Re: Re: question about BP med

[Guest guest]

At 04:38 PM 1/3/06, judith_nicholls wrote:

>Just looked it up. It's amlodipine. It's a calcium channel blocker,

>which is considered OK for diabetics.

Thanks, Judith. I did some looking up, too. I knew it was a Calcium channel

blocker, just sort of wondering who took it and if they had problems with

it. I hear edema is a likely side effect and to be truthful if my feet

start swelling up I don't think I'm going to want to take it. I already

take an HTZ, Toprol and Cozaar for BP. Toprol causes a slower heartbeat

and apparently Norvasc can, too.

-=sky=-

Type 2 dx'd 9/04/04.

LC, Metaformin XR, Humalog.

Other meds: HTZ, Lipitor, Cozaar,

Toprol, Norvasc, Armour Thyroid.

Supplements/Vits: B12, Folic Acid,

CoQ10, Omega 3, L-Arginine,

cinnamon, D, & misc. others.

[Guest guest]

At 02:24 AM 1/4/06, Jan Burgess wrote:

>Hi Sky - I've been taking just 1/2 tab of Norvasc daily for some time

>now. Am still on the Diovan also - since the addition of that small dose

>of Norvasc, by BP have been much lower - in fact have had the occasional

>LOW with dizzy spells etc... YMMV !!

Thanks, Jan. I took my first one this morning along with all of my other BP

meds. I just take them all at the same time. HTZ, Cozaar, Toprol and now

the Norvasc. We'll see what happens.

I've also got to call the new PCP I saw yesterday. She works as a partner

in an Internal Medicine office but she told me she'd actually studied

endocrinology (a word I never seem to spell the same way twice). When I

got home and looked at the bloodwork sheet she'd given me I saw that she

asked for some of the same tests my " official " endocrinologist gave to me.

So I can't have that. SHE'S for primary care and it's fine that she knows

about diabetes and thyroid things, but I can't have two different doctors

asking for the same tests. For one thing, I'm sure Medicare won't pay for

them so often, and for another I have no desire to get needles stuck into

me for repeat tests. So I'm going to have to call her office and explain

that I can't have the A1C or the thyroid tests done by her. My official

endo said he'd do the A1c when I see him in March, and I already have a lab

slip from him for the thyroid test (just didn't get to the hospital before

the holidays to have it done). I think that the new doc will have to

realize that my diabetes and tests related to it are for my endo to decide

on, not her, even if she DID study endocrinology as a sub-speciality to

internal medicine. She's going to have to come to some agreement with my

endo on trading test results. Argh, I hate to have to call doctor's

offices to explain such things to office staff.

sky

[Guest guest]

Sky,

I wanted to wait to post this because I went to my pcp today. I had

been prescribed another blood pressure just as you too by the endo but

had concerns over the swelling or edema. I have had too many problems

with it and different meds and at one time was on Cardizem which is a

calcium channel blocker. Although Norvasc is a calcium channel blocker

it is made up of a different chemical composition. I did some checking

before trying it. In fact I told the dr today I wanted a 2nd opinion

from her after she reviewed all my previous meds and problems. I guess

I am running out of options, can't take so many things now. Norvasc I

was told by the dr and the pharmacist is one of the safer ones to use.

I think when I was on Cardizem it was one of the " newer ones " . I was

okay on it for a while but had a lot of problems that no one ever

connected to it or wanted to address. Now it seems the trend is for

doctors to go back to old standards they know are safe. The only

problem is the swelling which she addressed by telling me to only start

with 1/2 the dose that was prescribed to see if that would work for me.

She said the problems with edema came with the higher dosing. Not sure

what she considered higher. I was prescribed 5 mg and am going to try

2.5 mg instead. I am very salt sensitive. Seems like when I eat it I

crave it even more. So I have to stay away from it and my blood

pressure stays normal. Lately though it has been a lot higher. I am

just taking Atacand right now but used to take hydrochorothiazide until

I had the allergic reaction so that is out. I just don't know what

ever meds would be good for someone with edema problems because seems

like anything I take that says swelling is a side affect I do swell.

Not looking forward to trying it but 1/2 dose sounded like a good

compromise for me right now. The thing is she looked at my BP records

and half the time I have normal ones and half the time slightly high or

borderline. It's one of those things where it would be hard to say what

to take. Another dr (which I don't have anymore) told me to take a beta

blocker and after checking on that my new drs all said no because my

heart rate was already slow enough, that would make it even slower.

It's good to check and ask around from various sources. I guess like

you, I don't like to just take whatever they prescribe right away. I

can usually control my BP if I don't eat salty stuff although I know it

is controversial as to whether that does anything or not. I know for

myself it does so I have to go by that rather than studies. I did read

somewhere that diabetes are more salt sensitive so it makes me wonder if

that's why we also get high blood pressure or some other reason. I just

wish they would take time to figure out the reason for the high blood

pressure rather than just treating it. Hope it goes well for you with

your new med.

