Off Blood Pressure Meds

After a year on Diovan and 30 lbs lost I've had to stop taking the blood
pressure medication. Thought I'd post a message about how this happened,
why since it might be helpful to others.

I've been monitoring my blood pressure all along and it was always in the
normal range. However, over the past month I started developing intense
anxiety attacks. I was also having nightmares in which I was freaking out a
lot. These are not normal for me. When I took my blood pressure in the
morning, it didn't seem lower than usual.

However, when I went to the doctor to get my flu shot two weeks ago, the
nurse said, "I can't FIND your pulse!" Then she tried a couple more times
and finally came up with a blood pressure of 85/60. This was at lunch time
when my blood pressure is usually heading towards its highest value for the
day.

I did some thinking and realized that my "normal" blood pressure in the
morning was probably a result of an adrenelin release which is what you get
when your blood pressure falls to dangerously low levels. That would explain
the panic dreams. This intense release of adrenelin is the body's way of
keeping you alive. This happened to me when I took too much blood pressure
medicine last year. Basically you get a huge jolt and then your pressure is
normal. However you also get a dose of "fight of flight" which takes hours
to burn off.
I was never able to catch the low blood pressure, since the adreneline kicks
in very fast. However the mid-day reading at the doctor's office was the
tip off. Usually it was about 40 points higher!

To see if ultra low blood pressure was the problem, I decided to go off the
blood pressure med, and in about 2 days the anxiety attacks stopped. I kept
an eye on the blood pressure measuring a couple times a day. Though it
occasionally goes up to 125/70, most of the time my blood pressure is still
under 120/80.

Unfortunately, one "side effect" of the Diovan was that it lowered my
insulin, so I am concerned I might start having problems with my blood sugar
again. We'll see.

Anyway, if you are on BP meds and start getting feelings of panic or
"something terrible is happening" and these are not usual for you, it might
be because your diet has lowered your blood pressure more than you realize.


-- Jenny

Cut the carbs to respond to my new email address!
New photo: http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean/jennypics.htm
Weight: 168.5/137
Diabetes Type II diagnosed 8/1998 -
HBa1c 5.2 10/03
Low Carb 9/1998 - 8/2001 and 11/10/02 - Now

http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean
How to calculate your need for protein * How much people really lose each
month * Water Weight Gain & Loss * The "Two Gram Cure" for Hunger Cravings
* Characteristics of Successful Dieters * Indispensible Low Carb Treats *
Should You Count that Low Impact Carb? * Curing Ketobreath * Exercise
Starting from Zero * Do Starch Blockers Work? * NEW! Why the Low Carb Diet
is Great for Diabetes * NEW! Low Carb Strategies for People with Diabetes

After a year on Diovan and 30 lbs lost I've had to stop taking the
blood pressure medication. Thought I'd post a message about how this
happened, why since it might be helpful to others.
I've been monitoring my blood pressure all along and it was always in
the normal range. However, over the past month I started developing
intense anxiety attacks. I was also having nightmares in which I was
freaking out a lot. These are not normal for me. When I took my blood
pressure in the morning, it didn't seem lower than usual.
However, when I went to the doctor to get my flu shot two weeks ago, the
nurse said, "I can't FIND your pulse!" Then she tried a couple more
times and finally came up with a blood pressure of 85/60. This was at
lunch time when my blood pressure is usually heading towards its highest
value for the day.
I did some thinking and realized that my "normal" blood pressure in the
morning was probably a result of an adrenelin release which is what you
get when your blood pressure falls to dangerously low levels. That would
explain the panic dreams. This intense release of adrenelin is the
body's way of keeping you alive. This happened to me when I took too
much blood pressure medicine last year. Basically you get a huge jolt
and then your pressure is normal. However you also get a dose of "fight
of flight" which takes hours to burn off.
I was never able to catch the low blood pressure, since the adreneline
kicks in very fast. However the mid-day reading at the doctor's office
was the tip off. Usually it was about 40 points higher!
To see if ultra low blood pressure was the problem, I decided to go off
the blood pressure med, and in about 2 days the anxiety attacks stopped.
I kept an eye on the blood pressure measuring a couple times a day.
Though it occasionally goes up to 125/70, most of the time my blood
pressure is still under 120/80.
Unfortunately, one "side effect" of the Diovan was that it lowered my
insulin, so I am concerned I might start having problems with my blood
sugar again. We'll see.
Anyway, if you are on BP meds and start getting feelings of panic or
"something terrible is happening" and these are not usual for you, it
might be because your diet has lowered your blood pressure more than you
realize.
-- Jenny

that's great news jenny!

