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unexplained high blood pressure

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Posted 12/25/2007 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

 

I have always been a person with normal blood pressure.  120/65 or so.  I have been on Monopril (2.5mg) for about 7 years now because I'm on chronic steroids for my lupus.  Just a precautionary thing to take...

 

Well, over the past 3 months or so, we've noticed my blood pressure going up, and up and up.  Last night, I did a reading, and it was 136/105.  I just about pooped myself.  It usually runs around 130/90 as of late. 

 

So I saw my doctor and she upped my monopril to 5mg.  But of course, lucky me, I started getting the dreaded "monopril cough".  I haven't slept in 4 days because the cough is so bad.

 

I saw her again today to report the coughing etc, and she took my blood pressure again and it was high, 135/98.  She decided to pull me off of the monopril and try me on Cozaar.  I took my first dose (12.5mg) this morning.  It made me pretty dopey.  I hope it starts to work for me.

 

So my question is, what could be wrong with me that would cause my blood pressure to rise like this?  I know I have a lot of medical issues (see signature), but we went through everything and nothing I already have should be contributing to this.  I have gained 10 pounds in the last 6 months, and I am borderline overweight.  If I lost the 10 pounds I'd be of average weight, etc. I also have been exercising more in the last 3 months than I have in the last 3 years.  I also eat a good diet. So this is weird!

 

She's testing my thyroid, but I think it will come back normal too.  I get that checked fairly often.  So it's all a bit of a mystery and a definite concern.  Those are high numbers!

 

Thanks for any feedback!

Ginny

Posted 12/25/2007 1:37 AM (GMT 0)

Hi ginny, That is very strange indeed eyes .... Considering that Monopril is an ACE Inhibitor and reviewing your dx's in your sig I am surprised you were able to take it for 7 years without problems.  Monopril shouldnt be used if someone has Sjogrens Syndrome.  Here is a link on the medication http://www.drugs.com/monopril.html

Continued long-term use of steroids like Prednisone, Sol-Medrol (which I have had to have IV for my MS) do often raise your BP.  Here is another link...I hope it is helpful for you :-)   http://adam.about.com/care/highbloodpressure/hbp_secondary.html

Posted 12/25/2007 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Els,

 

Thank you for your response!  My sjogren's is so mild I don't even know I have it!  To be honest, I even wonder sometimes if I even do have it at all.... My doctors are all really good about my drug combos.  I think being on the monopril at 2.5mg - which is extremely low - has helped me to stay on it for such a long time with no problems. 

 

Do you think a medication like that can all of a sudden stop working?

 

I've been on much higher doses of prednisone and still have normal blood pressure.  All of this is very sudden, and not like me at all. 

 

Thanks for the links.  Knowledge is power, right! 

 

Merry Christmas,

 

Ginny

Posted 12/26/2007 12:26 AM (GMT 0)

Hi ginny, Merry Christmas to you :-)   and your family.

I was going to put in my first post that I thought that being on such a low dosage of Monopril was most likely why you were able to take it for so long.  However, I would have to wonder why a physician would treat a person for HBP who has a normal blood pressure.  You said that you were put on it as a precaution due to chronic steroid usage...but, your blood pressure was within normal range.  So why treat something that isn't there?  It doesn't make sense in my opinion and it only sets the patient up for future problems with drug interactions or makes it so their bodies become resistant toward that medication or class of drugs.

Yes, most certainly a medication like this can stop working all of a sudden.  Most medications can lose their effect suddenly due to chemical changes within our bodies, hormones, usage of vitamins or herbs, other medications can change or effect how this medication and others work.  It is such a gamble every time we take a pill that we would literally need to have a chemist to go over our medication lists to know if what we are taking is safe to take with each other or not.  Don't misunderstand me here....I am not advocating against medication usage, I take 14 different medications a day due to my illnesses. 

What you said in your post is so true "Knowledge is power".....

