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179332 tn?1273247359

Allergic to Blood Pressure Meds

I've been going thru quite a time - turning up allergic to 5 BP meds as of today... scared to take next one prescribed!! I've been to an Allergist this past week for skin testing... but, does anyone else suffer from BP med allergies? I get itchy all over, cheeks swell, face puffs a bit and face and neck turns bright red...Help!
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Avatar universal
I have also tried Ace inhibitors, Arbs, Calcium Channel Blockers and Beta Blockers and am allergic to all of them.  I have also developed widespread food and environmental allergies/sensitivities since being on these drugs (10.5 mths) as well as an allergy to aspirin.  Some of these drugs, i.e. Norvasc (Amlodipine), Metroprolol and aspirin increase histamine in the body which accounts for the widespread allergic responses.  Check out Dr. Janice Jonega's site on Histamine Intolerance and lowering histamine through diet.  She is an allergy nutritionist and since just about everything we eat has histamine or substances that convert to histamine in the body, it may be helpful to you.  Magnesium also works for lowering bp.  You may wish to consult a Naturopathic Dr. who can give you the low down on bp reducing foods and minerals.  Best of luck to you!
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Avatar universal
Me too so sorry. I have been on tarka 15 years. They wanted me to use generic the insurance. So I am taking them separately trandolapril and verapamil. I am fine with that now insurance want me to try 2 different ones they won't pay for them until I do. Sounds stupid. I get very sick. I go into anaphylactic shock with mostly 5 so far. I can't do it again. Just can't. I am allergic to clorestrol medicine badly too. Who can figure this out for me nobody cares.
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Avatar universal
Yes, u are not alone!  Seeing so many posts about reactions to blood pressure meds. And meds. To lower cholesterol, I really believe they should develope something different!  I am very angry, my Doctor acts like it's just me!  I ve been sick for over 5 mos.!  I ve always been pretty healthy!  Wouldn't I think a Doctor would take that into consideration!  So, I'm done, I'm not going to spend the rest of my life being sick!  Am researching other alternatives!
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Avatar universal
I have also found that Boiron makes a homeopathic med called "Allergies" which seems to help me. It comes in a small blue tube, for $6.79. I take one tiny little pill under the tongue 2-3X / day and it really seems to help.
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Avatar universal
By The Way:
I have found that CamphoPhenique, Desert Essence's "Relief Spray" and Triamcinalone (Rx cream) are helpful in toning down the stinging itch, as is applying ice.

It also could be that food "allergies" (see Dr. D'Amado) could also be the root cause of our allergic reactions to these petro chem Rx's. Nambudripad might be a technique to quell those food "allergies" -- helped me to tolerate Christmas trees for maybe 15 years, and I am hoping to re-treat soon, also for foods I know to be offending. I DO know that something is making me hypersensitive (a surgeon's mask helps with the chemicals we have to use around the house), and my personal belief is if it is not the GI fungi, then it is what I am eating, that forms the basis for all the other sensitivities.
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1 Comments
i have a lot of intolerances may allergist called them based on the fact i have too many mast cells producing too much histamine.  this makes me super intolerant to chemicals, drugs and household items, hair spray, perfume.  this can also cause many problems with bp medications but because it is an orphan disease doctors do not understand it and think it is in your head when you complain about the meds.
Avatar universal
Yep. Same thing. No, no fun. Quite miserable, in fact. It is not the dyes, it is the MEDS. I have a feeling it is related to intestinal fungi, and am not completely sure the rashes are not caused by a die-off from the drugs. You might try visiting Dr. D'Amado's website. He has probiotics products specifically for your blood type, although they are rather pricey. They don't kill the fungi, just drive them out of the body. STOP with sugar. I am also allergic to all antibiotics, BTW.

