anyone taking high blood pressure drugs + carbidopa/levodopa?
 

i have HBP which i've kept under control with C/L, diet, exercise. when OFF, my BP would get as high as 160/95 but usually wouldn't go any higher 145/95. when i ride my stationary bike it drops down below 110/70 so that's one reason i avoided a BP drug, i was afraid it would go too low. my BP did go higher when sleeping but not dangerously high so avoided BP drug.

But things suddenly changed in the last few days, my ON time dropped from over 2.5-3hrs to less than 2hrs and I go OFF very suddenly with my BP going from 125/76 to over 180/100 in less than 30min. So have to increase on time with other drugs and/or add a BP drug. This sudden change is just a little disconcernting, i went from getting pretty good symptom relief with 800-900 C/L with very little rigidity when ON to having lingering rigidity that makes exercise and normal daily activity much more difficult. waiting to hear from my docs so thought i'd see what other pd'ers might be doing. i was diagnosed 12 years ago.

so "hopefully" this is just "normal" progression and i can find the right combo of dosages and drugs to again feel ok and not crappy a great part of the day and it isn't something more serious. haven't tried COMTAN or requipxl, neupro just too expensive. I'd like to take more extended release C/L but just too unpredictable. DBS looking more attractive vs meds every 2 hrs but might not be a candidate, ongoing costs is an issue and i'm allergic to a gold, silver and other metals, not allergic to titanium. never a dull day with pd. azilect, amantadine had side affects and i'd be taking regualr requip if it didn't put me into a stupor. all answers will be judged and i'll declare a winner :winky:

Soccer,
Just a quick thought as I'm heading out. If looking for BP drug, why not check out Isradapine as there was some Parkinsons potential during tests. Not sure whether it ended up positive or not.....

Eric

I personally have problems with low blood pressure but looks like this PD patient is experiencing similar HBP issues - seems like tweaking medication and meditation might be helpful at least until you can see the doctor.

http://parkinsonsand5htp.blogspot.ca...izzard-do.html

I saw this on a Facebook news feed recently-
http://www.pdf.org/fall11_low_blood_pressure_pd

Good Morning Soccertese,

One of the things I started doing was measuring my blood pressure 3 times a day. Do this for a week to get an idea of what is really going on. Gives the doctors a much better idea than just a measurement when you visit. Try to pick two times to show before 30 minutes medication and 60 minutes after medication

Laying down. Measure it
Stand up, wait two to three minutes, measure it.
Sitting up right. Once again measure it.

For me my normal range is systolic (high number) from 90 to 160. The numbers will vary all over the place. Doc's had fun with me in the hospital for surgery. I had a big room sign with "Medication on time, every time. WAKE ME" so at least they did get my Parkie meds on time. Irony was in the morning the Pharmacy had entered my 5 AM medication as 9 AM as they slipped up.

On "off days" (different from medication on/off) that when I first stood up my vision gave me a clue. Peripheral vision will narrow. Stand up slowly, hand firmly at table (or hand rail in handicap bathroom stall) until I am feeling good to start walking again. Some days I am fine, other days are bad. Oddest part is I do not see a rhyme nor reason to this, just happens. Long torso, so falling over backwards is not fun.

Official Dx was a little over a year ago. Doing well with Medication (Daily: 10 - 25/100 Sinemet; 4 - 200mg Comtan) exercise has helped as I am holding off on increase of medication.

We have noticed dad's BP often tends to drop after a meal (digestion/energy process?), now we get him to his recliner before he slips into a deep nap.
When he wakes he is quite refreshed.
Meds timing before or during a meal, maybe be a part of it too.

I was on Toprol XL for blood pressure because I have an abdominal aortic aneurysm. after attending a seminar by dr Goudreau of MSU about 8 months ago, I changed to isradipine 10 mg/day. controls BP the same (avg 129/87) and maybe there will be an effect on PD progression. currently on 800 sinemet IR and 100 sinemet CR (at bedtime). neuro has me monitoring BP throughout the day, and I have no concerning fluctuations. I don't notice any side effect, good or bad from the isradipine.

Hi Soccertese,
Your BP is getting pretty high.
Personally I'd see your GP and start on an anti hypertensive med ASAP.
You don't want to add a stroke or heart attack to your list of ailments!
Remember PWP often have postural hypotension.
My readings can vary quite dramatically when I go immediately from sitting to standing.
IMHO you're better off having your BP a bit lower than a bit too high due to the damage to arteries it can and will cause.
Comtan instead of that maybe try stalevo during the day and CR at night?
Perhaps consult a DBS neurosurgeon regarding your allergy concerns and then you'll know where you stand regarding the possibility of being a suitable candidate?