Was put on Felodopine 2.5 mgs yesterday to take alongside my Losartan 50 mgs, which I've taken for ten years. I had a 24 hr bp monitor which proved categorically once and for all, that my blood pressure is high (170/108 - 149/99) and out of control!! I admitted to smoking to the dr, and have agreed to stop today. Yesterday morning, took my first pill (felodopine) and by the afternoon I was feeling drowsy with a mild headache. Last night my cheeks were flushed and I felt drowsy. In the night my feet felt hot, and I got up to urinate twice - which is unlike me! This morning my BP reading is 145/70!! The bottom figure has never been that low. So this medicine is having immediate effect. I am going to keep a blog going here on the side-effects. I'm going to take a proactive role in exercising, stopping smoking as from today, take magnesium, vitamin d etc. Like most, I'm not best pleased to have to take this drug but not crazy enough to not take this whole BP thing deadly serious. Will return with updates. Meantime, if this is relevant to anyone, I would be grateful for your opinion, thanks
Bad luck on being found to have high bp butyour aattitude is great, sit back and hope the tabs will do all the work and it's asking for trouble, taking it seriously is always the best way, scarey but wise.
I hope it's not to life changing but exercise and diet will become a normal part of your daily routine the same as your meds.
Take care and I will watch your blog
Felodipine is a calcium channel blocker and has been proved very effective in combatting hypertension as witnessed in your case. A systolic of 145 and a diastolic of 70 compared to what it was before is a good improvement.
It is impossible to comment on what your ideal BP readings should be as you do not state your age, sex, weight or lifestyle.
As for smoking, well if you can give it up you should do so as that in itself has been proved to be a major contributory factor in cases of heart disease.
Thanks you two. I am aged 55 and female with most of the time, a positive attitude. I walk the dog, albeit slow as she's an old girl now. I have been on losartan 50 mgs daily for the past ten years since a brain haem, which has left me with chronic fatigue. I went back to smoking after a bereavement, approx 5-7 daily. I should know better as I'm medically trained and well aware of hazards caused through smoking. Just felt emotionally low. I don't know what my weight is but I appear fairly normal - slimmish. My lifestyle...that's a question!! I work part-time, have started my own business, have a daughter grown up, still driving me around the twist. On & off resting - pacing - during the day, sleep rotten at times.
I took my BP again half an hour ago, its 127/85, so instead of a whole tablet I've taken half a 2.5 mg, i.e., 1.25 as I have a tummy ache this morning. Will keep tabs on it for today, but for now, I'm off on a fast walk. Thankyou both for your support!
It would be interesting not to take the additional drug and to stop smoking for a month to see how much that lowered you BP.
Book your exotic holiday now with the money saved from not smoking. 20 a day costs over £3K a year.
O'h that's a brilliant suggestion, holiday i.e!!
I've thought the same too - i.e., leaving the second drug out as I'm determined to quit and exercise. I'm in two minds. I'm already having side-effects from having taken one tablet, so halved my second one as the tummy syptoms creep in.
Jane, Losartan 50mg isn't working for me either. I've tried several other BP meds but all with horrid side effects for me. Felodipine is one I haven't taken but it does sound as though it's made an immediate difference to your blood pressure so I'm following this thread with interest. However, I have the added problem of kidney disease so some BP meds are not an option. Well done on your attitude - you deserve to do well. Good luck.
Just one word of caution Jane, and that is to keep an eye on your BP as too low a reading is not good either.
I would be interested to hear how you go on with Felodopine, as some of the patient feedback on it does confict.
Thanks MrsO, good luck in finding a compatible med...I'm not sure which one would suit with your underlying problem, as many have a direct effect on kidney function. Have you looked in to alternatives? Exercise goes a long way in helping. I've just returned from a 5 km fast walk (lot of hills). Took another measurement and its 127/83, which is fine. I'm off to the chemist to buy a tablet cutter - think I will stick to half a tablet to see how it goes.
Hi Arch...yes I'm definitely with you on that!! I do think my BP is affected by my state of mind a lot, and often feel when its high, its as though its "stuck" in a type of vice, so off I go on a fast walk or swim and it brings it down. I will keep you informed how it goes.
Were you not OK on Losartan initially? There are contra indictions for it with kidney problems.
Jane, I doubt Felodipine is enteric-coated as I haven't come across a BP pill yet that is. However, do just make sure, as enteric-coated pills must not be cut - they are designed to release in a different part of the stomach.
I am under a kidney consultant who is trialling the different meds on me so yes I have tried several alternatives but unfortunately my body is very sensitive and produces nasty side effect. I haven't been able to do my usual daily walk for the last few weeks due to a fractured little toe and injured foot, so hoping that is the only reason that my blood pressure has now gone through the roof. Slowly getting back to a very short walk in the last day or two - apparently it will take 6 weeks for the toe to heal completely! Good luck with the half pill.
Derek, I do so hope that isn't the case. So far the only discernible side effect from Losartan has been to increase my creatinine but they seem happy for this to happen with some of the BP meds, within reason of course. Can't go to a higher dose for better control because of the creatinine aspect. I'm a lost cause - "an awkward patient" in my consultant's words!
That is interesting, and yes I was fine on Losartan 50 mgs for the last ten years or so I thought. But I slipped up with going back to smoking and worry - the worst combination. Last month my gp upped Losartan to 100 mgs and I felt too ill, along with itchy skin probs. I said I would try to fix it by exercise and watching my diet. Of course, within no time, I was back to my old habits. Btw, having the 24 hr BP monitor strapped to my arm made me feel anxious, I could barely sleep - it just heightened anxiety along with my BP. I don't have kidney probs but my mother had so I wonder if there stems the problem. You'd think with six monthly blood checks it would be obvious.
Well who knows, "a lost cause, an awkward patient", there must be something out there. Youtube has some advice regarding alternatives.
Could you take up swimming if it's not too painful? I will be doing this possibly starting tomorrow - lane swimming that is!
Now Jane thank you very much for the suggestion but.....I can't swim! I told you I was a lost cause! I have just managed a very short walk followed by a couple of minutes on the exercise bike.xx
Heck! You'll just need to stick with the exercise bike in that case - do a few miles every day! I'm off early morning for a swim with a friend. I haven't swum in over 30 years!!! I hope I remember how to do it!
When I was taking modified release verapamil the tablets were scored and could be taken as half a dose.
No such luck with mine, that's why I went and bought a pill cutter.