episodic hypertension

[B4SuzieQ]

I have sporadic periods of hypertension where my bp will spike well over 160/110.  They can last for days, or just an hour, but it is causing me a lot of problems because they can occur at anytime.  When the bp spikes happen at night, I wake up shaking.  I cannot take beta blockers because they make my bp go even higher.  I am taking clonidine when I have these spikes.  I am unable to take any other blood pressure medicine because at times my blood pressure is normal and bp meds will make it go too low.  I have been tested for a pheochromocytoma, sometimes the tests are positive and sometimes they are negative.  I also am hypokalemic and take quite a bit of potassium daily.

In addition I have extreme fatigue, shaking from time to time, muscle pain/weakness.  I usually am hot when others in the same room are fine, and have episodes of sweating and facial flushing.  I run a fever from time to time, have a rash from time to time and tinnitus.  I also have sleep apnea and sleep with a CPAP every night.

[Vienna12]

Can I ask how beta blockers can make your bp higher?

[Vienna12]

I am due to start them for anxiety and high bp and was not told this was a possibility

[B4SuzieQ]

I was given beta blockers on two different occasions earlier this year and I landed in the ER both times with my bp extremely high.  The second time I had a prescription of clonidine and even that couldn't get it down, so I went to the ER.  

I have heard that some people can't take beta blockers, and I guess I am one of them.  Besides, I have periods of time when my blood pressure is normal, so taking a blood pressure medicine daily makes it go too low.  My blood pressure spikes, more than it is constantly high.

If you are concern, ask your doc for the lowest dose possible to start, or if it is OK to split the pill in half.  Take the dose early in the morning during the week and monitor your bp.  If you have a problem you will be able to contact your doc.  It only took a couple of hours for my bp to soar.

[waffenamp]

Start taking beet root powder ... lowers blood pressure naturally

[B4SuzieQ]

Thanks for that information.  My problem is that I have periods of normal blood pressure, so I would be concerned when my bp is normal, something like that would lower it even more.  I may try it for the spikes.  Can you tell me if it has an immediate effect or do you have to build up over time?  If it has an immediate effect I maybe able to incorporate it in.  If not, I would be concern it would drop my bp too low.

[waffenamp]

It is just like eating beets just as beet powder makes it a lot easier....just mix like 2 tablespoons of beet root powder in water and drink. They sell it on ebay for like $20 a pound. It lowers blood pressure naturally and is packed with vitamins and minerals etc etc. You should google search it there are studys on it.

[B4SuzieQ]

I did a search on this, but it seems to only lower the systolic bp, not the diastolic bp.  I have episodes of high bp, both systolic and diastolic, and then it will come back to normal.  I am concerned that it will lower my bp too low when it returns back to normal.

Thanks for the tip, I know others that this may help.