Do you take midodrine?

Hello to All:

My Dr prescribed Midodrine (2.5 Mg, the lowest dose) with instructiuons to take one pill when/if I felt lightheaded (my original reason (along with lack of energy) for seeing him) but only if my BP dropped below 100. I am 83 YO don't take any other meds, cholestrol is good (about 140) and no (other) BP problems.

My diet is plant base/vegan (no meat or dairy, and very little oil and salt) and from research information ideal BP is about 110/55-59 but for those on a western diet normal BP is in the 120/60 range.

Again from research, BP near 100 or even in the nineties is supposedly not a problem unless a person has one or more of various listed symptoms, which lightheadedness/dizziness is one of them. At this time I have no idea why I occasionally feel lightheaded and an internalist, cardiologist, and neurologist (with all sorts of tests (which were negative) have not be able to shed any light.

I am hoping someone on this thread might be dealing with a similar situation.

Wow Cheechg....Congratulations on being in such great health at 83. I'm 85 and take 10mg midodrine 3x/day. It usually helps for a few hours each time, however it also takes a couple of hours before it starts working; not a great solution and still frustrated because it's afternoon before I feel like doing any exercise and then, here in Las Vegas it's sometimes 110 degrees.
I see you've had a lot of tests; maybe something as simple as start using table salt to your food a little more often; it should bring your BP up. Good luck!

Hi gil101

Thank you for your response and compliment.

As your neighbopr to the south (AZ) I get the discomfort at 110 degrees, it's been that hot here too.

My fustration with the drs is that in spite of the various tests I've had they have yet to pinpoint an actual cause. I dont like taking Rxs on a long tern basis and prefer making the necessary lifestyle changes to address the root cause, once it's known. I've had this RX for over a month and per the Drs instructions (take if I have lightheadedness and BP< 100) I've only took a pill once.

One of the possibile causes is supposedly lack of sufficient hydration (which is a problem for me and am working on getting better hydrated. Ring any bells for you?

Allthough my partner doesn't cook with any salt I do use some and/or soy source for flavoring. By subscribing to this thread I was hoping to get some insight from others.

Hi Cheechg....Yes, you like everyone else who has low BP wants to know "why", so maybe we can actually treat the underlying cause, like Addison's disease, or???
Unfortunately, I don't think that will happen in our lifetimes; I've been asking my cardiologist for several years, now, and she has no answer! So, we end up treating the symptoms, which is better than no treatment, but very frustrating. I mentioned my low BP to my vascular surgeon (because I knew he was very intelligent; a member of Mensa, and to my surprise said "yes" he would suggest some tests, which I've just completed and will see him in a few weeks for a follow-up visit. He also will be giving me a referral to another cardiologist for a second opinion. Like he said, don't expect a miracle, but at least he's trying; something none of my previous cardiologist's have done, so I'm very happy to have met a doctor like him! I know this is probably not the answer you're hoping to hear; to treat your symptom, simply add table salt (NaCl) and your BP will go up.

Hi gil101

I hear you. It would be nice to be able to treat (or at least determine) the cause instead of the symptom. but like you I don't have a lot of faith that doctors can come up with one.

My community (it's not a town or city) has over 20K seniors and high BP is the norm here, so apparently I'm the oddball (my partner would jump on that) with low BP. Being on a whole food plant based diet (WFPBD) and having gotten away from using salt for many years, although I do use some, I really don't like either the idea or what it does to the taste of veggies and such. So far it hasn't raised my blood pressure significantly enough to overcome the physical symptons (lightheadedness and lack of energy), and I not sure that it would.

BTW, when I do use salt it is not the white table salt but the Himilayan Pink salt. which may not produce the same results.

Thanks.

I began taking Midodrine 2.5 mg at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. as needed if BP is below 95. Because I was still dizzy, dosage was increased to 2 pills at each time if needed. This seems to help for about three hours and then wears off. Also, should not lay down after taking this med or 3 to 4 hours before bedtime. Try to follow directions, but difficult, with other prescriptions since also using Eliquis, metoprolol succinate and digoxin. I'm 86 & can't figure out if I'm hypo or hypertensive. It seems to be a game of dice figuring out how to take the meds. However, haven't had any blackouts or AFibs for about 4 months, just weakness, numbness in feet and hands and fluttering when getting up or laying down too fast. Med also affect emotions and sleep patterns.

Hi Geomom....thanks for joining my discussion! Boy, you stated it; are you hyper or hypo tensive? If you're taking metoprolol you must have had high BP at some stage? But, why are you taking midodrine, which, of course, raises BP? I don't know how metoprolol is dosed, however, can't your cardiologist reduce the dosage so you don't have to take midodrine? Or, get a second opinion....Why take 2 potent drugs when 1 should do? I also read that you don't want to stop metoprolol all at once, but I know you're not contemplating that. Let me know what you work out. BTW, what was your BP when you started taking metoprolol?