Picking Right Blood Pressure Medicine Challenging

[Rockntractor]

It's hard to predict which pills will best lower which patient's high blood pressure, but researchers are hunting ways to better personalize therapy - perhaps even using a blood test.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2010/0...#ixzz1r0A9aCqb

[SaintLouieWoman]

Perhaps I can further torment my doc by asking for a renin test. I've had every combo imaginable and it's still not getting the desired results. He's the type who wants to be in control, doesn't welcome inquiries from the patient. He finally agreed to change my bp drugs, cutting down the # of meds and increasing the dosage on one of the remaining ones. I'm down from4 to 3 meds.

[Rockntractor]

Perhaps I can further torment my doc by asking for a renin test. I've had every combo imaginable and it's still not getting the desired results. He's the type who wants to be in control, doesn't welcome inquiries from the patient. He finally agreed to change my bp drugs, cutting down the # of meds and increasing the dosage on one of the remaining ones. I'm down from4 to 3 meds.

I always check if a side effect is possible kidney damage, to me no medicine is worth possible dialysis later in life.

[Zeus]

I always check if a side effect is possible kidney damage, to me no medicine is worth possible dialysis later in life.

The majority of medicines list either/or kidney or liver problems as a possible side effect. Heart medications list cardiac arrest as a possible side effect, Antidepressants list suicidal tendancies as a possible side effect.

Like my dad used to ponder 'Sometimes I wonder if these damn pills are keeping me alive longer or killing me quicker".

[Rockntractor]

The majority of medicines list either/or kidney or liver problems as a possible side effect. Heart medications list cardiac arrest as a possible side effect, Antidepressants list suicidal tendancies as a possible side effect.

Like my dad used to ponder 'Sometimes I wonder if these damn pills are keeping me alive longer or killing me quicker".

I watched my wife's dad die an awfully painful death when his kidneys failed, the doctors attributed it to the heart medication and blood pressure medication they gave him.

[Zeus]

I watched my wife's dad die an awfully painful death when his kidneys failed, the doctors attributed it to the heart medication and blood pressure medication they gave him.

Not to make light of FIL death from what I've heard a heart attack is no walk in the park.