High Blood Pressure on Testosterone ( TRT )

[jacb]

I am now talking Losartan plus Norvasc. Good combo, no ED or fatigue side effects so far.

Hi Nelson

Were not getting any younger.

I understand that Norvasc is a calcium channel blocker that dilates (widens) blood vessels and improves blood flow. Norvasc I am told is used to treat chest pain (angina) … is it employed for other reasons when used in addition to Losartan?

I am somewhat in the dark about BP medication … why are two of medication types frequently used together (ARB‘s & CCB’s) from the outset?

Norvasc = Amlodipine in NZ.

Amlodipine is on the latest Pharmac list (funded with a GP’s Prescription).

 

[crazyhaha]

Hi Nelson

Were not getting any younger.

I understand that Norvasc is a calcium channel blocker that dilates (widens) blood vessels and improves blood flow. Norvasc I am told is used to treat chest pain (angina) … is it employed for other reasons when used in addition to Losartan?

I am somewhat in the dark about BP medication … why are two of medication types frequently used together (ARB‘s & CCB’s) from the outset?

Norvasc = Amlodipine in NZ.

Amlodipine is on the latest Pharmac list (funded with a GP’s Prescription).

I think in general, docs like to use two different categories of blood in pressure medicine when more reductions are needed. By using two, doses can be kept lower and therefore side effects are in lower.

 

[jacb]

I am now talking Losartan plus Norvasc. Good combo, no ED or fatigue side effects so far.

Hi Nelson

I have been on 100 mg Losartan P/D for a while now and can see that it has an effect .... but the effects are short lived. I was instructed to take two pills, one in the morning and one in the evening.

I now find out that Losartan half life is only 2 Hrs and I am taking the stuff every twelve hours. My suspicions about it's longevity seem to be confirmed. Do you know of any other longer lasting (longer Half life) ARB's?

Somebody mentioned Telmisartan, brand-name Micardis .... but this might be a "Red Hearing"?

Rgds

 

[Vtail]

Somebody mentioned Telmisartan, brand-name Micardis .... but this might be a "Red Hearing"?

Rgds

I've been taking Telmisartin for over 10 years starting when I was in my late 40's and my blood pressure was around 160/90. With 80 mg Telmisartin/day my BP is good, usually in the range of 130/80 or lower. I started TRT about 4 years ago and my BP did not change much. However over the last couple of years it will spike for reasons I have not yet been able to figure out. I'm lucky in that when it starts to climb I get flushed with a pressure headache, so I know something is wrong. This happened again last week when it spiked to 160+ over 90+. I increased the Telmisartin to 160mg/day, which according to my doc is the maximum dose, and over the next few days it droped back to what is normal for me. I'm about 185lbs and very active with both regular cardio and resistance training, so this BP spiking thing has me perplexed. It seems to happen 2 or 3 times a year over the last 2 years.

 

[tropicaldaze1950]

Don't know if my elevated BP is related to T or anxiety/stress. My urologist told me he's not encountered BP issues related to T but my psychiatrist believes it's a reflection of an overactive sympathetic nervous system which, I've read, is comorbid to bipolar illness, along with the unrelenting stress of my wife's worsening dementia.

I've been told by several doctors and therapists over the years that I'm stuck in 'fight or flight' mode, including a doctor who'd been an Army medic working with soldiers who had PTSD but for whatever reason, no one took the initiative except my urologist via PDE-5 meds, which I can't tolerate.

Tried prazosin and doxazosin multiple times and dosages. Nada. Psychiatrist prescribed propranalol a few week ago; 10 mg as needed throughout the day. Still experimenting with it. For reference, my BP has been all over the place, from 110/40 up to 160/110. No history of coronary disease. Echocardiogram last November was normal and I was cleared for abdominal surgery.

As difficult of a marriage we've had, I miss making love to my wife. She' still pretty and still sexy. Given her continued decline from dementia, the window on our life is closing.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

Psychiatrist prescribed propranolol a few week ago; 10 mg as needed throughout the day. Still experimenting with it.

