Hyzaar BP Medication and Low Carb

[madmike]

My blood pressure has been higher lately despite positive changes in my lifestyle. I sent my Dr. my readings and he put me on Hyzaar. When I read reviews about it, it says side effects include increasing blood sugar, exposing diabetes, low potassium, and dependency because of heart palpitations etc when you come off of it.

Does anyone else take this? See I know the long term solution to my high BP is losing this weight so if this medicine impedes my ability to do that by raising my BP then I would rather not take it. Any thoughts?

[madmike]

bump bump bump

[Nancy LC]

Well yeah, I like to think of medications as poisons with occasional beneficial side-effects. High BP is very bad and it can kill you over the long term. You could ask about switching meds and tell your doctor your concerns.

But in the mean time perhaps you're doing something in your life to drive your BP higher. What are you eating? Could you be one of those sodium sensitive people? Do you eat a lot of salted foods, processed meats, cheese and stuff like that? You might want to try to limit that stuff and see if your BP comes down.

Also increase your intake of potassium (vegetables, supplements) and magnesium (supplements). See if that helps.

There's another thread on BP here that might help: http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=370902

[Bat Spit]

I was on hyzaar for years before going low carb and I didn't have any trouble losing at the beginning. I went off it after about 6 mos.

I would recommend asking for a prescription potassium supplement though. I could never get enough with just food.

[NewRuth]

How high was your bp?

Along with the supplements that Nancy asked about, are you getting enough calcium??