I have worked with 15 disabled veterans who have complained of coughing while on Lisinopril for their blood pressure. It stopped when they used Fosinopril. Can you explain this?
There are 6 categories of medications that are used for blood pressure control. Lisinopril is in the category of an ACE inhibitor, which means that it interferes with the angiotensin converting enzyme that converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II. Angiotensin II constricts arterial blood vessels. By interfering with the natural conversion, it can permit dilation of the blood vessel wall and lowers blood pressure. At least 25 % of people who take any of the ACE inhibitors have chronic cough as a side effect. Almost ½ of them discontinue the medication because of the side effect. Fosinopril is also an ACE inhibitor, but apparently, in your experience, it does not cause the side effect as often. I have no explanation for that.
I feel there is entirely too much overtreatment of blood pressures. The Framingham study has been misinterpreted to imply that lower blood pressures will reduce cardiac events. What it really shown is that the increased risk of cardiac events occurred suddenly, and not gradually. It is at the point where the cardiac events increased that we should start to treat ‘hypertension.’ Joel Kauffman, Ph.D, in his book Malignant Medical Myths, does a nice review of the Framingham study and finds blood pressures in the 160/95 are where there is the very beginning of a rise in cardiac events. If people have symptoms at blood pressures below these numbers-that are clearly resolved with a lower blood pressure-then the high blood pressure may also be appropriate to treat.
There are several nutraceuticals that support and bring down the blood pressure, without side effects. These include CoQ10 200 to 400 mg per day, Magnesium 800 to 1000 mg per day (acts as a calcium-channel blocker), and Hawthorne Berry 500 to 1000 mg per day (acts as a vasodilator). Only when these products are inadequate would I consider an anti-hypertensive medication.
My doctor says I can get all the vitamins and minerals I need from my food. What is your opinion on this?
I used to say the same thing to my patients, back in the days before I studied healthy alternatives. It is the party line of allopathic medicine, although that is starting to change. Here's the bottom line, and I'll follow up with some info on what allopaths are now doing:
3 responses so far ↓
1 J. K. // Dec 2, 2009 at 11:28 pm
My blood pressure, when I go untreated peaks around 165/145. So I have been on blood pressure meds for years. However I’ve never tried an alternative form and I’m sick and tired of my diuretic. I have used others but didn’t like their side effects even more. My concern with trying something like Magnesium, is you say it is a calcium-channel blocker. Since I tested low on the basic heel test for potential Osteoporsis development, wouldn’t something like a calcium-channel blocker not be good for me and how do I know which natural blood pressure supplements to safely take with my current prescription meds?
2 Dave, RN // Dec 3, 2009 at 12:47 pm
It blocks the channel, not the absorption of CA+ itself. If you’re concerned about bone, then look into magnesium. Without enough of that, you can’t absorb the calcium. It turns out that many with bone issues aren’t getting the magnesium they need. Be sure to take magnesium citrate or one of the other more absorbable forms. Most at the grocery store are Magnesium Oxide, which is very poorly absorbed.
D3 is important in this equation as well.
3 J. K. // Dec 5, 2009 at 11:45 pm
Thanks. So taking magnesium can help lower my blood pressure and help my bones. Can I take the other supplements recommended as well and will any of these have problems with my low dose of generic Zoloft? I take only 25mg at night. How long before I should start seeing results from taking any of these supplements for my high blood pressure generally?
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