After talking with the kidney doctor, he wants my blood pressure under 120 over 80. This morning it was 124 over 81. He requested I take 100 MG of losartan instead of 50 MG. He also asked me to take it right before bed time. I'm hoping I don't go to low. I take toprol Xl in the morning. Anyone who has been through doubling of the med and taking it at bedtime let me know if you have had issues with it.
Gracious, Todd! 124 over 81 is GOOD! Let us know how that works for you, taking it at night.
I had to come off Losartan because I developed a cough. On Candersartan now.
Well, the blood pressure is up in the morning 146/86 this morning. It used to be in the 120/80 range. I'm having vivid dreams. My gosh, I have never had dreams like this before. I also use a CPAP machine, and my Apnea index has dropped from a 2.6 to a .6 at night. That's a positive note. Today I'm tired. Don't know why, but I feel exhausted.
I let the doctor know via email today. I'm sure he will tell me to stick with it.
Todd, have you got a problem with your kidneys if the kidney doctor wants your blood pressure so low? My kidney consultant has said he wishes to see my BP down to 130/75 especially in view of the fact that I have CKD3, which I feel is a bit of a tall order when you're getting older! However, if you are quite young, then it is understandable that he wishes to keep your BP low.
I was taking both 50mg of Losartan together with Diltiazem but the latter was causing swollen ankles and a problem with my bowel so I've stopped it and continued just on the Losartan. However, it isn't controlling my blood pressure, so have to add another pill (a diuretic) shortly.
Many pills do cause vivid dreams and in fact I had a nightmare just the other night and woke up shaking!
Perhaps the exhaustion will improve as your body gets used to the higher dose - I do hope so, but do keep in touch and let us know what your doctor advises.
increasing losartan dose probably won't do anything but give yoy more side effects. Split the dose 50 am 50 pm, adding hctz 12.5 in AM will have a more significant impact on BP, but your BP is fine, what's with your doc? Watch out or you'll end up with low BP. Losartan is the weakest ARB in the class, and short acting.
Losartan is aong the first angiotensin meds, I think - could be wrong. It's not a spoecifically targeted as Valsartan or Candarsatan Losarton has the effecg of dying up diff part s - it gave me hugely dry lungs. I creaked like a crocodile at night.
Hypertension is such a nuisance.
Louise, Losartan Potassium is among the newest of ALL blood pressure drugs rather than being "among the first angiotensin meds". ACE Inhibitors such as Enalapril, Captopril and Lisinopril also work by blocking production of angiotensin II, but the Losartan works by a different mechanism from the ACE Inhibitors.
Soon after Losartan appeared on the market, the Stroke Association in its blurb on BP meds, commented that this drug does not have the side-effects associated with the other classes of drugs with the occasional exception of dizziness.
My pharmacist has recently backed up this comment by informing me that Losartan is the BP med of which he hears the least complaints of side effects from his customers. Certainly, in my experience, it is to date the only BP pill that is giving me no discernible side effects.....and I have tried 6 different pills in the last 18 months!
Losartan is newer than the ACEclass but among the oldest in the ARB class. Losartan and Valsartan are the first ARBS. The newer ARBS , like candesartan, and others,are more powerfull BP drugs but Losartan works fine for mild BP problems, it is shorter acting than some of the more recent ARBS. I also think it has a good side effect profile compared to ACE class and other classes like beta blockers or calcium channel blockers, it's more effective in reducing BP with HCTZ.
My GP prescribed Losartan first, years ago, - and I read that it is less precisely targeted than Valsartan and the others. Didn't describe different mechanism. But if it works for some, that's good. It made me susceptible to coughs and chest infections, which I've never been... And the blurb said that was a side effect.
One of my relatives is a primary care doctor, and she recommended Valsartan. It was fine, but then came off Patent and available was variable.
It's good that Losartan suits you.
I discussed Amlodipine with my doctor last week, and mentioned the side effects so many people have experienced. She said that some patients had none whatsoever.
Guess it just shows how individual we are. Some of my siblings are really overweight, and they don't have hypertension.
