Coming off HBP pills

[Dinosaur]

I know at least one of you has come off HBP pills recently (did a search through the forum). Looking for some guidance.

The background is: Mr PK went to hospital for a sinus prob (turned out to be sinus infection). They routinely took his BP and it was high. This was a bit of a shock. To be fair, we had just said bye-bye to the VisitorFromHell and Mr PK was getting very wound up while she was here. He has never had hypertension in his life, is 62, reasonably fit (swims, walks every day) and was a bit overweight at the time of the hospital visit.

That was 5 weeks ago. He's got a bit more serious about losing weight and got a couple of kilos off and now just about within Body Mass Index. They put him on HBP pills but he's got one week left of them. He doesn't want to go back to the hospital so was thinking of just quitting the pills next week, leave it a few days (3 days?) then go to a local GP and get his BP checked. How's this sound to you?

[Pinklepurr]

I would advise to go to the GP, have BP etc checked before finishing the pills and go from there, it is never a good idea to just stop medication without a doctors advice.

[slinky]

I would second what PP has said. It's really not a good idea to quit meds without talking with a doctor about it first. Have him schedule an appointment to discuss it first.

[sundaymorningstaple]

PK, I assume you were researching and found me!

Ideally you should have a consultation with the doctor before going off the HBP meds. I ran out and already had an appointment and just didn't bother to change it (the appointment was in 3 days only) as I was feeling tired and lethargic all the time (often if it a relatively new occurrence it could be a lowering of your blood pressure causing that). I knew that the possibility of the drop was there due to the weight loss program I was on (others had experienced the same) so it wasn't a surprise and frankly I was anticipating something like this (let's say I hoped for it anyway). As I was off for 3 days when I went to the doc. He told me all meds/effects would have been out of my system in 24 hours and after taking my BP 3 times he realized my BP was now perfectly normal at 110/70 at 61 years of age. So ideally, go to the doc first. Or if he's out of the hospital, and completely back to normal he might try going off them for a couple of days ONLY if he has a means to monitor his levels on a daily or twice daily basis and the pills handy to restart if necessary. Something as serious as HBP needs to be given the respect it needs. My physician advised me to monitor my BP daily for a couple of weeks and weekly thereafter to ensure that it remained down and if it started to rise and stay there then to come back to see him to figure out whether to go back on the meds or not.

Hope this helps. (by the way, my BP is still normal and I'm still between 69-70 kg where I was when I finished my diet last June.

[Fat Bob]

There's conflicting views at the moment within the science community. Some think it's good that you take aspirin and statins (the normal drugs to help lower blood pressure) as soon as you reach 40. Manly because they are cheap and will have a positive effect on many people. However, this is based on UK targets and, as there's a lot of HBP issues in the UK, as well as high cholesterol, then this is probably good advice in general.

The other issue is the side effects of such drugs. Asipirin can cause problems with stomachs, including ulcers. Statins have been linked with an increaed risk of Parkinson's. As both are long-term drugs if used for these reasons, then yes, it's an issue you have to work with.

In all cases, speaking with a GP, or more preferably with a cardiologist, will help you sort things out. However, you have to have a good one. Without a good one then you are screwed, as they might want you just to take the drugs and be quiet.

[Pinklepurr]

Very true FB, you would have to be sure that the GP is not just one who just says stay on the pills as it is easier, so many of them just go down that track.

If you (Mr PK) do go to the GP, stick up for what you want to do and ask lots of questions if he says to stay on them, say your preference is to come off them and treat it naturally if possible etc etc.

[Kooky]

Just how good (or bad) is Phuket's health service?

[Dinosaur]

Thank you so much for all those responses. I've read it ALL out to Mr PK just now and he is at least looking at it a bit more seriously now. Though at the moment (I hope he changes his mind) he's still insistent on stopping the pills THEN going to the GP a couple of days after. I think I'll have to work on him and at least get him to stop the pills a couple of days early so he's got a couple in reserve - and maybe see the doc after 24 hours. Why are men so stubborn? No don't answer that.

SMS - yes, I read through your thread from last year and good to hear that your BP's still okay. Can I ask, when you stopped taking the pills, did you take any extra precautions like not too much exercise, or anything like that?

Oh I should clarify Mr PK wasn't actually admitted to hospital. He just went as an out-patient for the sinus prob. We tend to use the international hospital like you would a GP.

[Dinosaur]

Just how good (or bad) is Phuket's health service?

We have 2 international private hospitals on Phuket. From our experiences so far, I would say they are as good as Singapore private hospitals and a darn sight better than UK private hospitals (just IMO). Though it's always down to individual docs and specialists isn't it. We were surprised when we first went to the Bangkok Phuket Hospital - all very clean, efficient, new equipment, everyone speaks perfect English. Thailand isn't perfect but they do get a bit of flak sometimes from neighbouring countries trying to score points - and we used to read a lot of things too.

Now, the government hospitals, well that might be another matter And don't start me off on dentists.

[Fat Bob]

Hmmmm....not taking too much exercise in order to help lower your blood pressure? That's a new one. Rather than thinking of doing "less" exercise, think about making sure the exercise is well managed, i.e. heart rate monitors, working out to a particular level only, keeping it going for a certain period of time.....again, talk to the doctor.

But the important thing is to include the doctor in this decision making process. Ask the doctor how to go about coming off the drugs, tell the doctor about why he thought the BP ewas high, and then find things like BP monitors and the like.

And is that the Bangkok Hospital in Phuket or the Phuket Hospital in Bangkok?

[Dinosaur]

It's the Bangkok Phuket Hospital in Phuket town - yeh I know it's a bit confusing.

Anyways Mr PK has decided to see a local GP this week (we've had a good recommendation from a friend) to discuss and we're going to get one of those home BP monitors too. Aww I've got to tell you the name of the GP - it's Dr Thiti pronounced Titty but he's a man (hmmm could be ladyboy I suppose).

[Pinklepurr]

Excellent news. Glad he has decided to go to the doc, even one who may be a lady boy now you have to make sure he does what the doc says, that may be a harder job.

[slinky]

Didn't I just read they've done a study about blood pressure pills being able to 'erase bad memories'?

Yes - here you go!

[Shelley]

Dieting pills are really helpful to reduce the weight rapidly...
But some times these dieting pills can be dangerous to our health.. so we should avoid the use of such pills..

[Kooky]

Thanks, Shelley - it's obvious you know what you're talking about.