New BP med - how long to settle?

[UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername]

I had a 24 hour BP monitor the other day and averaged 141/96, I think, over that time. My GP put me on a (third) med for it. Now I'm quite dizzy when I stand up and am generally failing to get anything done. I've just checked it and it's 109/69.

How long should it take to acclimatize to the additional med? I'm going on holiday in two days and I could do with being able to clean the house and pack in the meantime! I don't remember how long it took me to settle on the first two. I'm very tempted to just leave it till I come back.

Call your GP and ask their advice. You've gone too low and the worry is that you could go lower still. Get it sorted before you go away.

Yikes! That's too low. It's normal to feel weird for a few days or a week after starting a new medication. My gp explained that you can become so accustomed to blood flowing forcefully that in the first few days your organs are wondering where the blood and oxygen have gone.

But some BP meds mess with your electrolytes so it's worth checking out.

By all means call the GP if you're feeling unwell, but 109/69 is not an overly low blood pressure.

https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/blood-pressure-test/#:~:text=Understanding%20your%20blood%20pressure%20reading&text=You'll%20also%20get%20information,pharmacy%2C%20GP%20surgery%20or%20clinic)
Whatever you do, DO NOT stop your blood pressure medication.

PS - Pump your feet a bit before you stand up and walk around. That should help with any dizziness until you get the medicine adjusted. Also make sure you stay hydrated.

Hi OP. My blood pressure is usually around 105/55. When I stand up, I squeeze my flutes, it helps to regulate the diastolic pressure. In case this helps.

Are you going abroad, and if so, have you informed your travel insurance provider? You don’t want to need medical treatment abroad and not be covered.

*glutes. Squeezing my flutes wouldn't help.

I don't think I'll need medical attention abroad, I've been on BP meds for decades and been fine. And I don't think it's worryingly low at all, my body is just adjusting.

I'll definitely bring a flute to squeeze though 😂