Please keep us updated on how things went.

As difficult of a marriage we've had, I miss making love to my wife. She' still pretty and still sexy. Given her continued decline from dementia, the window on our life is closing.

So sorry to hear, man. Dementia robs people of who they are. It must be tough on you.

 

[tropicaldaze1950]

Please keep us updated on how things went.


So sorry to hear, man. Dementia robs people of who they are. It must be tough on you.

Thank you, Nelson. I know I'm just one of many who are caring for a loved one with this disease. My sister-in-law is late stage and my cousin's mother is on the same downward spiral as my wife. It takes more of a physical/emotional toll on the caregiver(s) than the person who's afflicted.

As for the propranolol, for reasons I don't understand, it seems to raise my BP, as does lisinopril, doxazosin and prazosin. I've discussed this with my psychiatrist and she's at a loss as to why. I'll be seeing my primary after I recover from major dental surgery.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are a class of medications that are commonly used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). They work by blocking the effects of angiotensin II, a hormone that constricts blood vessels and increases blood pressure. By inhibiting the action of angiotensin II, ARBs help to relax blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure. Here is a list of some common ARBs along with their details:

1. Losartan (Cozaar)

• Brand name: Cozaar
• Initial dose: 50 mg daily
• Maintenance dose: 25-100 mg daily, taken once or in two divided doses
• Common side effects: Dizziness, upper respiratory infection, fatigue, and nasal congestion

1. Valsartan (Diovan)

• Brand name: Diovan
• Initial dose: 80-160 mg daily
• Maintenance dose: 80-320 mg daily, taken once or in two divided doses
• Common side effects: Headache, dizziness, fatigue, and diarrhea

1. Irbesartan (Avapro)

• Brand name: Avapro
• Initial dose: 150 mg daily
• Maintenance dose: 75-300 mg daily, taken once or in two divided doses
• Common side effects: Dizziness, fatigue, and diarrhea

1. Candesartan (Atacand)

• Brand name: Atacand
• Initial dose: 16 mg daily
• Maintenance dose: 8-32 mg daily, taken once or in two divided doses
• Common side effects: Headache, dizziness, and upper respiratory infection

1. Telmisartan (Micardis)

• Brand name: Micardis
• Initial dose: 40 mg daily
• Maintenance dose: 20-80 mg daily, taken once
• Common side effects: Upper respiratory infection, sinusitis, diarrhea, and back pain

1. Olmesartan (Benicar)

• Brand name: Benicar
• Initial dose: 20 mg daily
• Maintenance dose: 20-40 mg daily, taken once
• Common side effects: Dizziness, nausea, and upper respiratory infection

1. Eprosartan (Teveten)

• Brand name: Teveten
• Initial dose: 600 mg daily
• Maintenance dose: 400-800 mg daily, taken once or in two divided doses
• Common side effects: Fatigue, headache, and dizziness

1. Azilsartan (Edarbi)

• Brand name: Edarbi
• Initial dose: 40 mg daily
• Maintenance dose: 40-80 mg daily, taken once
• Common side effects: Diarrhea, nausea, and dizziness

Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and there may be other ARBs available. It is essential to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new medication to determine the most appropriate treatment for your specific condition.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

Types of BP meds:

