Medications and High B/P
 

Hi everyone,
I seem to have developed a new problem over the last few months. I have high blood pressure! I noticed at my IVIG treatments over the last few months that it was high. I brought to my rheumo's attention and he suggested I buy a cuff and monitor it.

Well, I have not had one diastolic (bottom number) below 94. My systolic is 130 or above.

Today I took Sudafed PE for my sinuses. I had headaches the last two days. I came home and took my b/p and it was 147/100. I know sinus meds can cause it to increase. I am wondering if it should make it go that high. I'm beginning to wonder if the headaches are not sinus but b/p related. These readings are really high for me.

About a year or so ago I had a stress test and echo done and they were fine.
It's concerning me because my father died at 65 from a massive heart attack. His father died at 57 from the same.

So here is my question. I am listing my meds below and I'm hoping if you know any of them can cause high b/p you can let me know. I would really appreciate it as I have always been a person who had low b/p.

Synthyroid
Tramadol
Every once in a while a 5 mg Percocet
Just started Wellbutrin 150 that was after this started
IVIG


Supplements
Coq10
R lipoic acid
Krill oil
Vitamin d
Probiotic 10

I have done research myself but can't seem to find anything.
Please let me know what you think. Thanks:confused:

Hopeful

the Wellbutrin "may" be a factor. It raises dopamine and some people report heart side effects...rapid beats, etc.

The Cymbalta however is known to raise blood pressure in many patients. The Sudafed also if taken regularly will do it too.
If you recall, I did warn you about that factor.

When you are stressed...like with the IVIG...which seems to increase inflammation, this might raise cortisol, and that in turn will raise blood pressure in some people. Any big stressor will do it. Pain will raise blood pressure too.

So there are many factors for you to consider. This may be temporary for you, based on your recent medical stressors.

IVIG can also be pretty hard on kidneys and cause you to retain fluid...and therefore increase BP.

There are so many reasons BP can increase, you'll have to just look at one thing at a time.

Hi Mrs. D.,
This started well before the Wellbutrin. I noticed it for months now when they took my b/p during my IVIG. Since it was an automatic cuff I figured it was that. Then I had two doctors appts and the MA listened and it was high. I was actually surprised by it.

I did remember you told me that about the sudafed but not till after I took it unfortunately.

I'm going to keep an eye on it for a week. If it continues I will see my GP and go from there.

Maybe it is the cymbalta and the stress I have been under. I'm curious to see what happens when I am finally finished with this Cymbalta.

I wanted to be sure it wasn't one of the supplements I'm taking.

Thanks for everything!!:)

Hi enbloc,
My first thought with this was that maybe I was having kidney issues. As I told Mrs. D I'm going to watch it for a week and then go to my GP. I know one thing there will be no more allergy meds for me.

I'm going to look into the IVIG.

Thanks for your input. As I said with my family history it has me a little concerned. Along with my dad and grandfather, two of my fathers sisters had strokes in their forties.

Thanks again,
Hopeful:)

I have a suggestion... I would try the magnesium lotion, daily to see if that lowers your pressure. It does for me dramatically.

Especially when I use it on my upper arms. It seems to improve blood flow. My hypertension does not affect my diastolic number that much. But my systolic can go up to 160 at times.

I am also not a fan of the automatic cuffs...I don't think they are very accurate. I use an old fashioned manual one.

I think this going off Cymbalta was very difficult for you. First off the Cymbalta sets the stage for hypertension, then has the withdrawal stress which has to be a factor with all the pain and discomfort it causes. Chronic pain patients often have related hypertension, as part of the response to the pain.

http://updates.pain-topics.org/2013/...ertension.html

Wellbutrin can cause hypertension...if you search Google with that keyword and hypertension together you will find people on various health forums discussing it. Zyban, for smoking cessation is also Wellbutrin with another name, and also is a culprit. Many non depressed people use Zyban, and those also report hypertension and cardiac palpitations. I have a friend who tried Wellbutrin and got the cardiac effects, and had to stop it.

Not everyone responds this way, but it should be paid attention to, and discussed with the doctor who prescribed the Wellbutrin for you.

The magnesium lotion -- Morton Epsom lotion-- can relax the blood vessels and lower those elevations.

If you Google "IVIG hypertension", you will find similar reports of the IVIG causing increased diastolic pressures. If you are given steroids prior to the infusion...I'd expect a rise also in pressures.

Small elevations usually do not cause headache. I rarely have had headeaches from hypertension...even when it was so high when I was pregnant (220/120)... I had to have an elective C-section then 4 weeks early because of that rise in pressure!

Be very careful with the Sudafed, therefore. I only use it when in big congestion and then only one in the morning.

If you have sinus congestion try, Mucinex...it will help move the congestion out without affecting the blood pressure.

