Stopping Meto etc: Dr Grim says always step down done stop any drug all at once. Also always step up atart at lowest dose.

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And always discuss with your team when you think about and before you change meds.CE Grim MDFirst, I'm not on nearly as many drugs as I was on a short time ago! I'm down to 3 BP meds (yesterday it was 2 but I found out you don't go from 400 mg of METOPROLOL TARTRATE to zero overnight!) So back on to MT and AMLODIPINE BESYLAT and LISINOPRIL. The replacement drugs they have me on are FUROSEMIDE 40MG and SPIRONOLACTONE 25MG x 2. (That cocktail of drugs gave me a 105/58 BP for last week with an ave. for the month of 110/60.) That is why it is time to loose another one but apparently I have to wean down and can't just stop like I did the rest. Dr.W will be in Monday and we will figure out what/when & how.Regarding your suggestion, Did you run my meds. and get a result of, "May cause blue balls or something similar?" If it is just something you think may be possible, I'll be looking for that after the current testing comes to conclusion if and when it fails. I learned many years ago troubleshooting computer problems that you only take one path at a time and also limit the number of changes so you know what caused a change if something unexpected happened. (That is how I knew to go back to the MP and wait for Dr.W when Heart Rate went to 115 BPM!)> > > > > >> > > > > > My doctor just called with the results of last week's aldosterone suppresion test/oral sodium loading test. As expected, my aldo was off the charts high, both serum and urine. (I can post numbers when I have a hard copy in front of me, if anyone is interested.) The interesting thing my doctor observed was that I did not excrete a lot of sodium - he believes it's because my diet is very low sodium. (I believe it's still trapped in my body in the form of the extra 2 pounds I've been carrying around since the test!)> > > > > > > > > > > > This gives me the go-ahead for AVS, or, interestingly, he said I could skip the AVS and have the adrenalectomy. I want to be good and certain that the culprit is my left adrenal before surgery, so I think I'm going through with the AVS first. I'm aware of the high risk of inconclusive results, and the risks of the procedure in general.> > > > > > > > > > > > This brings up two questions: how common is it to skip the AVS entirely? I only heard of that recently from another member here; I had been under the impression that standard protocol was AVS before surgery.> > > > > > > > > > > > And, long shot I know, but - anybody here have their AVS done at UCLA? Or anywhere in the greater Los Angeles area? If you have an interventional radiologist in the area that you'd recommend, please let me know. Thanks!> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > - msmith1928> > > > > > 45, female, 5'3", 120 lbs, 1cm left adrenal nodule, aldosterone 42.3, renin 0.5, potassium <2.9 (when not taking supplements); 25mg spiro caused gynecomastia, no meds currently except 20MEQ K 2x/day; low sodium, fructose- and grain-free diet> > > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > >> >>