Louise, yes the documentation does list cough as a side effect of Losartan in a few people, though that side effect doesn't seem to occur nearly as often as for those people on the ACE, Ramipril - I have several friends on the latter who complain of a permanent cough.
It's also true that there are some patients who are fine on Amlodipine - my hubby and a couple of close friends included. But this forum certainly seems to contain posts with many more complaints about Amlodipine than any other BP pill doesn't it. Certainly it proved a no-no for me with the unabiding side effect of swelling and inflammation in my lower legs and feet which even persisted after being in bed overnight, plus the inflammation eventually leading to a diagnosis of varicose eczema in the swollen areas.
I've also come across people for whom one brand of a med can be fine whereas the same med but produced by a different company can cause them problems.
As you say, we are individuals - what suits one may not suit another. I guess it depends on exactly what is causing each person's particular hypertension.
As far as the blurb is concerned, the manufacturers really do cover themselves when they quote that a particular pill can cause both constipation and diarrhoea. The Losartan blurb, for instance, describes the uses of Losartan, one of them being that it slows the decrease of kidney function in patients with high BP. Yet in another section it lists changes in kidney function, including kidney failure, as being "Common (1 in 10)!!! That is a subject on which my fingers and toes are tightly crossed!
Good luck with whatever treatment you are on just now.
1 in 10 is worrying! You must be having regular checks with your GP? I'm taking Candarsartan. But I'm also exercising regularly and am feeling particularly fit! My BP is linked to my thoughts, I've discovered. I'm a cognitive behavioural therapist and although I KNOW what's going on, it still catches me out! Catastrophic thinking and up goes my BP! Mindfulness helps, too. Keep well ... think calm thoughts!
Yes, Louise, I am having regular checks on BP and bloods.....with a renal consultant. I do walk daily - about a mile and a half. I did ask the consultant whether he thought that additional exercise might help, to which he replied that there was no harm in trying it. I am now awaiting a GP referral letter for the gym (have to be careful as I have a slipped vertebrae). I so agree - the wrong thoughts/stresses can increase BP (proved by white coat syndrome at the surgery, for instance). I tried Candesartan a long time ago but it increased my Creatinine and was stopped. However, Losartan (obviously because it's the same family of BP meds) is also increasing my Creatinine but that is being kept an eye on. Nothing like as bad blood results though with 3 weeks on Indapamide, when the Creatine went even higher, the same with the Urea, and my sodium levels dropped making me feel very weak. Did I say I was awkward?! Now, got to stop thinkins about my high BP and, as you say, "think calm thoughts". You stay well too.
I'm currently taking Amplodipine along with Perindopril (Coversyl Plus HD) with the diuretic Idapamide in it. I currently experiencing burning feet & legs..the burning is progressing to my upper body, & is now in my arms, & parts of my neck. Also, I can feel some heat in my chest as well.
I've had a previous sensitivity to the Amplodipine, necessitating me coming off that med..but I went back on it at the end of January/2014. About a week after taking the Amlodipine, that's when the burning began. My doctor all but insisted I persist. Now that Im complaing bitterly about the burning, he suggested I come off it...just to see if indeed this is the culprit, but my kidney specialist (Nephrologist) didn't want to change the meds when I saw him. This was at the initial consultation. He has ordered blood tests, which I've done, but don't see him for another 3 weeks. I'm hoping he finds something..or at least something minor which will help us get this bp under control. I intend on telling him about this burning..which is annoying the life out of me. It starts about 10 min. after I get up in the morning..starts at the top of my toes, then gradually works its way up my legs. After about 8 hrs. or so, my legs are on fire. I will certainly ask him about coming off the Amplodipine, but I must admit, I'm nervous of coming off for fear of the bp rising, unless he comes up with something else.
I'd certainly appreciate anything you might suggest in the meantime.
Its a weird side effect but if you Google Amplodipine and Burning you will find that you are not alone.
