BP???

[[Ba...]]

At what pt id you accept going on  a BP med?  Mine was high,then seemd bettr, but most readings now about 140 /85 or some such...

 

what should it be for 67 age and are you on it for life then?  I was trying hibiscus tea but ti sems too acidic for m...

[[Fo...]]

That’s generally considered fine unless you have other risk factors like diabetes or high cholesterol.

Will try to add uk Nice guidelines.

Dickie

 

If you google “hypertension nice guidelines” it tells you if you need to consider treatment.

And also ways to keep it lower

Best wishes

Dick

[[Ba...]]

high cholesterol...

[Guest [Le...]]

From my own experience, it’s a big mistake to keep looking for drugs to offset symptoms that you are having that may very well disappear once you’re off the Valium, Klonopin and Ambien.

 

Once I got off benzos, my health returned to normal, and I do not need any drugs. Valium in particular caused numerous problems, such as palpitations, racing heartbeat, deep depression, and all kinds of other awful stuff.

 

Many folks make the mistake of thinking they’ll just stay on benzos until they get their ‘other’ health problems solved, when often the health problems are all the result of benzo tolerance and all of the other drugs that were added (usually in vain) to ease the symptoms.

 

Sometimes it’s best to just bite the bullet and get off the benzos. Delaying it, or trying to do an end run around the discomfort of withdrawal, only draws out the inevitable conclusion.

[[de...]]

I think there is still a need to take BP meds if BP is high when withdrawing.  Risk of stroke, heart, etc. 

 

Dee

[[Fo...]]

Of course benzos are bad for cholesterol too so I use beet tablets to keep it down and loads of fish.

I refuse statins as you have to take a lot to live a few months more. There is a programme gps use to add up your risk factors. My cholesterol is just ok.

Most Bp meds have a depression warning. I take ramipril since I was put on Quetiapine but I stopped the poison last week and my Gp will drop and will be able to stop it.

My failing is lack of exercise due to hip, but working at it.

Best wishes

Dick

 

[Guest [Le...]]

I think there is still a need to take BP meds if BP is high when withdrawing.  Risk of stroke, heart, etc. 

 

Dee

 

I agree, one should always check with the doctor.

 

At the same time, it’s prudent to be aware that one should avoid medicating for problems that are actually being caused by the benzos. Seroquel, for example, can worsen *both* high and low blood pressure. So then what, more drugs?

 

Docs are all too willing to hand out more drugs, but for many of us, the problems go away when the polydrugging stops. 

[[An...]]

I am no MD but 140 /85  is not terribly high. Do you have other health problems? The age 67 does concern me.

[[Fo...]]

The guidelines are there for a reason and the complications of high BP have been known for many years.

Unfortunately as a group on benzos, antipsychotics and antidepressants we are in a different group from the average person .

All our above meds interfere with cholesterol and blood sugar levels to a degree. And can raise Bp.

One could therefore make a case for keeping the Bp ten points lower than average to offset this.

What we do know is that untreated anxiety and depression have a higher mortality anyway, so we need to be vigilant. For example if a man is bereaved studies show he is 40% more likely to die suddenly in year one, reducing slowly towards 20% by end of year two.  Women don’t have the same increase in mortality.

For me, to stay on Seroquel and Mirtazipine would lead to an increase chance of diabetes and pancreatic failure, as well as increasing Bp and cholesterol—hence my planned withdrawal. Diazepam is less of a problem but as we know ruins our get up n go and spontaneous enjoyment.

That other factor to consider is that without medication there is also a risk of self harm in depression.

So my view is to work with you doctor to maintain a good balance of Bp, weight, exercise, socialisation, good diet and watch for red flag signs also. To the mix we often have to reduce psychotropic medication as best we can whilst not cutting off our noses to spite our faces.

It’s difficult isn’t it. ?  But Barbara raised the point and ultimately it’s between her and her doc how she handles her treatment.

Humbly yours

Dick

 

 

[[de...]]

