Losartan potassium

[CarmelBeach]

Is anyone taking this and do you need regular blood tests?

Do all blood pressure meds require regular blood tests?

Thanks.

I take this too. I just have my bloods taken once a year.

@Yumyumicedbuns

I take this too. I just have my bloods taken once a year.

Thanks My doctor is pretty much AWOL. It doesn't seem like the best choice of med but I am not clear on the others.

What are you worried about with it? There are fairly well established guidelines for treating hypertension with first line drugs depending mainly on age/ethnicity/diabetes iirc. ARBs and ACEi do usually have follow-up blood tests for renal function. Some of the other antihypertensives do too (esp the diuretics).

@Greybeardy

What are you worried about with it? There are fairly well established guidelines for treating hypertension with first line drugs depending mainly on age/ethnicity/diabetes iirc. ARBs and ACEi do usually have follow-up blood tests for renal function. Some of the other antihypertensives do too (esp the diuretics).

I won't bore you but the short version is it I'd like to tackle it myself first, without meds. I do think this might be possible.

There's a different drug I'd take if I had to and my GP seems to have a very sketchy reason for not wanting to give that one.

I might go private as my GP is barely open - though they clearly didn't like the last BP reading they asked me to send in.

Hi Carmelbeach. Could you say which drug you would prefer to take please? I am very interested because I am quite wheezy on Losartan.

I hesitated getting my high bp treated.Even though I'd run and gone to the gym for years, never smoked and had a decent diet/little alcohol it made no difference. It was hereditary basically. Get a bp machine and check it am/pm to get an idea what is. The gp will work out an average reading. What's considered high has changed over the last few years so it might be harder to get it down independently.
The gp will use NICE guidelines so it shouldn't be meds he picks off the top of his head. Depends on your age and previous medical history, renal function etc. I think under 55 it's ace inhibitors/ arbs as first line treatment. If it doesn't work they'll increase the dose, maybe introduce a different one. Fair enough if you need to lose weight, cut out salt etc but it's not a stigma being on medication but a potential life saver !