i take diovan. i'm hoping that down the road i can go off. i think it
may be a byproduct of trying to get my underactive thyroid under
control.

i have a panic disorder already. i would never be able to tell by that,
unfortunately

Witchy,

I'd suggest monitoring your blood pressure at mid-day. If it starts dropping
below 100/70 keep your mind open to the possibility that it might be going
too low at night or when you are very relaxed.

I also find it helpful to monitor it at the supermarket pharmacy using their
machine. When I first started taking the Diovan, it would still get up near
130/85 at the store though it was low at home. Eventually it was low at the
store too--110/70.

Once it gets lower, you don't have to stop taking it, but if you start
finding yourself having more frequent mood issues, it's something to
consider. The good thing about Diovan, unlike many other blood pressure
meds is that it does not cause a rebound in blood pressure when you go off
it.

Note to others on blood pressure meds--talk to your doctor before lowering
the dose! Some drugs will cause dangerous rebounds if you go off them
suddenly.

-- Jenny

Cut the carbs to respond to my new email address!
New photo: http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean/jennypics.htm
Weight: 168.5/137
Diabetes Type II diagnosed 8/1998 -
HBa1c 5.2 10/03
Low Carb 9/1998 - 8/2001 and 11/10/02 - Now

http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean
How to calculate your need for protein * How much people really lose each
month * Water Weight Gain & Loss * The "Two Gram Cure" for Hunger Cravings
* Characteristics of Successful Dieters * Indispensible Low Carb Treats *
Should You Count that Low Impact Carb? * Curing Ketobreath * Exercise
Starting from Zero * Do Starch Blockers Work? * NEW! Why the Low Carb Diet
is Great for Diabetes * NEW! Low Carb Strategies for People with Diabetes


"Witchy Way" wrote in message
...
After a year on Diovan and 30 lbs lost I've had to stop taking the
blood pressure medication. Thought I'd post a message about how this
happened, why since it might be helpful to others.
I've been monitoring my blood pressure all along and it was always in
the normal range. However, over the past month I started developing
intense anxiety attacks. I was also having nightmares in which I was
freaking out a lot. These are not normal for me. When I took my blood
pressure in the morning, it didn't seem lower than usual.
However, when I went to the doctor to get my flu shot two weeks ago, the
nurse said, "I can't FIND your pulse!" Then she tried a couple more
times and finally came up with a blood pressure of 85/60. This was at
lunch time when my blood pressure is usually heading towards its highest
value for the day.
I did some thinking and realized that my "normal" blood pressure in the
morning was probably a result of an adrenelin release which is what you
get when your blood pressure falls to dangerously low levels. That would
explain the panic dreams. This intense release of adrenelin is the
body's way of keeping you alive. This happened to me when I took too
much blood pressure medicine last year. Basically you get a huge jolt
and then your pressure is normal. However you also get a dose of "fight
of flight" which takes hours to burn off.
I was never able to catch the low blood pressure, since the adreneline
kicks in very fast. However the mid-day reading at the doctor's office
was the tip off. Usually it was about 40 points higher!
To see if ultra low blood pressure was the problem, I decided to go off
the blood pressure med, and in about 2 days the anxiety attacks stopped.
I kept an eye on the blood pressure measuring a couple times a day.
Though it occasionally goes up to 125/70, most of the time my blood
pressure is still under 120/80.
Unfortunately, one "side effect" of the Diovan was that it lowered my
insulin, so I am concerned I might start having problems with my blood
sugar again. We'll see.
Anyway, if you are on BP meds and start getting feelings of panic or
"something terrible is happening" and these are not usual for you, it
might be because your diet has lowered your blood pressure more than you
realize.
-- Jenny

that's great news jenny!

i take diovan. i'm hoping that down the road i can go off. i think it
may be a byproduct of trying to get my underactive thyroid under
control.

i have a panic disorder already. i would never be able to tell by that,
unfortunately