Blood pressure has dropped

(Farhan Ali) #1

Ok guys, so i am on my day 18. I started feeling energetic around day 12 and am guessing that is day my body switched to ketosis.

I have been on BP meds for the last 12 years or so. I am 44 now. I take exforge 160/5. Starting last week i noticed my BP was 110/70, which was strange because my normal was 130/90 with meds. So i did an experiment and stopped my meds for three days. During those days my BP stayed within range, i.e. 120to130/80to85. Then yesterday i took my medicine and i became so fatigued during the day. At night after gym and dinner i checked and my BP was 102/69. I took some salt and slept. I did not take medicine today and in the morning mt BP was a wonderful 120/80.

So the question is, should i stop taking my medicine or should i lower the dose. What should i ask my doctor when i visit next week. Is this change expected in the first month of keto or is it something to be concerned about.

I am happy but a little nervouse about all this.

(matt ) #2

Call your Dr and tell him/her what you just told us. Don’t wait til next week or you may end up fainting and getting hurt.

Getting off the meds would be great.

(matt ) #3

And yes its normal for BP to come down on keto.

(Chris W) #4

I think there is an section on dietdoctor.com where they recommend that if you are starting LCHF without medical supervision, you should probably cut your BP meds and insulin in half right away, and test frequently to ensure that you are not over-medicated.

Before LCHF, I was on 2 BP meds and 80 units of insulin. Within days, I was off the more powerful BP med and cutting the other one in half, and down to less than 20 units of insulin. Within 3 weeks, I was cutting the 1/2 pills down to 1/4 pills on the remaining BP med and had stopped insulin and metformin.

#5

not all doctors are as forthcoming though. when we questioned my wifes doctor his take was that you never come off blood pressure meds. high blood pressure causes weakness in the blood vessels and they are forever weakened causing lifelong use of blood pressure meds. I specifically asked him how can we monitor and reduce her blood pressure meds with her new way of eating.
I am starting now to think that she should start taking her own reading daily with an at home machine, periodically check those reading with a drugstore machine and if they are always ok to try and go a day or 2 without and see.
It is sad that we have to rsort at times to self doctoring because some docs can be so pigheaded

(Chris W) #6

Here’s the page I was thinking of on DietDoctor

(Banting & Yudkin & Atkins & Eadeses & Cordain & Taubes & Volek & Naiman & Bikman ) #7

Congrats. I was on the road to BP meds, but got it down from 130/90 to 115/72 and now 115/74 with 5mg of amphetamine salts (stimulant).

Early keto has helped me get my BP down to where I can take my ADD drugs safely, and do the serious keto.

(Farhan Ali) #8

Yeah you are right.
I would definitely recommend you buy your on BP machine and check her BP daily. That is how I got to know that my BP was low with the meds.

(Farhan Ali) #9

Thanks. Are you still taking medicine or are off the meds altogether?

(Chris W) #10

I started out on 10mg Amlodipine and 40mg Lisinopril. I currently take either 5 or 10mg Lisinopril depending on how my BP measurements are running.

Beyond the initial drop, my BP has been tracking along with my weight loss. I expect as I continue to lose weight, I will alternate between 5 mg and 0, eventually dropping it altogether.

I might have dropped it altogether by now, but it is supposed to protect the kidneys from diabetic complications, and I am using more salt now in the context of my diet than I have in the past.

(matt ) #11

What your Dr said makes no sense. If high blood pressure weakens vessels and causes lifelong damage (which I don’t buy) and you lower you BP with lifestyle changes what is the purpose of still taking a medicine that lowers your BP?

(Alan Williamson) #12

Cheers!!! I believe most high BP is caused by high insulin. Lower insulin level, BP deceases. Mine was 140/90 for the longest time. Now it is 115/70. WTH!