Weird food cravings on BP meds, etc

[Chris2001a]

Hi,

I'm a 36/F who switched meds from Altace 5mg to Diovon 80mgs and also taking Dyazide 37.5/25mg for severe hypertension (> 180/110). After taking Altace for the first 3 months I've craved vinegar containing food (pickles especially). Having switched to Diovan now these cravings are continuing again. The cravings are so bad I could eat a whole jar a day. :(

Am wondering if there's some type of blood acid-akaline imbalance going on? I'm not craving salt as much as the acid. Don't want to overdue the sodium level, but the craving is so bad, that I'll resort to drinking A-1 steak sauce by the tablespoon to stem it. :(

Two last questions:

1. If one's BP is 120/82 (yippee!) prior to taking the BP meds in the morning, does one still take the BP meds? Wondering if the BP will drop too low now (it never got this low on Altace).

2. I've managed to get the BP down to normal levels, but the trade off is now my pulse is over 100 to 120 bpm lying down. Is that a good trade off, or a sign of something else is wrong?

TIA,
Chris

[CCF-M.D.-KE]

Dear Chris,

Your doctors are treating you for hypertension. During the course of treatment there will be times when your blood pressure control is outstanding, such as your reading of 120/82. This optimal control is likely due to the medications you are taking, stopping them would lead  to elevations in your blood pressure.
I would recommend discussing the control of your blood pressure with your doctor.

Soory to hear about your cravings. I am not aware of any specific food cravings brought on by the medications you are taking. Diovan may increase one's appetite, altace may cause increased salivation and  taste disturbances.
Hope this helps.

Thanks for your question,

CCF-MD-KE

[Impotant1]

Oh Yea ! Is'nt this FUN !! I was taking Lisinoprils and was switched to Altace a few months ago. And I have caught myself staring at the dill pickles as I pass them by at the store. I can't seem to make it past the Gallo dry salami, It's ferminted with wine and VERY salty. And not very good for my high BP. I think it's the salt I'm craving since I don't keep any in the house anymore. I use to use lots of salt. I'm not sure if this  is your bodys way of telling you I need more salt...or I just miss it so much. It seems all the stuff that taste really good is not very good for you. I was eating it with the salt & vineger potato chips...Mmm ! GOOD !! Either way I got over it. Good Luck.

[Chris2001a]

Oops! Sorry that I wasn't more clear about taking the BP meds when the BP is in the normal range. :(

What I meant was: if the BP drops to a normal range and remains there and my next med time is an hour away, do I still take the BP meds? Or just one? Or none?

Worried that Diovan and Diazide are so strong that it'll lower the BP further (it dropped my systolic by 50 in just 1 day). Have read that's it's dangerous that the systolic and dystolic were similiar (i.e., 110/120), and when I first took both Diovan and Diazide (last thursday) my BP was around 130/110 (the dystolic BP is what I'm having problems controlling, it wants to remain in the 90/100 range even on meds).

Sorry if this sounds so elementary, but I live in the south and docs I've had (from the ER onward) don't even blink an eye when the BP was 223/122. Took 2 weeks for me to see an internist, not wanting to wait with splitting headaches, I suggested my mom's BP med and that's how I got my BP treatment! The internet is about where I can find treatment info, too. Sad.

Wish your clinic was near, as my mom (a CHF patient /bypass recoverer) and I sure can use better care.

Chris