We have an automatic cuff for taking blood pressure. Have never had any trouble with blood pressure either using it or at the doctor's office with the manual one they use. I do know that you have to do exactly what the automatic one tells you to do - sitting a bit, correct position on your arm, etc.

Again no problem ever with blood pressure. Just take it now and again. The ones at a store such as WalMart, Target, etc. are not that accurate and a person always seems to be in the midst of someone going by, talking, noise and some kids screaming and asking if you are done while running around. No good. That did happen and then I bought my own. One recommended by the pharmacist. Works great.

I was shocked that my neurologist app the nurse used the wrist cuff that you place near your heart. I feel those things are useless. With the money those dr makes you would like the nurse would no how to do the old fashioned kind or have better cuffs.

I agree Stacy. They should have a manual cuff at the doctors office. It does not take long and I believe they are much more accurate. They certainly do make enough money!:)

Still depends on who is taking the blood pressure manual cuff or not. I've seen it. It seems one nurse does it differently than another. Just sayin'

Hi All,

I monitored my b/p for almost a week now. The results I have found made me call my GP for an appt. which I had this afternoon.

Kitt here is an example of how it depends on who takes the pressure. The medical assistant told me it was 110/70. "I said, it figures! It has been high all week and now it's normal!"
Well when the doctor took it he got 150/100. He did it with two different size cuffs and then requested I allow him to take it with the cuff she used. He wanted to be sure it was not broke. All three times 150/100.

I have to start Amlodipine 5 mgs. Has/does anyone take this?

He does seem to think that is the cause of my headaches. He also thought in the same direction I thought, I am going to have an ultrasound of my kidneys. I also have to have lab work done.

I went there with every intention of saying no meds. However, with the significant family history I have it occurred to me I was just being STUPID. Strokes and heart attacks all throughout my family. Whether I want to or not I'm taking the med until we get to the bottom of what is causing this.

If anyone had any others suggestions on testing please let me know.

Hopeful

Have you checked your thyroid numbers, you might be hyperthyroid from to much synthroid. High BP is a symptom.

Hi thanks for the idea. I did think of that I'm going to have blood work done tomorrow. I did have a thyroid work up recently though and it was normal.

Thanks again!:)

Per WebMD, its listed elsewhere too.

Infrequent side effects of Synthroid oral:

High Blood Pressure
Weight Loss

Sorry, I missed the second page and didn't see that the Synthyroid had already been suggested...

I don't want to be an alarmist but I developed neuropathy when I was taking Amlodipine (Norvasc), I don't know if it caused it because other meds trigger it too for me but it did get somewhat better when I stopped. If your neuropathy gets worse consider that it might be playing a role, its a listed rare side effect. Don't eat a bunch of grapefruit or drink a lot of the juice, it isn't supposed to affect the metabolism of that particular calcium channel blocker but I think it did for me.

judi

Thanks for that information. I will pay attention to whether my neuropathy gets any worse. This is a good thing to know.:)

This drug caused dependent edema for me years ago.
It was so severe I couldn't bend my knees!

Try to keep your feet elevated, and avoid alcohol...as a headache can come from this drug + alcohol.

Thanks Mrs. D I will watch for the edema. If it begins to occur I'll request something different.

My real hope is to find what is the cause of the HTN. I have a feeling it may be the IVIG. At my next appt with my rheumo I'm considering requesting putting my IVIG on hold for a month and see it the b/p comes down.

I realize it will be difficult to evaluate being on the Amlodipine but my thought is if my b/p lowers without the IVIG then it will be really low on the amlodipine. Then I'll know.

The issue is I'm not certain I would want to stop the IVIG since it works somewhat for me. :confused:

Hi Hopeful,

There are numerous causes for elevated BP and many times the cause is unknown. AND, of course, BP changes constantly so it is good that you took a good sampling and monitored it.

I wonder why it is treated so differently by so many doctors. I mean that in a curiosity manner of wonderment. Maybe someone on NT can explain it to me. Why do some doctors start you out on a calcium channel blocker, others on an ace inhibitor, others on a beta blocker, others on an angiotensin, etc. Why do some begin pharmaceuticals at a systolic of 140 of above or a diastolic of 90 or above yet others wait until it is higher?

Do they really take into account the degree of pain the patient is experiencing at the time?

I am on several BP meds but whenever I go to my pain mgt. doc, it is very elevated. With my other docs, it is not. I thought about "white coat syndrome" but I am never nervous with my pain mgt. doc and like him a lot so I have dismissed the white coat syndrome. If that were the case, I would get an elevated pressure with my other docs, too, especially the ones that "could" make me nervous. I am guessing that I am just in more pain when I am at my pain mgt. doc's office and that is why my BP is higher there than in other docs offices.