Also might try PeptACE, which is a natural fish ACE inhibitor. I have been told you can take that along with Rx BP meds until it can operate on its own ... a few months. Hasn't worked all that well for me so far, perhaps I need to take 9 per day, I'm fairly large--it's pricy, though. I think these BP chems are stored in the liver. Have read that activated carbon will help w/rashes. Try oregano caps as an antibiotic. Again, this is quite miserable and depressing. But you will have WORSE symptoms (congestive heart failure) if you don't keep your BP down.
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Avatar universal
Thanks for telling your story. I am allergic to sulfa also and have been switched to several different bp meds the last being hydralazine which after 2 weeks has caused the rashes and swelling to return.  I am going back to my doctor today.
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1 Comments
How are you doing now?
Avatar universal
I have been on Metoprolol succinate 50mg since Sept 2015.....over 5 and half months.....My eyelids started to get dry and cracking....I thought it was eczema due to the dry heat in the house......then my eyes were itchy and red.....I was putting all kinds of creams on my eyelids...no steroids....it would seem to get feeling a little better and then bam it was bad....I went to my dr the first time...she thought it was eczema....Put me on Prednisone for 6 days...woo hoo cleared it up and on the 7th day the cracking in the eyelid returned.....soo I changed my makeup....changed my shampoo....stopped all vitamins and supplements....Dr also wrote me a presciption for Patenol.....seemed to help for a day...lol....then my eyes started watering...and bright red and one eyelid was puffy.....soo i went back to the Dr....she put me back on steroids and said use ONLY vaseline and no makeup....soo I did....and on the 7th day of no Prednisone it came back....soo i bought eczema cream and vitamin a and d ointment...seemed to help...but  then my eyes would be bright red.....itching like crazy.....peeling...red puffy.....and then I woke up one morning with my left eye all red....looked like my eyes were sunk in....soo this time i went to the eye doctor.....he said it was definately an allergic reaction to something....he said he thought it was the preservatives in the eyedrops etc.....so he gave me preservative free eyedrops and said to buy preservative free eye ointment which I did...and I woke up the next morning...and almost cried for it seemed to work and my eyes were not as red....soo that day I went to get my Metoprolol succinate 50mg prescription filled and I did not take any the day before....soo once I took the Metoprolol succinate 50mg  not an hour later and BAM my eyes were itching and bright red ...they look soo bad...soo AHAAA Ureka.....It is the Metoprolol succinate 50mg......all this time that has been causing my problems...I stopped taking it....its been 5 days now....and my eyes are better.....still not Cured but soo much better....I did notice I also started getting red on the bottom sides of my nose and underneath my mouth on one side.....the redness is gone on the eyelids but still peeling....I use the eye oinment pm refresh....my eyes still water a little...they go back and forth...and a little red under the eyes...its also comes and goes...but it is getting better....I just want this stuff OUT of my system...My dr wrote me another prescription for BP meds....I will not take anything until i am completely cured...and even then I am hesitate......Ohh one more thing to ad....I am allergic to Sulfa....and read that Metoprolol succinate 50mg has sulfa in it.....urrggg.......I pray this helps someone...for I have gone thru at least 4 really bad months dealing with this.....
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3 Comments
i don't know about the sulfa but it has a high histamine level.  i stopped taking this within a week, very evil med.  i gave my doctor a list of about 15 side effects on this one from arm and chest pain to shortness of breath, to being so exhausted i was too tired to eat or drink, could hardly move.  joint pain, stiffness, shakiness.  the drug from hell i call it.  i do have asthma and a sulfa allergy, i never should have been given this drug in my opinion.  

I take metoprolol it helps me but I have ichy eyes. I been on it 15 years . To scared to try anything else again I went into Alpha lactic shock to many times. I am allergic to sulfa too.
I have been of all BP meds since then and My BP has been good....I have a BP monitor that I use to check it at home.....Seems that when I go to the Dr and I am sick my BP goes up so that is why she put me on it instead of monitoring me they like to dish out these drugs to people.....I still have itchy eyes in the winter mostly but in no way like what I had on this drug....and I can control it myself....I just keep washing my eyelids with cold water and sometimes mix vaseline with a little bit of cortisone cream when it gets bad...but mostly vaseline at night....
Avatar universal
So far, hives, rashes, swollen face/lips from Lotrel (calcium channel blocker/ACE), Toporal XL (beta blocker), Carvedilol (beta blocker), severe cough that nothing stopped from Alace (ACE), pulse rate dropped to 30 with Conidine (Centrally acting alpha-agonist), developed PVCs with Tekturna (Renin inhibitor) and had severe lower extremity swelling, sick feeling and slept all day with Diovan (Angiotensin II receptor antagonist).

