High Blood Pressure

I just started monitoring my BP and it is much higher than usual (in the Pre-Hypertension zone).  Is this normal during w/d?  I am wondering if I should go to the doctor about this but want to avoid more meds.  I am not in the red zone yet, but definitely higher than usual.  Previous to this 100% healthy so this concerns me...

Also wondering if the increase in BP is exaccerbating some of the symptoms I am experiencing...Can anyone relate?

Yes it's very common and yes it can make some symptoms (like anxiety) worse.  While I've had modest BP issues, my bigger thing is my pulse which will spike very suddely up into the 100's, and I had a lot of palpatations, too.  I was rx'ed a beta blocker and it took care of everything.  I have gone on and off it several times as these symptoms have waxed and waned and never noticed a single problem with discontinuing or re-instating the medicine.

 

While I understand the inclination of wanting to avoid "you want to stop taking *those* pill?  start taking *these* pills!" scenario, I think you have to take each pill on a case by case basis.  If you had a headache would you resist taking tylenol, or allergy medicine for allergies?  There are some people who choose to do so, which is certainly an option, but I think that in this case you would probably do yourself no harm in talking to your doctor about it and may well make yourself much more comfortable in the process.

 

Best wishes whatever you decide.

 

Thanks SweetG.  Does anyone know if there are any BP medications that should be avoided/recommended during Benzo WD?  I want to be informed before going to the doctor...

 

Thanks.

Hey Tina, I've been in the same boat, but I also have the high heart rate like SweetG. I have always had a healthy BP until this dilemma. I just got a Rx for atenolol 25 mg and I took one last night...so this morning my blood pressure was then rather low, and now my pulse is back up in 100+ range again. This is the worst of my sx at this point, because it makes me feel anxious even when I don't really feel any anxiety. I'm not sure what to do myself, as the thought of yet another medication is so unpleasant.

 

Maybe some others can weigh in?

 

Undone

Undone--I remember you've been holding at your current dose for awhile--are the symptoms letting up??  Hope they do soon!

Hey Tina, I've been in the same boat, but I also have the high heart rate like SweetG. I have always had a healthy BP until this dilemma. I just got a Rx for atenolol 25 mg and I took one last night...so this morning my blood pressure was then rather low, and now my pulse is back up in 100+ range again. This is the worst of my sx at this point, because it makes me feel anxious even when I don't really feel any anxiety. I'm not sure what to do myself, as the thought of yet another medication is so unpleasant.

 

Maybe some others can weigh in?

 

Undone

 

I have several thoughts.  One is you might needs to be on the medicine for a few days before you can be sure how it is going to work for you (that would be lousy advice if anything dangerous was happening, though). 

 

Another thought is that depending on how your symptoms manifest you might be better off with propranalol which is the exact same medicine except that it lasts 4-6 hours while atenalol is a 24 hour time release.  I was on antenalol for a while but had to drop it due to low pulse/bp because I didn't need to be on the medicine all the time, just when I was having a pulse spike.  Now it's just something that I monitor and take propranalol for as needed.

 

I definitely needed the 24 format for a long time, but I've been on the regular released for probably 8 months now.  No matter what you take, you will want to regularly monitor your BP/pulse because like me your withdrawal symptoms will eventually change and fade and you will need to know when to stop taking the medicine.

 

Best wishes.

 

I dont have any BP problems, but I do know that Beta blockers like antenolol can cause a great deal of unpleasant side effects such as fatigue, brain fog, loss of libido, and muscle aches among other things. And if its taken for a period of time, it needs to be weaned off, because abruptly stopping a beta blocker can cause rebound cardiovascular issues.

 

One thing to try is to eat potassium rich foods like bananas because they have the tendency to lower HR and BP.

 

Wishing you the best,

 

Sophie

Hey Guys,

 

I switched to liquid today in anticipation of being able to start a slow taper within the next few weeks. Having a lot of palpitations and am reticent to take my HR as its prolly scary high, so...

 

Any ideas about riding this out? I haven't taken any more of the atenolol. I am on so many medications and they all seem to have interactions...I'm taking Advair for asthma which is a corticosteroid and prolly doesn't mix well with the beta blocker. Why the medical profession keeps prescribing me medications that are contraindicated is a mystery to me. I'm also on Wellbutrin 150 XL, which will raise BP, and Prilosec, which makes more X cross the blood-brain barrier. What a mess!

 

Undone

 

I hope this transition smooths out. Only four hours into it and

High blood pressure was my first extreme symptom when I first c/t.  After 2 weeks I ended up in the ER and had to go back on klonopin and tapered over the next 18 moths.  However, my bp remained high.  It used to range from 180/95 to 210/109.  I spent countless visits trying to find a bp med to regulate it and was found to be hypertensive resistant. 

 

I was sent to a cardiologist, then a nephrologist.  I tried many types of bp meds. along the way.  First was Clonodine, which actually helped, but after 6 months, it became ineffective.  I tried beta blocker, ace inhibitors, diuretics, all gave me severe side effects.  For me, I found a combination of cutting 1/4 of a pill of Fosinipril (ace), 1/4 of a pill of Bystolic (beta), and 1/4 pill of a diuretic, and that brought it down.  But I constantly had spikes.  Even with high bp, my heart rate was staying between 50-60, which I found odd, but the cardiologist said it was fine.

 

It took me 2 years, which was 18 month of tapering and 6 months being off klonopin completely, then my bp returned to normal and has stayed normal for the past 2 years.  Actualy, my bp now runs 115/70 with a pulse rate of 58.

 

Prior to withdrawal, I was strong and had normal bp, so even though all the bp doctors told me that I was in denial and that I just developed high bp as a coincidence at the same time I started withdrawal, I knew better as I am sure you do too.

 

I've often wanted to go back to those so called specialists, but then what would be the point, very narrow minded.  The worst part was their disapproving faces when I would try to make them understand my bp was withdrawal related.

 

We experience many symptoms during withdrawal, but bp isn't something to full with and that's why that symptom concerned me.  But, you body is strong, even if you don't feel it right now and I promise you that in time, your bp will regulate once again too, once your brain heals in that area.  many people have bp spikes during withdrawal.  If you bp runs too high, it is just hit or miss which med you will be able to tolerate.  I have a box full of bp meds that didn't agree with me, which made the drs. more angry, saying I wasn't giving them a fair chance.

 

If you bp doesn't run too high, a great natural approach is raw garlic, which has wonderful properties for your heart.  I used it a lot which I believe also aided.

 

I know how frustrating this can be, but please try to keep stress down at all cost, and walking every night is extremely beneficial to your bp, even if you just walk back n forth in you house.

Thanks for your replies everyone.  I finally bought an at-home BP monitor and have been taking readings about 3 times a day.  At the doctor's office it was 140/? so that's what concerned me!  It has been under control since I have been home (only a few readings in the pre-hypertension category).  I hope it stays under control as I continue with my taper and post-benzo recovery...Lislis--so frustrating about the doctors but I am not surprised!

Hi, I'm dusting this thread off. Need any feedback about switching from clonodine to metoprol (beta blocker).

 

I know the clonodine has to be taper. Doc gave me a fairly aggressive taper schedule as in a 5 day period. Just wondering if anyone else has experience with this type of switch over.

 

Thanks much,

Flip