My entire family and all my ancestors have / had high BP. My mother was treated for years with poor control and constant change of meds until they finally discovered that her renal arteries were blocked. (Her kidney function labs were always OK.) After surgery, she was off all BP meds for a while but her hypertension came back.

I think elevated BP is a little like neuropathies in the sense that the cause may never be known and all we can hope for is adequate treatment and control.

Just keep a good watch on your BP and keep monitoring it. Wishing you the best.

Hopeless

Thanks Hopeless! I really don't know why each doctor uses different meds. Possibly they stick to the ones that they have had the most success with controlling their patients b/p as a whole. I think it is also due to what other medications the patient is taking.

My doctor told me he was starting with this because many of the others can cause a chronic cough.

As I have always had low b/p I did not know enough about the meds to question it. I use to be a cardiac care nurse but it was a while ago. I remember a lot about the procedures but not about the meds.

I can't say I would have started meds if my diastolic was only in the low 90's but
I do understand why it is done.

The diastolic pressure is the amount of pressure in your arteries while your heart is at rest. Another words it is the pressure on your arteries to get your blood back to your heart. It shouldn't have to work that hard. The systolic is the pressure your heart has to put out while it is beating. Again it is not good if the heart has to work to hard since the heart is a muscle and can grow.

It is best to keep it at a good level. I agree with you about the pain level changing the readings. That is why I monitored it for a while. It was high on high pain days and low pain days.

That is weird though that yours is always high at your pain doctor. I can't figure that out.

I do find it interesting that your mothers labs were always normal. How did they find the blocked renal arteries?

Thanks, hopeful:hug:

Hi Hopeful,

I just responded with a long story that was not really relevant and might cause some confusion to others that may read it so I deleted it. The renal blockages were discovered accidentally when investigating another problem. Bilateral renal artery bypass was performed. Knowing that uncontrolled hypertension can lead to renal failure and that part of the function of the kidneys is to regulate blood pressure caused me much concern when my mother's renal arteries were occluded

I think my elevated BP (with medication) only at my pain mgt. doc is because I am usually there when my pain is the worst. I guess it is the pain combined with the fact an assistant takes my pressure immediately after rushing me into the exam room before I can even get seated. My other docs personally take my BP after we have been talking for a bit, not upon rushing me into the room.

Whenever I get an elevated reading at the doc's office, I come home and check it to be sure it was a fluke and not a need to change or increase my BP meds.

As far as the different types of BP meds, I know that I was put on a beta blocker by my cardiologist because of my heart rate (tachycardia), not just my BP. I was already on other types of BP meds, the beta blocker was additional. I also know they consider the patient compliance factor especially with some men because of the side effects of some types of BP meds on them. I was just curious what factors determine which type of meds they prescribe for hypertension. I know some considerations but wonder about the other factors.

Sure hope you find the reason for your recent elevations. I don't need to tell you how important it is to control BP as you already know that and are taking all the right steps toward proper care of yourself. Sorry that your nursing background is now needed to care for yourself. Thanks for your postings.

Thanks Hopeless. Sometimes I'm happy I'm a nurse and sometimes not. In some cases too much knowledge is a problem.

It's crazy when I went into cardiac care my daughter developed a heart condition that lasted a few years. When it happened I knew what it was, what tests were needed and what medications should be taken. Thank goodness I took her to a good cardiologist and things were taken care of.

At that time I wondered if God put be in cardiac care so I could recognize the problem. :winky:

Hi Hopeful,

Yes, it could very well be the catalyst that put you in the place to have the knowledge you would need later for your daughter. They say HE (GOD) works in mysterious ways and I believe that.

I am so sorry that you have become your own patient. At least your background will help you understand some of the things docs say that many patients have go over their head. Of course, like you said, that, too, could be a detriment. Sometimes ignorance IS bliss.

With your knowledge, it can be both a help and a hindrance. So glad to have you here and helping all of us. Thanks so much for sharing your time with us.

Best wishes to you and hoping better health for you.

Neuropathy
 

I have had cancer with two re-occurrences. When I was going thru my treatments I was put on Amlodipine Besylate 10mg. I'm not sure exactly when but I developed severe Neuropathy in the bottom of both feet. I would like to know where your Neuropathy is and how you determined that it was caused by the Amlodipine ? I'm thinking of contacting my Dr. about this. I wish I had of seen this before. My bottle does not mention anything about Neuropathy as a possible side effect.

I have taken this at bedtime for a few years now and also take lisinopril in the morning. Like you, strokes and heart disease run in my family. Taking these meds is a small price to pay for controlling it. I was diagnosed with hypertension in my early 40s, a couple of years following a hysterectomy and my MS diagnosis. Stress can be a huge factor as well. Any sort of decongestant can elevate it greatly, as can coffee and anti-inflammatory pain pills.