High BP meds - Amlodipine/Losartan Potassium

[LittleLamp]

Hi everyone, I've been told fairly recently that I have high BP. My mother also has it and apparently it can run in families?

I started Amlodipine but had horrible headaches and leg swelling so asked to change and was given Losartan Potassium, but then I had terrible joint pain and had to go back to Amlodipine.
Now I've got terrible facial flushing and facial heat since taking the Amlodipine again (but didn't have this when I first had it).

Has anyone had similar? I know we're all different but is there actually a BP med that doesn't have horrific side effects?!

TIA

Hi, my Ds is on permanent BP medication.
We had to try a few to get the right one.

Unfortunately I remember very well Amlodipine was horrific for side affects. He suffered so badly with the headaches he would be screaming out in pain, unfortunately at the time it took a bit to figure out that's what it was!
he was just a baby. (Now nearly 11)
Poor thing couldn't exactly say "my head hurts" He would also have other side affects like yours.
There are quite a few others out there.

I believe we tried 3 others before we got the right one, obviously everyone reacts differently to medication. And he is just a child.
However he's been taking "ENALAPRIL" for at least the last 5yrs now.

There have been times when the dosage has been changed and he has felt slightly under the weather or sick with minor headaches, however for the most part they are working brilliantly with zero affect.

I shall keep everything crossed they find something suitable for you and fast,

Nothing worse than becoming more unwell from the very thing suppose to be helping you.
Good luck. Feel better soon 💐

Amlopodine was awful,made me swell up like a balloon.

Losartan gave me terrible facial heat too,it was truly awful.

I now take a lower dose of Losartan at night and in the morning take a low dose of Lercapedanine. Apparently less likely to have side effects with that as it's one of the newer ones but from what I've read it's expensive which I think was why my GP offered it last.

No issues now but it took 6 months of truly awful side effects to find the right combination.

Weight loss brought my BP down dramatically.

I've had HBP since the peri started 20 years ago.

Was initially treated for it with ramipiril which gave me that horrible dry cough. Got so bad I couldn't speak due to dry throat.

Then changed to amlopidine which caused my gums to swell so much even talking made them bleed and my teeth loosened and I had to have 7 removed. It was my dentist who told me the meds were causing it.
My GP decided my BP was low enough not to need meds (around 158/90)

Fast forward to now. My BP shot up last year to over 200. My GP started me on candesartan. No side effects at 8mg but BP still high. GP left it and I had a stroke in Oct. GP reluctantly added lercanidipine but BP was still high. Candesartan upped to 16mg and atenolol was added. Since then my gums have become infected and 4 teeth are loose. Dentist won't commit to saying whether it's the meds or not.

I've put on 4kg in a few weeks despite having no appetite and barely able to eat anything other than soup. My hair is dropping out, I have dry skin, mouth and eyes. My urine is dark.

But worst of all in intense constant jaw pain. The whole of one side of my head, jaw, skull, sinuses, gums, ear, neck and cheek is in agony. It's bad enough to wake me at night. Dentist has booked a 3d ct scan.

Problem is my BP is still high - in the 160s. They never investigate the actual cause of the high BP, just offer meds. But there's no other meds to try according to my GP. I am stuck with the side effects. I'm en route to having all my teeth removed. The pain goes away when I reduce the Candesartan dose but then BP goes back up.

So I am in limbo. Meds aren't enough to fix BP, I'm at risk of another stroke but I'm more worried about the jaw pain. GP just tells me it's a problem for my dentist.

I know none if this helps you, but your post resonated with me. I'm in despair with it all. 😪

Following with interest. I have tried five different BP meds and all have given me horrendous side effects even on low doses. Haven't been able to see a GP since before Christmas try a sixth. What medication is your mother on?

Hi all, thanks very much for the messages.

@TimeForTeaAndMe so sorry to hear about your DS, that must have been awful. I hope he continues to feel better.

@SuddenlyOld that sounds horrific- have they investigated any further for you?

@BloodPressureHell I don't know what my mother's taking.

I'm going to concentrate on losing weight to see if that helps!