What The Heck ?!?!?

[Al]

I'm taking 480mg(I think - it's the maximum daily dose anyways) of Verapimil. I was on Cozaar but my ID doc took me off it the last time I was in the hospital. my last appt my blood pressure was 146/88. It's been on an upward trend. I'm down to 15mg of pred a day, but I gained a lot of weight and haven't been very physically active lately (that may be an understatement) beyond occasionally taking the stairs at work.

Activity is one thing I would try, If not handball or snowshoeing or kick boxing, then at least a half hour walk every day. A walk is therapeutic on many levels.

Did the doc give a reason for taking you off Cozaar? It is a high potassium drug, but, unless you have severe kidney involvement, that should not be a problem. Amlodipine is a more commonly prescribed calcium channel blocker than verapamil; the latter better controls arrythmia, however. In any case, please consider the walk, or similar physical activity.

Al

[norcalian]

Did the doc give a reason for taking you off Cozaar? It is a high potassium drug, but, unless you have severe kidney involvement, that should not be a problem. Amlodipine is a more commonly prescribed calcium channel blocker than verapamil; the latter better controls arrythmia, however. In any case, please consider the walk, or similar physical activity.

Al

My ID Doc took me off Cozaar when I was in the hospital for PCP. originally I thought it was to deal with my orthostatic hypotension. But later he said he would keep me off of it because of my kidneys (which was strange because all my kidney numbers were normal - however it meant getting off another drug, so I didn't question it too much).

Thanks for the advice about getting active. Before I went back in the hospital I was exercising for an hour a day walking and doing yoga. After spending two weeks in the hospital for PCP, I've had a tough time getting active since. I gained about 20 lbs since then...I really need to do something. I've been eating a lot better (a lot of juicing), but haven't started back in with the exercise. I probably also should back off the salt.

[Al]

My ID Doc took me off Cozaar when I was in the hospital for PCP. originally I thought it was to deal with my orthostatic hypotension. But later he said he would keep me off of it because of my kidneys (which was strange because all my kidney numbers were normal - however it meant getting off another drug, so I didn't question it too much).

Thanks for the advice about getting active. Before I went back in the hospital I was exercising for an hour a day walking and doing yoga. After spending two weeks in the hospital for PCP, I've had a tough time getting active since. I gained about 20 lbs since then...I really need to do something. I've been eating a lot better (a lot of juicing), but haven't started back in with the exercise. I probably also should back off the salt.

Yeah, we need salt, but not as much as most people get. And for those of us with distressed kidneys, even a normal amount is too much. Another thing about exercise: Pred will leach important minerals out of the bones, leading, potentially, to osteoporosis. The way to combat this is with some light resistance work and walking.

Al