My BP has come down somewhat from using Hawthorne Berry and garlic.  I am going to look into other natural herbs/hollistic/Eastern medication, etc.
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2 Comments
Noticed all the posts about allergies to BP meds. Going through same thing and it's miserable. Anxiety is terrible! Have palpitations and irregular heart beat and need to be on BP meds and anxiety medicine but react the same to all meds. Very hot, itchy red face and blood shot eyes. Have been on hctz, lisinopril, metropolol, benicar, buspar with same reaction to all. Zero help from Doctor and she suggests nothing! Even tried lopressor( brand name of metropolol) thinking it's the generics I'm allergic to. Same reaction! I'm going to end up in hospital which makes me nervous about what they will pump me full of and if I'll react. I see a cardiologist feb2 but Drs in my area act like they've never seen this type of reaction to ALL meds before. Has anyone found relief yet?
I have rashes and my throat closes can't breath. From imipramine and inderal and enapril and losartam. So far one I don't remember I went into anaphylactic shock.so I don't remember. I don't want to die these medicines I take verapamil and trandolapril. Are the best for me but insurance won't pay. Ever year I have to fight to get them. Why is this? Anyone know. They want me two try to different be for I take those again. My blood pressure is high right now because they won't give me trandolapril. What do I do?
Avatar universal
I have felt like I have been crazy up till now.  Reaction after reaction to bp medications.  One idea is cellulose, a constituent of the walls of plant cells,  many different ones are used some from this country and others from India and China which creats a hole new set and subset of allergins new to us.  Took one bpmed for years with no trouble rotton insurance switched to foreign non FDA equlivent generic and allergy hell insued.  Swelling, asthma dizzines, intestinal trouble comparabes to ecoli.  Unbelievable  ingredients being added to meds and foods.  Remember melmain added to dog food and babyformula?  Had allergy tests years ago, know what my prime allergys are but pharmasutical ingredients are guarded like fort knox.  Time to start suing insurance and pharmacutial compines for pain and suffering,tired of the reactions.         Valerie 11/19/2015
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Avatar universal
yes, I have now. Have you found anything that works for you?
Cannot find any BP med that works without a reaction. Currently
on 3rd beta blocker; under eye rash; excema like breakouts; itch
like crazy. Claritan helps a little; Out of option; I only weigh 114;
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Avatar universal
Omg! I am gong through the same thing, I have only taken three.  My face swells, my upper body tingles, and my throat and esophagus gets a burning feeling as my throat swells and I feel like someone's choking me.  I have been prescribed Atenolol, but won't take it without having an epipen on hand.  I've been scared straight so to speak and now watch everything I eat and am starting to exercise.  My sister is trying to get me to try natural remedies, which she will tell me about this weekend. I can't believe this is happening to me.
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Avatar universal
I have a family history of food allergies, and react to several "fillers" in pills. After talking to my allergist, I find this is quite common in people with food allergies, especially corn, wheat, beef, pork, yeast, eggs. The more pills I take the more reactions. I experimented with trying OTC medications in pill vs. capsule and started reading the inactive ingredients on the labels. Turns out, I'm severely allergic to corn. Check out all of the chemicals made from corn in the US: http://www.cornallergens.com/list/corn-allergen-list.php. Get an allergy test for all the inactive ingredients in your pills, and the plants/animals they are derived from. If the allergy is bad enough, your insurance should pay for a compounding pharmacy. They can make pills or liquids for you that have the medication without the fillers you are allergic to.

Hope this helps!
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Avatar universal
I have swollen lips and it is horrible. Took atenonol and norvasc for over 12 years with no problems. Changed insurance carriers in Jan. and same meds sent but from new manufacturers. Suddenly got hives and stopped norvasc, hives went away. 2 months later my lips started to chap, then bleed and are now swollen. I will try Benadryl. Are you feeling better? What are you taking?