Mike, if the Amlodipine is affecting your quality of life like this you should not be left on it when there are many other hypertensives to try. I am under a renal consultant for my BP due to having only one kidney and Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 3. He has been very patient with me as I have suffered horrid side effects from several BP drugs and had to stop them. Some were interfering with my walking, and if you're supposed to do brisk walking every day to help the blood pressure, then you're in a no-win situation with Amlodipine and several others for me. Others made me short of breath.
Losartan is the only pill that after many months doesn't seem to be producing any side effects, but when they add a second pill such as Diltiazem, my bowel is severely affected.
My consultant said that he has tried the drugs that are supposed to help my kidney function, however some have caused the opposite, especially Indapamide which produced several abnormal blood test results after just a few weeks, which I think even scared the consultant!
Do ask (demand!) to be tried on Losartan.
Before going back on the Amplodipine, then taking the Coversyl (Perindopril), I had been on calcium channel blocker (Amlodipine), an ARB (Avapro). When I wasn't particularly responding well to the 150mg of Avapro, the Dr. doubled the medication, then added the diuretic to it..which meant I was taking 300mgs Avapro with the hydrochlorizide (sp). THAT wasn't so great. I read that Dr.s should double the medication because that med just works on one system in the body, but who am I to challenge that sort of thing.Certainly, I'm not a physician, but believe in doing what the dr. tells me. He then added 25mg Metropolol. Combining the Avapro300mgs & the Metropolol gave me violent headaches..headaches that scared the life out of me, so I came off the metropolol,...then onto the Coversyl. You know the rest of the story.I can hardly wait for the next 3 weeks to come 'round so I can see that Nephrologist & hopefully get to the bottom of this mess. I do find that late in the day when the legs are at their peak of burning, I sometimes feel slightly lightheaded (I mean slightly), & slightly nauseated. This will go away in about an hr or so, but I don't think anyone should have to live like this. I'm with the understanding that Losartan does have a lot of side effects..I've read about them, & what's described is certainly not something I want to risk. I don't think I have mild bp problems..not that it's all that serious either. What doesn't help is when I go to my family doctor's office..I wait my turn...getting anxious of course...I get called in..don't get to rest for a bit..& the nurse takes my bp in the RIGHT arm..sometimes I'm sitting, sometimes I'm standing. The cuff isn't particularly tight either. Because of the anxiety attached to this scenario, naturally the bp is elevated. I now don't allow the nurse to take the bp readings. Earlier, the Dr. would seem a little panicky..saying "this bp has to come down!!". Of course it does!...but I'm taking my meds regularly..never missing a single dose.
I don't think it's asking a lot of the world for me to feel better.I can only hope that something is discovered or we have an answer in the next few weeks.
By the way, I was always instructed to rest for 5 min...put the bp cuff on my LEFT arm, sit with feet flat on the floor...then take the readings. I was told the very same when I saw the Nephrologist. Although he didn't say much, I could tell my the expression on his face, that what I was experiencing at the family Drs office was not the way to take bp readings. He even pointed to a poster he had on the wall & said "THAT is the correct way to take readings"..which is exactly how I was trained.
I'd appreciate further comments from you & I thank you in advance.
Further...I have had all 3 classes of modern day bp meds...calcium channel blocker (the Amlodipine) ARB (Avapro), ACE (Coversyl)..
I don't see just why because of my age or condition, which I believe isn't the worst in the world why we can't get the bp down. Going on the old fashion medicines, i.e. Vasodilators, etc. seems weird to me...but we'll see.
Drugs affect us all differently and the side effects listed tell you if it is likely to be 1 in 10, 1 in a 100 etc. The majority of people (those who don't need to post here) benefit from them and have no side effects.
Being a very 'sensitive' person most give me side effecst but Losartan only made me light headed until my system got used to it. One other effect is that I have a very slight itching sensation that my GP says is caused by an effect losartan has on the kidneys.
You should take your BP on the arm that consistsanly gives you the highest reading and it should be checked when sitting and standing. Both the specialist hypertension consultants I have been to did that.
