9th January 2005
Zuzu, is norvasc a good bp med? My cardio just added that to my hbp therapy. How long does it take to bring my bp down? i now take verapamil 240, lasix 20 and norvasc 5mgs.
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9th January 2005 Jtu,
In my most humble opinion, Norvasc is a med that seems to have more side effects than most, is overpriced, and really best designed for hypertensives with angina and heart failure. However, if you can escape side effects, it works well to bring down BP for a lot of people who need to add a 3rd drug to their regimen. In theory, it's full effect would probably show up within two weeks. zuzu xx 9th January 2005
I so agree with Zuzu, I know we tend to hate the drugs that cause us individually the worst problems. Norvasc was the wost for me. I actually caused my BP to go up. But I hope it works for you. Cass 9th January 2005 Norvasc was the worst hypertension med I've ever taken as well. I may not have needed to but I weaned at half dose for 4 days and 1/4 dose for 4. 9th January 2005 Thanks zuz and Cass for responding. I've only taken the norvasc for two days. My ankles did swell a little but it was mild. My bp is still high (163/80-90ish. If nothing more of a side effect than that, then i will keep norvasc for at least a month to see if my bp will drop to at least 130/72.
This has been an ongoing problem for me. My bp has been high for almost a yr and no bp med seems to help. That is none that doesn't cause me really bad side effects. I can't go on with bp over 140's, it is beginnning to drive me crazy. I never had anxiety about going to the drs offce, but now i do. 10th January 2005 If norvasc is lowering your bp but you have some side effects, you might ask about changing to a different calcium channel blocker. They don't all produce the same side effects, and its possible another type may give you control and no side effects. 10th January 2005 No Cass, you have it right. I am now taking norvasc 5mgs, verapamil 240mgs, lasix 20 mgs, vit. e 200 ius, vit.c 500mg, aspring 325(halfed). I can only get my bp down to 153/80ish. This is inspite of diet and exercise.
Lisinopril & hctz w/ verapamil always lowered my bp, but im allergic to lisinopril and avapro. I hated toprol xl. It seems this bp problem is getting the best of me. i don't feel ill or anything, but knowing hbp is the silent killer is driving me crazy. I now hate going to the drs office. 11th January 2005
Boy, can I relate to this post! Same story different meds. I now get some good control with BenicarHCT 40/25, Atenolol 50, and a 1/2 of a clonidine when it decides to go up. Usually I'm in the 130s / 70s range but can go up to 180s / 80s sometimes higher for no reason. I can get good control with verapamil or diltiazem but can't tolerate them. I too, want to just keep a good average BP. And going to the doc now just drives mine through the roof! I feel like I have to pass a test that I'm doomed to fail. Oh well, God willing, all of us will someday reach our desired goals. Cass 11th January 2005 I was on Norvasc for about 2 yrs but I couldn't stand the swelling. It was no longer limited to my legs and ankles so my doctor decided to stop it. I stopped it abruptly and had no problems. (I was on 10mg once a day for 2 yrs.)
However I did notice an increase in the PVC's and the chest pain returned about 2 weeks later so I was started on Lopressor. I also get Migraine headaches but I was told not to take Imitrex because my bp was not under control. I would read up on the side effects of any migraine medication because a few of them you're not supposed to take if your bp is not well controlled. There are some good preventative medications that you might be able to take so that you can prevent them. One is a BB (like Inderal) and then there is also Depakote ER and Topamax. I took Depakote for a few weeks but then it made my nose bleed so I had to stop. I was on Topamax for a few months and it helped with the migraines. I stopped taking it though because it was changing the taste of all of the food. I should have stayed on it because it might have helped with weight loss. Good luck to you. Dianne 11th January 2005 Cass, i am now starting to get better readings since starting the norvasc. My bp was spiking something awful. The norvasc does cause me some chest pain but nothing for me to stop the drug. My ankles did swell abit at first but i hope that's not going to be a problem. Today my bp was 151/79 pulse 83. That is the lowest my bp has been in a couple of months. I was dangerously in the 200-plus and felt ill sometimes.
I think zuzu said i should give the norvasc about two wks to start working. I pray this works for me w/o too many side effects. The only real scary part is the shortness of breath that comes and goes. 13th March 2005
This is my first post,Hello to all. I was recently given norvasc,and it has worked really well.The only thing that did not caue me any side affects as of yet.It has been two weeks so far. I was placed on Benicar a little over two weeks and ended up in the hospital after the second day.I past out in the market.Before that I was on antenenol,I felt like my word was closing in on me.Legs hurting when I walked up the stairs,stomach problems,and everyday I had a headache.Before that tropal xl. Is there anything out there with little or no side affects? I"m very fearful of taking new meds. Really,any at all. :eek: Ladi |
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