Great thread so much in the trenches info, much appreciated!
BP had creeped up to 152/103 and scared the bezeebus out of me, so I went to the GP to specifically request Telmisartan. Never taken BP meds before.
At the appointment my BP was 142/93, and the PA said I didn’t have high blood pressure and didn’t need any medication. I told her she was wrong and I wanted to start on 40mg of Telmi, she said she needed an OK from the Dr. first as this was not what they normally do as they start with diuretics first… I said I’m not taking those or statins and request that you prescribe the Telmi… she came back 5’ later with the OK.
I took my first dose at 1pm, by 7pm my BP dropped 10 points, very pleased, had my lowest BP reading in many months.
Only 1 day, but there does seem to be a mood lift, I feel great today! Also, this stuff makes me lose a lot of water, peeing like a rhino today.
Hope I get more BP drop in the coming weeks. Thanks to all for posting your experiences.
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RobTuck
#122
I agree @RufusDawes. The sharing, collegiality, and depth of knowledge here are unparalleled. It pleased me when I read of your experience just now, and how people here may have provided needed information at the right time for you.
I’m sure you know that it takes quite a few BP readings, taken under different conditions common to you, and with some control over the external environment, to arrive at a good profile of your BP. Nonetheless, it is incomprehensible that your medical office was ready to blow off your significantly elevated reading without at least further investigation. It would seem they have not kept up with national guidelines for many years. Your elevated readings might have been so-called white coat hypertension (as has been my lifelong situation) or may reflect your typical blood in normal, relaxed environments. Either way, it is in your interest based on the best available evidence to move it down to at least the middle range of normal BP.
I found that the “relaxation” effect of telmisartan kicked in almost immediately but was so subtle that it took a few days to pinpoint it. As I recall, my BP also dropped close to 10 points early on but I found that it required 20-30 days for the lowering effect to fully stabilize with no further decreases. As is common, my readings are higher in the morning (typically ~122/72) and lowest in the evenings when a reading of 110/65 is not uncommon). I also think my “white coat” spikes, which in the past could be 150/90 or more are much more constrained now. My BP at my last flight physical, standing and talking with no rest, was 128/78.
The current reductions and changes in variance as as far as i’m interested in going. That’s as far as I’m interested in going. I now measure my BP for a day or two every few months and don;t think about it otherwise.
Good luck and keep everyone posted.
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Update: the 40mg daily Telmisartan lowered my bp 20pts to 122/81, just what I was looking for. However, it gave me a weekly sinus infection or a chest cold, both mild, but one of the lesser side effects.
I went off it and now trying Amlodipine 5mg daily, so far so good. Like what was mentioned, takes 3-4 weeks to see the medication fully kick in, hoping for no unusual side effects (so far just mild headache in the morning that goes away, and a mild flushing in the face that also goes away).
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