to figure out why I was having so much trouble. It turned out the metoprolol was fighting my asthma meds and I was switched to Losartan.

Losartan hasn't caused any issues, and last year I was diagnosed with coronary artery disease (thank you genetics!) The cardiologist was happy with the BP control the low dose of the drug provided, and didn't change it.

I consider it a success story. I continue to try to maintain a healthy diet and weight, and get good exercise and sleep.

I had an afib episode over 20 years ago in my 50s and was put on 25 mg losartan and 25 mg metoprolol extended release (beta blocker). I reduced the metoprolol to 12.5 for 20 years. I didn’t have another afib episode until 5 years ago and so I upped the metoprolol back up to 25 mg. Both times that I had the afib episode, I had had a very highly stressful event beforehand. Back in my 50s my electrophysiologist/cardiologist tested the heck out of me and determined that my heart was healthy with a slightly leaky valve and he attributed the freak afib episode to the highly stressful event beforehand. But he still recommended that I continue with the two meds. Since the afib episode scared the beejeebers out of me, I did as told, albeit I reduced the beta blocker to 1/2 the amount.

I haven’t had any problems with losartan although I used to suffer badly with restless legs and I read earlier in the year that losartan can exacerbate restless legs. Since having my left hip replaced at age 73, I no longer get restless legs in my left leg. I joke that maybe I could see if Medicare would replace my (perfectly fine) right hip to get rid of the restless leg in that leg. I typically only get it in the evenings when I want to sit down and knit or read. Anyway, I now live in a different state and have a different electrophysiologist/cardiologist and so when I had my annual checkup in February, I asked him if I could try lisinopril to see if my restless leg would get better. He said sure but not to get rid of my losartan. To make a long story short, the lisinopril caused such a horrible, intense post nasal drip, I went back to the Losartan. Only 10% or so people will be affected with post nasal drip on lisinopril and since I wasn’t expecting that side effect, it took me a few months to discover that that was a thing, go back to losartan and get rid of the post nasal drip.

Sorry for this very long story. I wasn’t on lisinopril long enough (3 months maybe) to really say that my restless leg got better. It didn’t during that timeframe. So I would say that I haven’t really had any side effects from taking Losartan. I’ve learned to put a compression sleeve on that calf when it gets restless and that seems to calm it down a lot. Also, since then, I read a report from a doctor (I think his name is Bestermann) who described all the good things that losartan does to your blood vessels in addition to lowering your blood pressure. So I’m very glad that I went back to it. I hope that all the years I’ve been taking it, even at its lowest dose, that it has been good for my blood vessels. The older we get, the more good news that a medication can deliver, the better, in my book.

I have taken a number of blood pressure meds for the past 20 years. I had to stop Norvasc due ankle swelling and Lisinopril due to cough. I’ve been on propranolol and olmesarten without any problems but had to add hydralazine last year due to spikes of high readings. No side effects with it.

I'm 70 and have been on Irbesartan (Avapro) for about 30 yrs. You made need to take Coq10 to combat the muscle and joint pain that comes with most statins.

@con123

So often no side effects is declared a triumph. But did the hydralazine actually stop the BP spikes?

@stuffy Yes it did.

Hi

Have you researched any drugs you are prescribed or want to know about on the rxlist site?
It is the site most commonly used by health professionals, so it is super detailed and educational. It will tell you of side effects that are never on the patient info sheets that accompany the meds when you get them from your pharmacy (or i believe in USA you call them drug stores).

I have been on Losartan for years without any problem. I also take Metoprolol without any problem. (Lisinopril gave me a chronic dry cough.)

@stuffy In addition to my regular am and pm blood pressure meds I take hydralazine in the evenings if I watch shows or books I find exciting. Not needed if I watch a Hallmark channel or a comedy. Game of Thrones was responsible for my first ER trip with BP 210/95 even taking my normal BP meds, atenolol am and pm, valsartan am and amlodipine pm. I've been told to take a hydralazine (10 mg (same med they give kids with ADD or ADHS and flat lines all emotions) before reading or watching anything exciting to prevent spikes. I check my BP every evening before bed and may need to take an additional hydralazine. My bottle reads I can take 1-3 daily.,if my BP is over 130. In my case I know when my BP is up because I have pulsative tinnitus and when my pulse is up I hear the beat loudly in my left ear.
So one hydralazine does help to prevent spikes, but often additional hydralazine pill or pills is needed. if I get excited. I've ever noticed any side effects,
The only one of my BP meds with negative side effects is the nasty calcium channel blocker Amlodipine. A low dose of 5 mg causes no edema in me but I have to take a higher dose 10 mg and it causes painful edema.
I developed high BP at at age 50 and it has gradually worsened to my current age of 77. I never had to take a calcium channel blocker until 2 years ago.
Also for those that can spike as high as I do, get a PX of Clonidine. for blood pressure over 180. After 3 ER trips I got this PX and haven't had an ER trip for high BP in 4 years. Beats sitting in an ER at midnight to 6 am waiting to be admitted because the ER is full. Clonidine is what they give you in the ER and works for me within 30 minutes. I am to take it if my BP gets over 180 which has happened only once since I have had hydralazine 10mg (1-3 daily) added to my extensive list of BP meds. Best to avoid Clonidine unless absolutely necessary because of the negative zombie making side effect.

I have been diagnosed with high blood pressure about 5 years. I have been to numerous hospiatls and still i never feel the same.I now take 10mg amlodipine and 10mg enalapril and by evening my bp is high again .My ankles and leg are also swollen by evening.Also i have a pain on my right side of head in the same spot everytime i feel my pressure spiking.Not sure what i can do