>She prescribed yet another blood pressure med for

>

>

>me and

>

>

>>> I'm wondering whether anyone here has taken it and what your

>>

>>

>experiences

>

>

>>> are with it and with it along with your various diabetic meds. The

>>

>>

>BP med

>

>

>>> is Norvasc.

>>

[Guest guest]

At 03:06 PM 1/4/06, wrote:

>Sky,

>I wanted to wait to post this because I went to my pcp today. I had

>been prescribed another blood pressure just as you too by the endo but

>had concerns over the swelling or edema. I have had too many problems

>with it and different meds and at one time was on Cardizem which is a

>calcium channel blocker. Although Norvasc is a calcium channel blocker

>it is made up of a different chemical composition. I did some checking

>before trying it. (snip) I was told by the dr and the pharmacist is one of

>the safer ones to use.

>I think when I was on Cardizem it was one of the " newer ones " .

Thanks, . It's good to know that Norvasc is one of the older " safe "

BP meds.

>(another snip)

>She said the problems with edema came with the higher dosing. Not sure

>what she considered higher. I was prescribed 5 mg and am going to try

>2.5 mg instead.

My initial prescription is 5mg. I guess it's too early yet to know if I get

the edema.

>(snip) Another dr (which I don't have anymore) told me to take a beta

>blocker and after checking on that my new drs all said no because my

>heart rate was already slow enough, that would make it even slower.

Yeh, I have a slow heartbeat because of a beta blocker.

>It's good to check and ask around from various sources. I guess like

>you, I don't like to just take whatever they prescribe right away. I

>can usually control my BP if I don't eat salty stuff although I know it

>is controversial as to whether that does anything or not.

I hate to cut out salt. I don't eat it by the spoonful but dislike limiting

my diet even more. I know my diet is pretty good comared to the balancing

act some have to do here. I'm lucky, but still grumpy if I have to cut out

something else. I had high BP a decade or ore before I was DX'd with

diabetes so not sure if the two are related or not. I ate a LOT more salty

things before DX, however, since I loved to snack on chips.

Thanks for your input!!

sky

[Guest guest]

> diabetes so not sure if the two are related or not. I ate a LOT more salty

> things before DX, however, since I loved to snack on chips.

If you've stopped eating processed foods and you don't cook with salt, your

salt intake may not be very high. Try this. Whenever you add salt to your

food, shake the same amount into a cup. Then at the end of the day, measure

the amount of salt you've had.

Most processed foods like soups, prepared dinners, etc., are very high in

salt, so you may be pleasantly surprised. I was. I don't like food that

starts out salty, but I like a sprinkle on the surface of the food. For me,

the variety of the sweeter inside of a vegetable, for instance, and the

salty exterior, makes a nice variety.

Gretchen

[Guest guest]

At 09:53 PM 1/4/06, Gretchen wrote:

> > diabetes so not sure if the two are related or not. I ate a LOT more salty

> > things before DX, however, since I loved to snack on chips.

>

>If you've stopped eating processed foods and you don't cook with salt, your

>salt intake may not be very high. Try this. Whenever you add salt to your

>food, shake the same amount into a cup. Then at the end of the day, measure

>the amount of salt you've had.

That's a good idea. I fall down when it comes to chicken wings, though.

Crispy skin and salt just NEEDS to be there. I've tried alternate seasoning

stuff...the herb mixtures...but it's just not the same. Salt, pepper and

garlic for chicken wings.

sky

[Guest guest]

Sky wrote:

I hate to cut out salt. I don't eat it by the spoonful but dislike limiting

my diet even more. I know my diet is pretty good compared to the balancing

act some have to do here. I'm lucky, but still grumpy if I have to cut out

something else. I had high BP a decade or ore before I was DX'd with

diabetes so not sure if the two are related or not. I ate a LOT more salty

things before DX, however, since I loved to snack on chips.

Thanks for your input!!

sky

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We have reduced our salt/sodium intake to a minimum Sky - not much sense taking

the BP meds - including a diuretic as we both are and then load up on sodium

which of course makes the cells retain fluids and increases BP.

Do not find it difficult - have not cooked with it for years, now we keep the

salt cellar off the table except when company is here and use a lot of different

salt-free condiments that are just as tasty. In fact when we eat out - I find a

lot of restaurant food way too salty!

CJ

[Guest guest]

CJ,

Did it take a while to work when you added this? I have started on 1/2

a tab per day but this is only the 2nd day and have not seen any

change. Just wondered if it took a bit longer for you or you noticed

instant results.

> I've been taking just 1/2 tab of Norvasc daily for some time now.

>