I don't take any additional meds, as react badly to both bp, and statin medications. 

 

The depression created by BP meds (tried four), would have killed me earlier than the consequences of high blood pressure, any day of the week.  Terrible. 

 

Exercise and diet, etc., is the way for me to go.  Just got to get my arse into gear. 

 

Thanks for info on beet tablets Dick. 

 

Doctor wants to see me today re cholesterol, but I don't tolerate Crestor, etc.  It's got to be change in Lifestyple for me.   

 

Dee

 

[Guest [NM...]]

I think there is still a need to take BP meds if BP is high when withdrawing.  Risk of stroke, heart, etc. 

 

Dee

 

I agree, one should always check with the doctor.

 

At the same time, it’s prudent to be aware that one should avoid medicating for problems that are actually being caused by the benzos. Seroquel, for example, can worsen *both* high and low blood pressure. So then what, more drugs?

 

Docs are all too willing to hand out more drugs, but for many of us, the problems go away when the polydrugging stops. 

 

Precisely. And look at trends... JUST like what’s considered high for high cholesterol-as more drugs are created to sell, the lower (or higher) the number becomes. 🙄 My cholesterol was normal at 220 in 1992. I’ve had statins pushed on me for over 20 years. I will not take them. After reading I understand that systolic of 180-189/ diastolic 130-139 is PRE-hypertensive? Give me a break. Pre-diabetic. Pre-hypertensive. SMH

[[Vi...]]

Interesting I came across this thread...

 

I was just grieving concerned about my own blood pressure and was hoping for some reassurance.  Since starting benzos, I've mostly been in the bed for 2 months, for almost the entire day.  But, strangely, my resting HR appears to have dropped in avg.  I thought it used to be on the higher end of normal.  Now it hovers between 55-63 bpm.  Additionally, my blood pressure has always ran slightly high, like around 130/90, but now, it has been fairly normal, even with an elevated pulse.  I walked for 20 minutes earlier, felt a little lightheaded, sat down as soon as I was done walking, and my BP was 123/87 with a HR of 97.  Is it concerning that my BP is staying at normal levels even when standing or immediately following exercise?

 

Heart rate-wise I've also occasionally went from 60-ish laying down, to 120-ish once I stand up with pounding palpitations with both resolving pretty soon after.

 

Can all this be attributed to still having klonopin in my system and the extended bed rest (and combined with anxiety/nausea causing me not to eat, losing 40 lbs.)? 

[[Fo...]]

Well you’ve lost weight so your Bp and pulse will have less to do. It seems to be sponging to your situation as expected.

I too spend a lot of time on the bed because I find going out a great effort. I try to take some exercise, but often it’s easier to hide away.

I hope you are able to up more because of risks to your bone mass, and possible fractures later in life.

Hopefully the benzos reduction will help

Best wishes

Dick

[[Vi...]]

Well you’ve lost weight so your Bp and pulse will have less to do. It seems to be sponging to your situation as expected.

I too spend a lot of time on the bed because I find going out a great effort. I try to take some exercise, but often it’s easier to hide away.

I hope you are able to up more because of risks to your bone mass, and possible fractures later in life.

Hopefully the benzos reduction will help

Best wishes

Dick

Thanks so much for the reassurance, Dick!  It's definitely tough, man...  I was just in the gym lifting 3x a week before my first panic attack, then out of anxiety awaiting my medical tests (including cardiology) which came back normal, I crawled in my bed and started taking my benzos and been stuck ever since.  Trying to get back to eating, but I've apparently been going through anxiety-induced nausea and then interdose w/d-related nausea and loss of appetite.  The whole process has become cyclical...

 

I'm definitely trying to get back active and overcome my constant "worst case scenario" what-ifs mindset...  I guess if there is a silver lining, while yes, I know I've lost muscle and such, I was 5'10" 220 lbs at the start of this, so losing 40 lbs wasnt such a bad thing lol.