High blood pressure medication side effects
High blood pressure medications are often the first thing that a doctor will prescribe when high blood pressure is detected. This leads to millions of people taking them everyday.
This has resulted in soaring profits for the pharmaceutical industry. But what about the people taking these drugs?
Unfortunately high blood pressure medications do not cure high blood pressure but merely regulate it. Which means you have to take them everyday for the rest of your life – or your blood pressure will climb back up to dangerous levels.
Another negative aspect of blood pressure medications is bad side effects.
Overview of high blood pressure medication side effects
Below is a list of common high blood pressure medication side effects:
ACE inhibitors
The most common high blood pressure medication side effect here is a dry cough.
Rarer side effects include:
- Lightheadedness,
- dizziness,
- rash,
- reduced appetite,
- increased blood potassium,
- changes in the flavor of foods and swelling.
Alpha Blockers
The main high blood pressure medication side effects of this drug are dizziness and feeling faint when sitting up or standing up.
Additional side effects include:
- headache,
- pounding heartbeat,
- nausea, weakness,
- weight gain.
Angiotensin II receptor blockers
Side effects (relatively rare) include:
- Diarrhea,
- dizziness,
- headache,
- lightheadedness,
- back and leg pain,
- sinus congestion,
- kidney failure,
- liver failure,
- allergic reaction,
- lowered white blood cells,
- swelling.
Beta Blockers
Common high blood pressure medication side effects include:
- Cold hands, dizziness,
- fatigue, and weakness.
Less common side effects include:
- Depression,
- reduced libido (sex drive),
- insomnia (trouble sleeping),
- shortness of breath.
Beta-blockers may cause severe asthma attacks. They can also block indications of low blood sugar (like a racing pulse) in diabetics. Beta-blockers can temporarily affect cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Abrupt discontinuation of beta-blockers can increase risk of heart attack and other heart issues. Not so nice!
Calcium channel blockers
Common side effects of this high blood pressure medication include:
- Constipation, drowsiness,
- flushing,
- headache,
- nausea,
- rapid pulse,
- swelling in the lower legs and feet.
Some calcium channel blockers react with grapefruit and foods that contain grapefruit by blocking the liver from properly removing them from the blood – resulting in dangerous concentrations.
Central-acting agents
Side effects of these high blood pressure medicines include:
- Constipation,
- depression,
- dizziness,
- dry mouth,
- drowsiness,
- fatigue,
- headache,
- impotence,
- impaired thinking,
- weight gain.
Abrupt discontinuation can cause dangerous spikes in blood pressure – especially when taken with a beta-blocker.
Diuretics
Their side effects include:
- Increased urination,
- too much potassium in the blood (with potassium-sparing diuretics),
- too little potassium in the blood (with thiazide diuretics),
- breast enlargement in men,
- increased blood sugar,
- increased cholesterol,
- erectile dysfunction (ED, impotence),
- low blood sodium,
- rash,
- gout (joint inflammation),>
- menstrual irregularities.
Vasodilators
Side effects of this category of high blood pressure drugs include:
- Chest pain,
- dizziness,
- flushing
- headache,
- fluid retention,
- heart palpitations,
- nausea,
- sinus congestion,
- racing pulse,
- vomiting
- excessive hair growth.
(High blood pressure medication side effects list source: www.bloodpressuresecret.com)
Side effects from blood pressure medications is not something I’ve simply read about. It’s something I’ve experienced.
When I was first diagnosed with dangerously high blood pressure I was prescribed Rampril, an ACE inhibitor commonly used here in the UK. Just like it says on the list above, I developed a persistent dry cough. All day and night.
(For the two months I was on Rampril I kept a glass of water besides my bed. Taking a sip of water was the only way I could relieve the irritation long enough to get back to sleep after waking up every few hours needing to have a bout of coughing.)
After two months of this slow torture my blood pressure remained high with no sign of coming down. I could have gone on to other medications but instead made a commitment to try to get my body back in balance using alternative methods without the use of drugs.
Four months on and my blood pressure had dropped to 135/100 range – a drop of some 55 points. Now, 8 months after following natural methods my blood pressure is in the 120/80 range.
So the good news is – there are ways to lower your blood pressure naturally that really work – without having to take medications and putting up with side effects.
To get started on lowering your blood pressure naturally, you can click here to get our free report: Five Causes of High Blood Pressure (and what to do about them)
And if you’re really serious about lowering your blood pressure without having to suffer unpleasant medications, then have a look at our book:
Lower Your Blood Pressure Naturally – The Complete 9 Step Guide
The guide contains simple and proven strategies to lowering your blood pressure and keeping it low through easy, effective and enjoyable changes in lifestyle.
There are several lifestyle factors that can be affecting your blood pressure. What you eat and drink can have a big impact. How active you are makes a big difference, and your stress levels are also a factor.
So the best way to lower your blood pressure without drugs is to apply a broad approach – covering all causes and cures with natural home-based remedies.
The guide covers the huge variety of foods and drinks that are good for blood pressure (some of them will surprise you). It suggests many activities you can do to keep your heart and circulation healthy. And it describes various tips and techniques on how to relax more and take the edge off your stress levels.
This might sound like a lot to take in, and it is, but the guide takes you through it in nine easy-to-follow steps.
These progressive steps are based on the principle that positive incremental change is always best in health matters.
Each chapter will take you further along the road of greater vigour and peace of mind (and a healthy blood pressure).
Click on the link below for more information:
Lower Your Blood Pressure Naturally Guide
P.S. This guide shows you how to lower your blood pressure permanently and naturally without side-effects or complications.
Follow each step to get your blood pressure back in balance.
Choose between a wide range of delicious foods that reduce your blood pressure. Include a number of mental and physical exercises in your schedule for both relaxation and invigoration.
