After my bp scare and subsequent cardiologist appointment, I am now a lab rat trying to figure out which meds work best for me. I started with 40mg of lisinopril. This didn't get me quite where I need to be, so the cardiologist added 5mg of Bystolic, which has made me feel like poopy caca for 2 weeks. He now wants me to try norvasc 2.5mg. Are any of you on this medicine? Pros? Cons? This is in addition to the 40mg lisinopril. Thanks for your help!
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Norvasc. Quick BP question!
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Norvasc is a calcium channel blocker and basically is working from a different direction than the lisinopril is. I wouldn't say lisinopril is necessarily "mild" per se, just depends on patient and how they react to it. Tons of folks are on it and overall, it is a good medication.
2.5mg of Norvasc is a very low dose, so if your blood pressure doesn't change much, they can increase that accordingly if need be. Typically the only thing that people complain about with it is the leg swelling (as mentioned above) due water retention. This can vary from one patient to the next as well and can also depend on how much you are on your feet during the day, but typically comes with no adverse effects.
Bystolic can definitely cause that crappy feeling though, especially the first couple weeks you are on it. Not only is it lowering your blood pressure, but it will also lower your heart rate, which is where that "drug down" feeling comes from if your body is used to the heart pumping at a higher rate.
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Bystolic took my heart rate from 75ish to 65ish, but it seemed like my bp readings were actually higher for the 2 weeks I was on it. I did not take my bystolic this morning per dr instruction and have felt substantially better. Kinda apprehensive about introducing a new drug to my system, but I guess I'd better!
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Thought I'd take a minute to follow up. Norvasc is working very well in addition to the Lisinopril. I put off taking it for a few days and started Sunday morning with my first dose. Day 4 and I haven't had a BP reading over 120/80 in 2 days. Knock on wood, I think this stuff is working! Kind of an adjustment after apparently being hypertensive for awhile, but I feel much better!
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