Mike, I don't know quite why you fear Losartan so much. If you read all the leaflets that come with all the BP drugs (and others) you will find they all have a whole load of listed side effects. Furthermore, if you look on the Amlodipine thread on this site you will find more complaints about it than any other BP lowering pill. Of course, that could be because it's being very widely prescribed - it certainly seems to be flavour of the month at the moment. I was just telling you of my happier experience on Losartan and my better quality of life than on the other drugs, and there are several other people, including Derek who has replied to you, who post here who are also happy on Losartan. Granted it isn't quite as efficient as some at bringing blood pressure under control in some people.
According to my consultant, we should sit quietly for a couple of minutes before taking our blood pressure, on the left arm. We should then repeat the reading twice, each with a couple of minutes between, relaxing and letting our bodies go as much as possible. I then have to record the average of the 2nd and 3rd readings to take to my consultant.
And, yes, most of us can feel anxious when having blood pressure checked in the surgery/hospital, and with a lot of people that anxiety (white coat syndrome) can result in a higher than usual reading.
I've just been to the gym (GP referral) and am being an awkward gym bunny - the teacher takes our blood pressure at the start of the class and occasionally at the end after a few minutes cool down. Everyone without exception produces a lower reading after the cool down.......except that is yours truly.
I was getting quite excited over the last couple of weeks having seen some really good readings in the low 130's; however, that unfortunately doesn't seem to have lasted and it's going up again. Grrrr!
Do you want to share why you are under a nephrologist?
Hi there...I can't tell you how much I appreciate your support. Thanks also to derek76!
It isn't that I fear Losartan..not at all. You're quite right in what you say about side effects with any/all medications. I'm just of the mindset that I'm not sure I could cope with being sick half the time anymore. Usually, it takes my body approximately 2 weeks to tell me if the meds are going to be accepted by my body or not. I may have to bite the bullet if the Nephrologist changes some of the meds, but at this point, I truly don't care..let's just get on with what the problem might be so I can start to feel like a regular human being again. Leslieadele has written that Losartan is the newer than the ACE class, but among the oldest in the ARB class...please read her post. I wouldn't say my bp readings are the worst in the world, but they're not mild either. Certainly, not readings that would require an emergency visit to hospital.
My pharmacist has told me that Amlodipine is not known for causing burning sensations...but a lot of threads I read dictate otherwise. For numbers 1 out of 100, doesn't necessarily mean anything, & again, I fully understand what derek is driving at. I know a few people who do take the Amlodipine & have no problems with it at all. Actually, I was beginning to wonder if I was some sort of rare breed for experiencing the burning, but the threads certainly indicate that I am NOT. The burning isn't painful..more like a sunburn..but extremely annoying..& more so since it's spreading.
I don't mind you asking why I will be seeing a Nephrologist. Sometimes something can be going on in the kidneys which keeps the bp elevated.
I had a CT scan..to check the overall condition of the kidneys, the structure, arteries, etc. This was over a month ago..haven't heard back, which goes to the old saying 'no news is good news". I had the bloodwork done 2 days ago, but the Lab doesn't let the patient know the results. The results are revealed when I see the Dr.
There are some days when I experience what I call an 'episode"...I go for several hours..the legs are burning although mildly. I start to feel slightly lightheaded..slightly nauseated..with a sleight weakish feeling in my arms...then it seems the burning becomes more intense. This feeling may last from 1-2 hrs...then I feel fine.
The Nephrologist told me the best way to take readings...is how I was trained...take 3 readings...throw the first one away, then average the next 2. He's asked me for readings..to take them 2x/day, 3 times/week..
but this was at the end of August, & my appt. isn't 'til Dec. 8. In no way does he need 400 readings! (exaggerating here of course! lol ). So, I'll begin taking the readings starting the first of next week. I won't be surprised if the readings are high, but I certainly will be telling him of my physical feelings (the episodes), & also the stress I've been under in my private life.
My friends are very supportive..which I appreciate so very much..but they are not experiencing what I'm going through, & don't understand a lot of it. I don't want to be talking to them about it a lot because of this,
yet they don't know how I'm feeling unless I tell them.
This is not all in the mind...what I'm experiencing is very real.