1. Diuretics: a. Thiazide diuretics (e.g., hydrochlorothiazide, chlorthalidone)
   • Hydrochlorothiazide: 12.5-50 mg daily
   • Chlorthalidone: 12.5-25 mg daily b. Loop diuretics (e.g., furosemide, bumetanide)
   • Furosemide: 20-80 mg daily, may be given in divided doses
   • Bumetanide: 0.5-2 mg daily, may be given in divided doses c. Potassium-sparing diuretics (e.g., spironolactone, amiloride)
   • Spironolactone: 12.5-50 mg daily
   • Amiloride: 5-10 mg daily
2. Beta-blockers (e.g., metoprolol, atenolol)
   • Metoprolol: 25-100 mg daily (for extended-release), given once or in divided doses
   • Atenolol: 25-100 mg daily, given as a single dose
3. Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) a. Dihydropyridine CCBs (e.g., amlodipine, nifedipine)
   • Amlodipine: 2.5-10 mg daily, given as a single dose
   • Nifedipine extended-release: 30-60 mg daily, given as a single dose b. Non-dihydropyridine CCBs (e.g., diltiazem, verapamil)
   • Diltiazem extended-release: 120-480 mg daily, given as a single dose
   • Verapamil extended-release: 120-360 mg daily, given as a single dose
4. ACE inhibitors (e.g., lisinopril, ramipril)
   • Lisinopril: 10-40 mg daily, given as a single dose
   • Ramipril: 2.5-20 mg daily, given as a single dose or in divided doses
5. Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) (e.g., losartan, valsartan)
   • Losartan: 25-100 mg daily, given as a single dose or in divided doses
   • Valsartan: 80-320 mg daily, given as a single dose
6. Alpha-blockers (e.g., prazosin, terazosin)
   • Prazosin: 1-20 mg daily, given in divided doses
   • Terazosin: 1-20 mg daily, given as a single dose
7. Centrally acting agents (e.g., clonidine, methyldopa)
   • Clonidine: 0.1-0.8 mg daily, given in divided doses
   • Methyldopa: 250-1000 mg daily, given in divided doses
8. Direct vasodilators (e.g., hydralazine, minoxidil)
   • Hydralazine: 25-100 mg daily, given in divided doses

Download my latest free book: Beyond Testosterone

 

[Systemlord]

Types of BP meds:

1. Diuretics: a. Thiazide diuretics (e.g., hydrochlorothiazide, chlorthalidone)
   • Hydrochlorothiazide: 12.5-50 mg daily
   • Chlorthalidone: 12.5-25 mg daily b. Loop diuretics (e.g., furosemide, bumetanide)
   • Furosemide: 20-80 mg daily, may be given in divided doses
   • Bumetanide: 0.5-2 mg daily, may be given in divided doses c. Potassium-sparing diuretics (e.g., spironolactone, amiloride)
   • Spironolactone: 12.5-50 mg daily
   • Amiloride: 5-10 mg daily
2. Beta-blockers (e.g., metoprolol, atenolol)
   • Metoprolol: 25-100 mg daily (for extended-release), given once or in divided doses
   • Atenolol: 25-100 mg daily, given as a single dose
3. Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) a. Dihydropyridine CCBs (e.g., amlodipine, nifedipine)
   • Amlodipine: 2.5-10 mg daily, given as a single dose
   • Nifedipine extended-release: 30-60 mg daily, given as a single dose b. Non-dihydropyridine CCBs (e.g., diltiazem, verapamil)
   • Diltiazem extended-release: 120-480 mg daily, given as a single dose
   • Verapamil extended-release: 120-360 mg daily, given as a single dose
4. ACE inhibitors (e.g., lisinopril, ramipril)
   • Lisinopril: 10-40 mg daily, given as a single dose
   • Ramipril: 2.5-20 mg daily, given as a single dose or in divided doses
5. Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) (e.g., losartan, valsartan)
   • Losartan: 25-100 mg daily, given as a single dose or in divided doses
   • Valsartan: 80-320 mg daily, given as a single dose
6. Alpha-blockers (e.g., prazosin, terazosin)
   • Prazosin: 1-20 mg daily, given in divided doses
   • Terazosin: 1-20 mg daily, given as a single dose
7. Centrally acting agents (e.g., clonidine, methyldopa)
   • Clonidine: 0.1-0.8 mg daily, given in divided doses
   • Methyldopa: 250-1000 mg daily, given in divided doses
8. Direct vasodilators (e.g., hydralazine, minoxidil)
   • Hydralazine: 25-100 mg daily, given in divided doses

Download my latest free book: Beyond Testosterone

Thank you Nelson Vergel!