Altace Isn't Working for High BP - What's Next?

[Rush20]

My next cardio appointment is in two weeks. 6-months ago he put me on 5mg of Altace to get my BP down from 140/95 range. At first it worked and I logged consistent 120/80-ish readings. The BP then crept back up and he increased the dosage to 10mg. Again it worked for awhile and has crept back up to 135/95 range. The other day, after a harrowing commute home, I had a 140/100 reading.

Any suggestions on other meds that can help. I'm hoping to stay off as many meds as possible. My coumadin has been rock solid at 5 mg for two years and I'm consistent. Outside of daily vitamins, the only other med is the Altace. The good news is that I haven't had any negative side effects and because it's and Ace inhibitor, it has other heart-related benefits.

I've been under a lot of career stress and we just finished a home remodeling project that took the majority of the summer so I understand my lifestyle hasn't helped. My diet, weight and exercise is all good so I can't understand why it's not working long-term.

Anyone else experience this with Altace or any other Ace inhibitor.

Thanks as always!

 

[susieq14]

I'm wondering the same thing as you...

I'm wondering the same thing as you...

Allen,

I'm on Lisinopril - an ACE inhibitor and my BP is still a little erratic and often very high. My cardiologist put me on 5 mg in August 04 when my MR was discovered and then 10 mg and now since December 05 I'm taking 20 mg . I have lost 50 pounds and eat way more carefully than I did before and am trying to get my exercise levels up (although I know there's lots of room for improvement on that ).

Anyway 3 weeks ago at a visit to a new PCP it was 159/90. His comment was "do you have white-coat hypertension?" It does tend to run higher at a doctor's office than at home but not always. And I thought I was quite calm that day. Recent BP readings at various Doctor appointments in the last few months have included 146/80, 140/80, 118/78 and 125/85. I've been wondering if he is going to raise it again. I don't understand how it can jump so much if you are on BP meds???

 

[Rush20]

Thanks for the feedback. Similar to you, my cardio thinks I have reactionary hypertension, meaning that my reaction to life stresses drive up the BP rather than a consistent high reading.

I will be interested to see if he prescribes something else of simply ups the dose.

 

[DeWayne]

I have been on enalapril since the end of May, was running BP in the 150/90 range. Since I have been on it my pressure runs usually around 115/72 fluctuates a bit but rarely much over 120/80 even on a bad day. I take 2 5mg pills a day once in the morning and on in the evening. This is now 10 weeks post surgery as well.

 

[hensylee]

Lots of things can make our bp jump - as in 'white coat syndrome', for instance. I, too, have that. I just can't always remain calm. Mr dr occasionally changes my bp med. He will say 'this one isn't working well anymore so we must change to.....' and that one works til bp creeps back up. Your dr will come up with another one, I am sure.

 

[Sherry]

Hi, Allen. I too am on 10 mg. of Altace per day and test with my home monitor about once or twice per week. I've been on it since July and so far so good, but I'll really keep an eye on it. I am a high school teacher (lots of stress) so maybe I should take my blood pressure cuff to school with me to test that reactionary bp theory. Hope you get back to low numbers soon.