Following this guide will reduce, and in time, eliminate your need for blood pressure lowering medications.
This is a guide for good healthy living and will be beneficial for all – even if you don’t currently suffer from high blood pressure.
To download a sample of the guide to your computer right now click here and scroll to the bottom of the page for the download link.
My father was on medication for high blood pressure and experienced very similar problems, but to a much greater extent. The coughing severely disrupted his life. He went off the medication but is still experiencing the coughing. I am wondering if this happened to you as well, or did the coughing stop after you stopped the medication?
The FDAor whom ever is in charged of policing drugs should take killer drugs of the market.
The FDA or wo ever is in charge of policing drugs should take killer drugs
of the market. All beta blockers, all angiotensin 2 recepteror blockers,
they cause liver failure among other serioous side effects. Also kidney failure.And death. Why can’t drug manufacters make drugs for high blood
pressure to help pople get well instead of killing them.
The FDA will legalize anything that’s profitable, they are working hand in hand with the big pharma guys! the goal is not to get people healthy, the goal here is to make money! Americans need to wake up and stop taking these crazy ass drugs that kill people every day!
Straightforward, to-the-point writing about high blood pressure… September 6, 2008, at my age 60, I had a massive hemorrhagic stroke which left my right side totally paralyzed (right hemiplegia) and with several different types of aphasia (language problems, including in my case being unable to speak). When I was taken into the emergency room my blood pressure was off the chart — 200+/200+.
Since then, I have fortunately had a terrific recovery, with more to go. My blood pressure — with a combination of diet, supplements, and BP meds — has steadily come down. I am now at the place where I am evaluating how to safely get off the BP meds. I am taking Lisinoprin, 20mg, 2x a day, and Amlodipine Besylate, 5mg once a day. Those dosages are considerably lower than I was taking.
I’m doing what I can see to keep the dialog and research going, and I see that you clearly are. Thank you!
I’ve been on high blood pressure drugs (Amedin, Lipril, Bendro and sometimes Soluble aspirine) for the past 13 years. Indeed am getting fed up with this swollen ankles ‘business’ a few hours after waking up from bed everyday;but the doctors maintain that I should continue with the medications.What do you suggest;are there no alternative ways to handle high blood pressure without DRUGS? Please help!!! Thanks.
I know that ALL HTN meds are toxic but, if you HAVE to take them, what drugs have the least taxation on kidneys and liver?
I have hypertension brought on my stress and anxiety. Instead of my doctor suggesting a lifestyle change she gives me a prescription for medication. HCTZ depleted my potassium to a very low level, Lisinopril gave me a chronic cough and headaches. I have started to incorporate more exercise in my life and remove myself from stressful situations. Unsure of the results, but it is worth a try
My blood pressure was 158/98 when I saw the doctor put me on olmetec plus 20/12.5 mg my blood pressure is now 95/65 I have lost 30 pounds quit drinking changed diet exercise 6 days a week can I ever get of these meds
Here in India a person named Kumara Rao prescribed to me this protocol for high blood pressure.
You have to avoid for 45 days
1.milk,curd,buttermilk,coffee,tea,ice cream,ghee and
and all other milk products,
2..sweets made of sugar,jaggery and honey
3..sweet fruits(mango,papaya,sapota,pineapple,watermelon,
grapes,pomegranates,plantains.
4.nonveg,fish,eggs,liquors,smoking
5dry fruits(cashew nuts,almonds,walnuts,pistachio)
,all nuts(groundnuts,peanuts etc),soft drinks,
protein powders and liquids,bengalgram items.
You can eat food items of rice ,wheat,jowar..
You have to drink daily unfiltered juice of on empty stomach in the morning
coriander leaves30,pudina leaves15,palak leaves 6,
curry leaves 10,betel leaves 2,ginger 10gms ,bitter gourd 15 gms..
You have to reduce all medicines by 50% from third day..
You have to stop all medicines completely from 5th day..
Now I am ready to do my breakfast, when having my breakfast coming yet again to read more
news.
Your average resting blood pressure can be as high as 120 + 2/3 of your age before you should begin to worry about it. For someone 40 years old, it’s 147. 60 years old, it’s 160. For someone 90 years old it’s 180. Blood pressure increases naturally as you grow older. Don’t get sucked in by doctors brainwashed by the drug companies.
Risk of dying from a cardiovascular event for a male aged 45-74 with a blood pressure of 170 is 5 events out of 1000 people increasing to 10 events for 1000 people. Doctors will tell you the risk doubles. Yes, 5 to 10 is double, but that’s just the relative risk. The real risk is from 0.5% to 1%, which is a 0.5% increase. And for that slight risk, are you willing to suffer the side effects of drug therapy?
Read https://www.math.ucla.edu/~scp/publications/mortality.PDF
I’m 41. As fit as possible . I take 56 tablets a day. Pain relief, nerve pain relief, BP meds now , from 1.5- 7.5 ramipil ( think that’s the spelling ) Still is 150/100 . I walk every day. I weigh 57 kg. I have a spinal cord stimulator also.
Cough is a problem for sure . But it might be my heartburn causing that at night also.
Kidney function down but hoping due to CT coronary angio.
Career lost , home lost due to the spinal stuff . But now everything is going wrong . Other things as well.
Very boring .
I have a friend who had taken traditional medicine and a diet plan from Nze Njoku Herbal Home on google to treat Arthritis and High Blood Pressure and for some years now he looks normal. From severe pain always a sick guy Now he looks so healthy and enjoying normal productive life😊 Praise God
It is very simple!!! Sto eating junk!!Hamburgers ,frenchfries..Eatreal food!!Fruits and veggies as close to fresh as possible…Get some excercise…Ad take a yoga class or learn and practise meditation..All or some of these will definitely help..Drugs are counterproductive…