Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Increased Blood Pressure With Chronic Headache And Fatigue Despite Taking Medication?
Question: Hi I have high blood pressure average 170/100 also have had afib attacks, my problem is ,I react very badly to drugs such as amlodipine bisoprolol . at present I have been taking losartan and diltiazem but I feel ill,shaky,nervy weak palpitations and now ,after a few weeks on diltiazem, I am getting constant headaches. I am unable to function on these drugs and sometimes wish I was dead! I am 75 ,don't drink don't smoke am fairly active and eat healthily.
Brief Answer:
I recommend making some changes to your anti hypertensive therapy
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern and would like to explain that it is necessary to control better your blood pressure, and to lower it at least less than 140/90 mm Hg, if you do not suffer from other disorders like coronary artery disease, diabetes, etc.
If you suffer from other disorders (like the above mentioned), lower values of BP are needed.
You should know that uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause chronic headache, fatigue, and is a major risk factor for cardio-vascular disease, cerebro-vascular disease and reno-vascular disease, leading to different complications.
It is a silent killer, which should be held under control.
I recommend consulting with your GP for a careful physical examination, a resting ECG, a chest x ray and some blood lab tests like:
- a complete blood count
- thyroid hormone levels
- fasting glucose
- cortisol plasma levels
- kidney and liver function tests etc, to exclude other possible causes of secondary high blood pressure.
I recommend making some changes to your hypertensive therapy (increase doses or switch to another antihypertensive drug like other ARB alternatives such as Irbesartan, Telmisartan or Ramipril etc).
If after lowering your blood pressure, your headaches don't get better, another option would be stopping treatment with diltiazem, which is known to cause headache as a side effect and start an anti arrhythmic drug, such as flecainide, propafenone or amiodarone to help preventing your episodes of atrial fibrillation.
I recommend discussing with your attending physician on the above issues.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask any other questions whenever you need!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
I recommend making some changes to your anti hypertensive therapy
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern and would like to explain that it is necessary to control better your blood pressure, and to lower it at least less than 140/90 mm Hg, if you do not suffer from other disorders like coronary artery disease, diabetes, etc.
If you suffer from other disorders (like the above mentioned), lower values of BP are needed.
You should know that uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause chronic headache, fatigue, and is a major risk factor for cardio-vascular disease, cerebro-vascular disease and reno-vascular disease, leading to different complications.
It is a silent killer, which should be held under control.
I recommend consulting with your GP for a careful physical examination, a resting ECG, a chest x ray and some blood lab tests like:
- a complete blood count
- thyroid hormone levels
- fasting glucose
- cortisol plasma levels
- kidney and liver function tests etc, to exclude other possible causes of secondary high blood pressure.
I recommend making some changes to your hypertensive therapy (increase doses or switch to another antihypertensive drug like other ARB alternatives such as Irbesartan, Telmisartan or Ramipril etc).
If after lowering your blood pressure, your headaches don't get better, another option would be stopping treatment with diltiazem, which is known to cause headache as a side effect and start an anti arrhythmic drug, such as flecainide, propafenone or amiodarone to help preventing your episodes of atrial fibrillation.
I recommend discussing with your attending physician on the above issues.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask any other questions whenever you need!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
