I take 50 mg Lopresssor twice a day. Been on this regimen since early 98.

Guess this is an excuse to go back to bed in the morning after taking my meds.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
Back when I was doing national heart disease prevention guideline development for a large multi specialty group, I was following the work being done in Spain on this issue. At that time it was interesting, but lacked the definitive evidence of a randomized controlled trial with hard clinical endpoints. This study now adds that; I suspect future guidelines by American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, etc. will incorporate this recommendation.

Thanks for that insight SJ. The forum is fortunate to have some very knowledgeable members.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in 1967, when I joined the Army, I was asked what sports I took part in.

I said hockey, skiing and shooting, not necessarily in that order.

Hmmm, they said, your blood pressure is a little high for any of those things - 148/78 - and your heart rate is incredibly slow - 38 - 40 BPM, but your recovery rate is like somebody just pulled your plug. We'll try you out on biathlon, the hockey you can get as much as you like, at home.

So for 18 years I took part in biathlon, until the introduction of the .22 Fortner-action plinky gun took my interest away - it was no longer military to me, and had lost its purpose.

Fast forward to 1998, and a medical in which the doc said, as if he'd never heard of it before, you have raised BP, 148/78. and your pulse rate is low, too, so I'm going to put you on 50mg of Atenolol.

It is now 2019, and I'm on the same pills, and my BP is the same as it was in 1967, so is my heart-rate, and so is my recovery rate.

What has it all been about?

**** knows, I don't.

quote:

Originally posted by molachi:
Heard back from my cardiologist's nurse yesterday. She said the BP medicine I take (metoprolol) can be taken either morning or evening, doesn't matter. So I will continue taking in the morning rather than changing.

I take 2 metoprolol every day--once just before bed (about 0300 for me) and again in the afternoon.

flashguy

Pipe Smoker, thanks very much.

Regarding metoprolol: there are two different forms, metoprolol succinate, which is an extended-release form usually given once a day, and metoprolol tartrate, usually given twice a day. Both work pretty much the same although the succinate form is particularly effective for treatment of heart failure. That's the most likely reason some of you take it once a day and some twice.

tacfoley: That's a head-scratcher. Atenolol, like metoprolol and most (but not all) beta-blockers, slows the heart rate down. If I have had a patient with high blood pressure and slow heart rate, I would have AVOIDED giving a beta blocker like atenolol.
By the way, beta-blockers are no longer the usual drug of choice for high blood pressure alone. ACE inhibitors, thiazide diuretics, and calcium channel blockers, pretty much in that order, are the usual choices.

I had a slow heart rate and A-Fib. So I was fitted with a pacemaker. So far, so good.

flashguy

My brain doc put me on BP meds to increase opening to arteries in my brain, after my stroke...I take that and singulair for the same reason. And she said to take it at night.

I don’t have high BP or asthma but take the meds for their side effect of preventing another stroke.

OK, a little out of the league of all this discussion, but this might be a small assist for those with high blood pressure -

I read somewhere..... (yeah, this is going to be GOOD!) that a bit of dark chocolate on a daily basis will help reduce high blood pressure.

So taking this on with a test group of one (1) and no control group, I volunteered to continue this research. I have had a bit of dark chocolate on a daily basis (as long as I don’t forget) for several months now. Historically my BP has been a little high - ie 80/140. So, as noted, a few months ago (very scientific data here) I started. About a month ago I went for a semi-annual meeting with my GP. Without any other drugs for my BP, my reading at the doctors office was down. Something like 70/120. For a further reference, I am married (35 years), 62 and 155#.

Your mileage might vary -

I would forward my data to anyone interested in replicating my study, but it is included, in its entirety, above.

Trivia - I know, but it might help someone.

The idea is to remove what is causing the high blood pressure, which is part in parcel metabolic syndrome. A LC diet and intermittent fasting will reverse it.

I’m on ACE inhibitors. Lisinopril.

Just one of the many meds that are more effective if taken this way. Just ask your MD or pharmacist..