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pacemaker and high blood pressure
HI, My 76 yr old husband just got a pacemaker, Now his is experiencing weird symptoms. We are in contact with his cardiologist but I wonder if any of you have had these issues. During the day, his blood pressure is normal but at about 7pm, it starts going up. By by 11 or 12 it is 200. He is afraid to go to sleep. The cardiologist has doubled his carvediol but the bp is still going up. He is supposed to take clonidine once it's over 160 but it jumps. Last night it was 150 at 10. He went to bed but couldn't sleep. I had him take it at 12 and it was 185. Have any of you experienced these symptoms and if so, what worked for you. Thank you, Joan
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My normal BP is usually 140-160, but last year noticed I was getting spikes to185. I did not notice any correlation with time of day. My cardiologist and nephrologist both prescribed hydralazine about 6 months ago and I have seen fewer spikes and none above170. My situation is quite different from your husband's--87 years old, AFib, no pacemaker--but hydralazine may be worth discussing with your doctor. By the way, I continue my other BP medications including Bystolic, diltiazem, Plavix.
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1 ReactionHi @jmb73, I thought I would share a News Network post from Mayo Clinic that one of Connects mentors came across. "People exposed to prolonged periods of shortened sleep have significant increases in blood pressure during nighttime hours, Mayo Clinic researchers report in a small study of eight participants." Prolonged Shortened Sleep Increases Blood Pressure at Night: https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/prolonged-shortened-sleep-increases-blood-pressure-at-night-mayo-clinic-researchers-find/
Has his Cardiologist mentioned any sleep medication that may help him to fall asleep?
@amandaburnett. I have hypertension which is under control with medication. I don't sleep well at night, maybe i should check my bp in the middle of the night to see how my bp is.
Thank you. We will talk to him about hydralazine.
Hi Amanda, His cardiologist hasn't mentioned anything about a sleep medication yet. I will ask about one on Monday. It seems I am calling his office every other day. They are very nice and call me back quickly. The doctor did put him on another medication- amlodipine yesterday. But he still had the spike and had to take clonidine at midnight. I did tell them that he wasn't sleeping- I think it's worrying him ( me too) that his blood pressure will go too high and he will have a stroke. His mother had many strokes. He is on so many medications that look alike in his pill boxes. Thank you for your help.
@jmb73. I'm sorry to heat about your husband's ordeal. I can relate. I have a family history of strokes and I am on meds for hypertension, which thank goodness, is under control. Occasionally my bp will spike up, bit never more than a day. Years ago I remember going to the ER because it was over 180, they gave me an injection of some sort and released me when it went down to 140. The doctor told me to stop taking my bp so often, anxiety raises bp. The other day my bp went up to 160/100, called my cardiologist, the doctor on call said to keep an eye on it and call back the next day if its still up there. He didn't seem too concern! The next day it was back to normal. I read somewhere that if you are taking a medication for high bp, it's better to take it at night. I'm really sensitive to meds so I have to space them out, I take 25 mg of Losartan in the morning, 25 at 2:30,and my 2.5 Amlodipine before I go to bed. I hope your husband will find the meds that will help him. Take care.
In a medical setting WHITE COAT HYPERTENSION is common, also at home rising BP can be due to anxiety, just the thought of a reading can raise pressure. A lot of doctors do not get to concerned with a reading of 160-170/90. As pressure changes during the day. All meds have side affects, it’s just finding one that agrees with you.
On a personal note, I’m not a pill popper, if there are natural ways to control a condition, I’m all for that.
I have a friend who pops over 20 meds a day, then cannot understand why she is tired and no energy all the time.
All those chemicals in her body are fighting each other.
Funcountess
I appreciate your information. He is still having the spikes but only at night. I am wondering if he is nervous about it going up and that is making it go up. But last night at 9 it was 120 and then he took it at 12 when he got up for a bathroom trip and it's 200! So he had to take a clonidine. He is on a lot of medicine and is taking more at night. Thanks for your information. Joan
Hello
my husband is also on hydralazine- He takes one 25 mg Tablet 4 times daily. (100 mg daily) . He would prefer to take it twice a day. Lately his numbers are high. I’d love to hear from you- What is your husbands dosage per day? how often does he take it ? Is he on other BP meds? I don’t know anyone on hydralazine, so it’s nice to connect with you. Grachi
Also did dr mention anything about having blood labs drawn periodically while on hydralazine? Grachi