blood pressure

[kayjoy]

My dr. says I have high blood pressure and I am taking a water pill for that.  Since I have been taking it though I have had bouts of Dizziness and lost my balance.  i have never had this happen to me before I started taking this medication.  last time I went to him my blood pressure was 120 over 80 which I thought was good but he says its still high.  The diziness occors after i get up from a chair but not always right after I can walk a fair distance and then i feel like I am going to faint.   I am 60 years old and also taking Crestor, and allegra 180 wehen I need it, and protonix.  I told his nurse this but never got an answer if it is the medication.  i know its not in my mind as I have had these bouts while I'm at work in school.  What should i do?

[caregiver222]

120/80 is not high blood pressure. Do not pass go. Do not collect two hundred dollars. I am going to be kind and suggest you mistunderstood your physician. The alternative is that he was having a transient ischemic attack at the time ge gave you your adive. Go to the Physicians Desk Reference at the library (or use the net), otherwise known as the PDR and look up medications and compare the doses you are getting with the manufacturers recommendations. The dizziness when getting up is because the blood vessels in your legs are not comoensating properly. There are many reasons for this, the most common of which is diabetic neuropathy. Wearing elastic stockings often helps. You need to ask your physician to take what are called "orthostatic vitals" the next time you visit. About 18 percent of those with high blood pressure can eliminate the high blood pressure with calcium supplements. This should be tried before resorting to pharmacological intervention. That statistic came from the data provided to the FDA for a calcium channel blocker when they were applying to the FDA. I wrote part of the NDA (New Drug Application).

[often]

It is possible that your bp is actually going too low at times...or the water pill is dehydrating you.  Or it is themeds.  The doc definitely needs to talk to you and get to the bottom of it.