Lee
                          
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Avatar universal
Yes....I have now been allergic to 5 BP meds.  There is some ingredient in them that cuts my breath off and two made me itch....I don't know what to do!
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Avatar universal
I've had the rash and swelling in the feet and ankles too and I have been diagnosed as allergic to HCTZ, lasix, amlodipine, losartan, verapamil, hydralazine . . . the list is growing all the time.  Most of the allergies seem to be related to sulfa.  Do you have an allergy to sulfa?
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Avatar universal
I too is experiencing the same, So far I have tried Atenolol, Benazepril, Amplodipine, Metoprolol, Losartan, Hydroclorothizide with allergic reactions. From swelling, burning feeling, hives and blisters on my face, wheezing, got burning feeling in my tongue too just like being scalded. My doctor told me to stop all BP meds and just do exercise and salt-free diet  but my BP shot up without the meds,  felt dizzy and wobbly. I take Allegra for the allergy during the day and Benadryl at night. It took a month and a half for my allergy sympton to clear, the hives and swelling and burning feeling. Because of this I am stressed out and anxious, adding to the high blood pressure. Any solution to this problem anyone? Please share!
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Avatar universal
Well it's been another year going to dermatologist and still no answer to my itching I'm on 4 antihistamine a day with no change is it safe to go off bp tablets thinking of doing that now
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Avatar universal
I to have same reactions. I could scratch my skin off. Im on my 3rd med in past month. I only start w/one half tab with 2 benyridls. This Metoprolol is worse then other 2, lips, throat, etc swell, hot sweats, per all the post im not alone w/BP med allergies. I think its time my Dr. Treats the cause not the symptom. Im 73 yr,  118 lbs.. going to try and find herbs that might work. From GramsG
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2 Comments
did you find any herbs.....my doctor gave me losartan and i am allergic to sulfa.  it also sets off my asthma and makes it worse than it ever was.  i have been allergic to every bp drug ever made. i have asthma and a sulfur allergy so nothing works.  i also have high histamine levels and that is a problem.  makes me react even worse.  
did you find any herbs.....my doctor gave me losartan and i am allergic to sulfa.  it also sets off my asthma and makes it worse than it ever was.  i have been allergic to every bp drug ever made.
Avatar universal
Thank you for your original post.  All of the comments have helped me.  I'm on my 3rd BP meds.  My reactions haven't been severe, but they have been annoying.  I had a cough for 6 months on Losartan.  I found out that it is a sulfa drug and I've had a reaction to sulfa in the past.  I'm on Amlodine now and have had a severe sore throat since I've been taking it.  I wouldn't have thought my doctor would put me on another sulfa drug.  
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Avatar universal
Just some info from my BP medication rash and hives reactions. I was on Lostartan, HCT (then Lasix) Amlopidine, Clonidine, also Glyburide for Diabetes (type 2) and daily baby aspirin. Had severe allergic reactions to all of them at different times in 2 short months. These all were medications I have taken close to 3 years. The common connection to most if not all is Sulfa which is  distant chemical connection to all of these drugs. I just happen to be highly allergic to Sulfa and Penicillin drugs. Just finished Predisone along with Ativan to calm my system down. I see the one and only allergist in my area in less than 2 weeks.
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Avatar universal
i have been going to dermatoligist for 2 years and still cant find the right bp tablet to take the only thing that stopped my itching was  predosline tablets for asthma but of course you cant stay on them for too long trying Norvask now but its not working iether
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Avatar universal
I have been put on 7 different bp meds in the last 3 months. After 48 hrs. on each med I have head pain (like I was hit on the top of the head w/ a hammer) burning head, buzzing nerves in head ,sometimes go down into my face. popping sounds in my head from nerves going crazy.
My Cardiologist wants me in this month to try another..can't go through that again!! I am done!! I spent many days going to the ER from the side affects.
I have developed a case of HIGH anxiety from all this!
Has anyone else experianced these symptoms?
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2 Comments
Yes.  I want something holistic.
Hello Sesi99.  Welcome to the forum and thank you for joining. It does help to start your own discussion for responses back directly to you.  I would recommend that you continue to work with your doctor.  You are needing treatment for high blood pressure?  Lifestyle changes can impact our bp. Daily exercise, healthy diet, etc. will help with your bp.  But again, you need guidance from your doctor.  There are herbs you can try if your doctor agrees. https://www.healthline.com/health/high-blood-pressure-hypertension/herbs-to-lower
Avatar universal
I found our about 5 months ago I am also allergic to my blood-pressure meds.  I developed this terrible rash on my legs along with sever swelling of my ankles and feet.  I am a cancer survior and along with the chemo comes a decress in your immune system.  I developed a rash not long after the chemo and found it was called granuloma annulara.  That was 10 years ago.  I thought I had the same rash again, but this time it was different because of the swelling.  I went to my dermatologist and was put on meds for the rash as before but they didn't work.  She then did a biopsy and found I had a drug reaction.  The only meds I take are Benicar HCT and potassium.  I immediately went of the Benicar and started taking a variety of other BP meds.  At first they though I was allergic to the  HCT, but then realized it was the Benicar.  I am now on Bystolic, but still have the rash.  I also take 80mg of Lasix per day.  I still have the rash... but was told by the dermatologist it may take up to 6 months for the meds to get out of my system.  Has anyone else had anything like this happen?  I scratch my legs until they bleed sometimes... I need help!!!
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