Posted by dave_fox on October 15, 2001, at 12:35:31
In reply to Re: Blood pressure meds which can worsen depression? » dave_fox, posted by Elizabeth on October 12, 2001, at 10:29:27
Hi Elizabeth, thank you for your reply. I am very please there is someone like you here who is familiar with BP meds and their mood effects!
> > I had been wary of starting with beta-blockers for my
> > blood pressure because I heard somewhere that they
> > can cause depression. However Psychopharm Nut's
> > cutting suggests that this may not be the case.
>
> I think that it's *not* nearly as common a phenomenon
> as it used to be, although it may happen sometimes.
I wonder why it is not as common as it used to be? What has changed in the interim to make it less common?
> > We have started on an ACE-inhibitor but with no good
> > results yet.
>
> Which one? Like I said, sometimes you need multiple meds
> to treat hypertension. It can be really complicated.
I am on Ramipril. The doc has very recently increased my dose and is due to review it in a few weeks time. Do you know if the ACE-I meds differ amongst themselves? In other words, if Ramipril fails to work for me then would it be worth trying another from the same group?I was surprised to read on the Net (yeah, I know I need to be careful with Net information) that ACE-I drugs work in only about two-thirds of patients. Have you heard this?
> > The newer classes of BP meds (alpha blockers and AA)
> > are rather too expensive to try just yet (this is the UK here), > > so I supect that the calcium channel blockers will be next for me.
>
> What alpha antagonists are they using there? Phentolamine?
I am simply reading from my book of meds (with little true understanding as these sorts of meds are very new to me) so please excuse any possible errors. Both these categories are seen here are third level meds...Alpha-adrenoceptor blocking drugs:
doxazosin (UK: Cardura)
indoramin (UK: Baratol)
prozosin (UK: Prazosin, Hypovase)
terazosin (UK: Hytrin)Angiotensin-II Receptor Antagonists:
Angiotensin
cadesartan cilexetil (UK: Amias)
irbesartan (UK: Aprovel)
losartan potassium (UK: Cozaar)
valsartan (UK: Diovan)
> Calcium channel blockers are sometimes used to
> treat mania, though, so you might want to be cautious
> with them. This doesn't mean you should avoid them
> altogether; just be watchful for worsening of depression
> if you do decide to try them.
It seems best to avoid tempting fate by trying these meds. But I will keep an open mind if there is no alternative. I am told that if the ACE meds do not work that a common next step is to augment them with a thiazide diuretic. However, I am aware that these diuretics have a reputation for adverse sexual side effects and unless they are at a low dose then I would be reluctant to try them too soon.Dave
poster:dave_fox
thread:80913
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011015/msgs/81338.html