Blood pressure meds and side effects

I've not responded to everyone's response to my 1st comment starting blood pressure meds discussion in June 2025. Since that time, I've taken on my own investigation into the no meds I was prescribed in March 2025. Since that time, I have turned 80 this August. I discontinued the Metoprolol on my own in June. I went back to just using Amlodipine 5 mg and the Lisinopril for a while, but swelling in ankles, weight gain, squashy gums, etc ucky side effects, continued. Since early June went back to 2.5 Amlodipine and the Lisinopril and walking every day starting at 1/2 mile increments a week and got up to 2 miles a walk at an awesome park near me I felt awesome and my BP measured from lower readings around 120's/70's to 130's/70's. I had a high reading one day of 152/70 and it stayed high a day or two, scared not knowing why so started taking the 5 mg of Amlodipine again for about a week, swelling and side effects began again. My walks had stopped because I felt ucky again. Began taking the 2.5 only Amlodipine and same Lisinopril again 2 weeks ago and swelling gone away and still have early side effects but not as bad. However, I had stopped walking. I will start walking again as soon as storms quick this week. I was having tingling in my mouth and tongue thinking it was still a side effect but looked into the mouth wash I was using, alcohol free, and I've quit using it. Not as much tingling now. I have a doctor's appt in two weeks. If you read my posts way back around late spring about all the antibiotics, etc I was prescribed in Feb and March when I started feeling sick in Jan 2024, feeling I had covid but also had a uti, I got no help except to prescribe cepro, amoxicillin clav, Metoprolol and higher dose of Amlodipin. I may try to find a private medical doctor. These big medical clinics make me think they have restrictions on what they can prescribe, tests to do and vouchers to hand out for specialists.

I meant I felt I had covid Jan 2025. PA took covid and flu test two weeks after my symtons and said I had a cold! Tests two weeks after I felt I had covid would probably show a negative!!

I have also read that Lovastatin interfere with Amlodipine. I take Lovastatin before bed for cholesterol.

I am a 58 yr old woman with high blood pressure. I have had it under control with diet and exercise until March of this year, I got sick with the flu and a few months later my BP went out of control, it doesn't help that I had to get a cortisone shot for my shoulder which really shot my BP through the roof. I have been through all the BP meds and get itchy with all of them. Right now I am on my third dose of hydralazine and the itchiness is crazy. I can't take allergy meds because I have an allergist appt in the am, but I don't want to continue to take this med if it is making me itch so much.. I'm at my wits end here.. lots of prayers please. Thanks

They could probably switch him to losartan. Good luck!!

If you had COVID there should be antibodies present.

I had UTI as well so they prescribed 2 antibiotics two weeks apart, cipro and amoxicillin clav.

Yes, both! It's Oct 2
2025, I turned 80 in Aug and I have taken over my own health! I saw my new doctor in March 2024 and in September 2025 and I'll see her every 6 months as I've done with my past primary doctors over the years for checkups and to get my full blood work done. I told her I had taken myself off of the Metoprolol but still take the Amplopine 5 mg and Lisinopril. Since I'm off the Met, I no longer have the diarrhea. My right ankle still swells if I'm wearing certain shoes, tighter socks or on my feet a lot which can be an Amplopine side effect as well. I told doc I slowly quit taking my cholesterol meds since June 2025 Lovastatin, just to see what my actual cholesterol level is when I got my blood work done this Sept. I was put on cholesterol and bp meds by another doctor when I was in my upper 50's during my annual checkup and both were a bit at top of healthy levels and was told that was the "normal" thing to do as we got older along with aspirin even though I had no heart problems. I've had blood work done every 6 months every year and my cholesterol was a bit higher last week then when I was on the meds so "I" put myself back on it. I've been off aspirin for years taking it off on my own as it didn't make sense if my family, parents, etc didn't have heart issues. I get my mammogram every year since my late 50's. I'll see doc again in 6 months unless I have problems I haven't had before. Right now I'm on Amplopine and Lisinopril for blood pressure and Lovastatin for cholesterol. I feel good, no side effects except occasional swelling of ankles. I try to walk everyday and when I do I feel even better and sleep better.
During my wellness checkups from my health provider I've had for several years, which is a joke, doc listened to my heart, lungs, bp and has me fill out a questionnaire asking if I've fallen, am depressed, if I have suicidal thoughts, etc. WOW! Some wellness check! In addition I have parathyroid disease which I have to keep my calcium at a blood level under 10.4. same blood work done in Sept was at 10.6 so I am working on getting that down before my next doc visit in April 2026. That's easy to do but just have to watch my calcium high foods, I love milk and ice cream and some other foods, veggies have calcium, and I've indulged a little more than normal the last six months, lol! Thank you for listening!

@dcody I agree and I always look-up any new medicine. My cardiologist told me to stop reading about them because she was an expert. I'm sure she thinks I tell her I have all the reactions to meds that I see listed for them. That is so not true. I'm on four BP meds and a patch. Now they are going to scan my kidneys for artery blockage.