Blood pressure medication experiences

[Fallulah]

After years of dismissing my high blood pressure (it is higher in hospitals/doctors but after monitoring at home I’ve had to agree it’s high), I have gone onto medication, or at least tried to!

Two days of Ramipril gave me awful diarrhoea, so I was given a phone appointment with the pharmacist at the surgery and changed to Losartan. I put off starting it for a couple of weeks because I can’t handle the side effects at work and now have a break for a little while, but took the first one yesterday morning and it would appear to be upsetting my stomach. I rarely take any medications - should I persevere and hope my body gets used to it? I can’t see me being able to get advice from the GP surgery over Christmas anyway, so if it’s going to settle I am happy to keep going. No other odd side effects so far. They are already hounding me by text to go for my blood test and monitor my blood pressure at home, but I’ve not taken anything for long enough for it to make a difference yet!

At the risk of asking the obvious, have you read the accompanying leaflet to see if it recommends taking with/without food? Also, maybe asking a pharmacist for advice?

(I'm on amlodipine for my high BP, with no issues.)

@DisplayPurposesOnly gives good advice. A pharmacist should be able to advise.
Long time lisinopril user for years with no issues.

I’m on amlodipine and rampiril with no symptoms at all. Are you ahure it was the rampiril that gave you diarrhoea?

I’m on Ramipril and Amlodipine and they’ve worked very well. No side effects whatsoever.

You should give all medication at least two weeks for any mild side effects to subside, and most do, especially nausea or diarrhoea. The ones you shouldn't ignore are the struggling to breathe or swollen ankles side effects. Read the leaflet that comes with it for any others you shouldn't ignore.

Saying that - I have had very bad reactions to 6 different blood pressure medicines and the GP has given up prescribing

EDIT - Did you check if you need food with it?

I am on ramipril and find I tolerate it best in the evening. Don't know if it reacts with my many other pills, but I take it after dinner.

Blood pressure pills are a pain to get right... you balance the side effects so you feel alive whilst staying alive.

Ramipril did that for me, but hate the fact I can't take ibuprofen or decongestants.

After a few years I finally give up Ramipril after having night terrors (Sleeping with snakes) and finally panic attacks in traffic or in busy spaces/meetings.. Thought I was losing my mind. This went on for about 4 years. Dr says oh you can change meds to Losarton which has been much better. No more panic attacks or night terrors. You may get some discomfort but they all have some impact, I would continue, persist and it may settle. I take 92 pills a week so it's hard to determine which ones give me mild runny discomfort.

Thanks all. The Ramipril leaflet specifically said not to take diarrhoea remedies but the Losartan doesn’t, so I will keep going and maybe have some handy for the couple of Christmas journeys I have planned!

It doesn’t say anything about taking it with/without food. Ramipril I was told to take in the evening but no such instruction with the Losartan.

You are supposed to go for blood tests pretty soon after starting either Ramipril or Losartan. I don't think it's common but I know someone who has a bad kidney reaction so had to change to another type of medication.

And to BeyondMyWits, decongestants aren't suitable for people with hypertension because the way some of them work is to increase blood pressure in the core of the body, which reduces blood pressure in nose and allows for decongestion. It's not specific to Ramipril.

I have Candesartan and Indapamide with no side effects at all.

I’ve been on amlodipine for a few weeks now. It has given me slightly puffy ankles but two different doctors say that’s nothing to be concerned about as long as it doesn’t bother me!! This is despite the chemist warning me to look out for that. Otherwise no adverse effects. I must admit I haven’t read the leaflet, if I did I would stop taking it as I get really stressed about possible side effects. Why is Ramipril necessary to take in addition to Losatran?

Yes I’m booked in for a blood test in about 2 weeks time, assuming I can keep taking the tablets!