Is it worth taking anti hypertension drugs?

Question

I am on my 5th one, each one has made me feel weak, muscles sort of ache, one made my throat feel as if I was being strangled, another (diuretic) after a year my blood sugar and cholesterol were above normal. the weakness is the worst, interferes with daily life.

I know a stroke or heart attack can be caused by being hypertensive, but is the 'cure' worse than the disease?

Most drugs for hypertension don't seem to have been around long enough to know if the weakness, stomach upsets etc are worth it.

Answer 1

I am sorry for your discomfort.  I don't know why you are on your 5th one....I guess you can't find one that does not interfere with your daily life.  I have been taking Verapamil for 10 yrs...none of those side effects.  However, my Dr. prescribed another pill in conjunction with the Verapamil....and OMG!!  I developed a severe case of psoriasis and my hair started falling out in big circles...It took me 4 mos. to get over it.  I stopped that other drug...all okay now.  You need to talk this over with your Doctor.  There is no reason for you to be this uncomfortable.  Good luck.

Answer 2

There are many groups of drugs that function as anti-hypertensives and I am sure that there will be one or more that will suit you. As far as risk/benefit ratios are concerned these drugs have been around for more than enough time to establish that there is no doubt at all that they are worth taking.

Answer 3

Prescription blood pressure medications are notorious for their negative side effects.

Have you considered trying natural herbs to help reduce your blood pressure? I know quite a few people who stopped taking their prescription medications (due to their side effects) and started taking natural herbs. Of course, they were also good about exercising and eating right, which is extremely important.

A lot of people think "plant medicine" is new age hokum. But did you know that there are hundreds of drugs and medicines that come from plants? In fact, over half of all cancer drugs are directly derived from chemical compounds found in plants.

Hawthorne berry is a great way to improve blood circulation. Even bodybuilders use it to enhance their workouts.

Capsicum pepper is very popular right now. There was a recent article in the New Engand Journal of Medicine about how the people of Thailand have virtually no problems with blood clotting because this pepper is a staple of their diet.

Garlic is also great for heart health. There are tons of studies that confirm its effectiveness at reducing hardening of the arteries.

You can try these herbs separately, or you can buy a multi-herbal supplement, such as Hyperzosin. Hyperzosin is probably the leading natural remedy for high blood pressure. It's even been profiled on Oprah and 60 Minutes.  

Good luck and hope you find a solution soon.

Answer 4

Definitely worth it, in my opinion. But since you're having difficulty in finding the right drug for you, it might be worth trying to lower your blood pressure by making some lifestyle changes.

If you're overweight, then losing weight will lower your BP. You should reduce the amount of fatty foods you eat, and get plenty of exercise. At least 30 minutes, three times a week, and more if possible; you should be out of breath and sweating if you want to see an effect. This will lower your blood pressure even if you're not overweight, so try it.

It might also be worth discussing a change in medication with your GP, and asking them for advice on changing your lifestyle. That being said, if you don't think it's worth it, no-one can make you take blood pressure medication. But if I were you, I'd keep going with it.

Answer 5

discuss this with your doctor as they may change your tablets to some other type