Posted 12/26/2007 5:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Els,

 

You are so great in getting back to me!  Okay, I should have also mentioned that the monopril is also used to protect kidneys against a lupus attack.  So it was being used for two different reasons, but mainly the kidney stuff.  If my blood pressure happened to go up while on the high dose of prednisone, I would have been protected.  But over the last 8 years of being diagnosed with lupus, my kidneys seem to be the strongest organs in my body.  LOL.  No issues with them ever. So taking me off the monopril was an easy dicision for my doctor to make.  But I agree, it wouldn't have made sense for me to be on it if my blood pressure was normal.  It was the kidneys they were really worried about.

 

Well that is interesting about the medication not working all of a sudden.  I had a horrific medication allergy in June.  I mean, I'm lucky to be alive. The rash I got attacked my insides.  My mouth, throat, stomach, intestines, bowels, liver. I was a mess.  So I'm still having some mild issues with recovering from that.  My hair JUST stopped falling out (trauma induced).  So, it is possible that my blood pressure is a result of my continuing recovery/side effects from that drug allergy. 

 

I am having issues with my hormones these days too.  I'm being checked for perimenopause.  so that could be a contributer too.  If I am indeed going through "the change".

 

I do have one other question.  Whenever I exercise, I feel like absolute crap when I finish.  I mean, I feel like I need to throw up. I never feel great after a workout.  All I can handle is 10 minutes at a time. Otherwise I get really dizzy and feel sick.  I've had this issue for well over a year.  I did a treadmill test at my cardiologists, and everything came back normal, but I felt like poop.  So my doctor said it's likely my lupus saying, "slow down, I can't handle too much of this."  Could my high blood pressure be causing the sick dizzy symptoms?

 

Ginny

Posted 12/27/2007 1:41 AM (GMT 0)

Hi ginny, tongue lol...I am glad to know you were not solely taking the monopril for blood pressure.  All these medications can have cross purposes it is difficult to keep up with them.

I can totally relate when it comes to having a really bad allergic reaction to a medication.  I had one to Soma an antibiotic, my throat, cheeks and lips swelled up, I could hardly breath.  I was 17 then but by the time my mom got me to the ER I was covered in hives and couldnt open my eyes.  I really thought I was going to die.  They used so much benadryl IV that I havent been able to take it since, I am allergic to it and have a horrible reaction.  Also, Sudafed will give me a terrible reaction too. 

I totally believe that your change in blood pressure is causing your sick dizzy feeling during exercise and after.  I have the exact same problem with exercising also.  I have blood pressure problems but mine is extremely low too the point in which I have to monitor it several times a day and take several different medications to keep it up.  It is a neurological disorder that has messed with my heart and it doesn't circulate blood the right way.  I am always told to try to do what I can but when I get dizzy to stop as that can be dangerous...your not getting enough blood to the upper portion of your body.  When people feel dizzy and faint it is the body's way of making itself vertical so that it can get blood going to all your organs.  I never really thought about it until I started to pass out all over the place because of low bp...LOL. :-)

Posted 12/27/2007 4:32 AM (GMT 0)
Oh man, Els, that is awful!  I used to have mildly low blood pressure when I was a kid, but it straightened itself out.  I never had it to the extent you do though.  How did you get your diagnosis?  It sounds complex!

 

Aren't drug allergies scary.  We really take for granted what we put in our bodies, and how powerful those little tiny pills actually are.  I can't take benadryl either because of my lupus.  Sudafed too actually!  Good thing I don't get sick with colds or flu!  My immune system is so ramped up I'm like Wonderwoman that way.  Lupus is weird.....

 

Okay, thank you for confirming my suspicions about the exercising.  I only feel like that after I'm done on the eliptical.  It's just awful.  I'll be seeing my cardiologist again in the new year, and I'll be bringing this up again.  He's a great doctor.

 

So far, the new bp med I'm on has only started to correct my systolic pressure numbers.  I'm down to normal on them.  My dystolic is still over 100.  So maybe I just need more time for this med to do its job. Tomorro will be day 4 on it.  So far, no side effects.... Fingers crossed.  I'm so suspicious now about new meds.  Gives me anxiety.  I keep thinking I'll wake up with all the problems and near death experiences of the summer..... That CAN'T be helping my bp situation, LOL!  Thanks for the info Els.  You're a gem!

 

Ginny

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