Questions about blood pressure and drugs used to control blood pressure are common here – we get them often. Big Pharma is constantly working to have Big Medicine declare lower and lower blood pressures to be “normal” – meaning that anyone with readings above that “normal” becomes a candidate for a lifetime of expensive drug therapy. It used to be that 120/80 was the norm, now it is being proposed that 115/75 should be considered the “gold standard” above which drugs should be prescribed.
Warren wrote recently with the following comments and question:
I am currently taking medicine for high blood pressure. It is reducing my energy level. Anything I can do to restore my energy would be a blessing. I am 65, but I work out 5 times a week.
Warren, as you know, these drugs are not without side effects – and most people do not really appreciate how many and how serious these side effects really are. The drug companies are certainly not going to ‘fess-up to the problems that their toxic concoctions can cause, except in the tiny print of that little package insert that comes with the drug (that no-one reads…)
Here is a summary of the more popular antihypertensive (blood pressure) medications and their more common side effects:
| Brand Name (Generic Name) | Possible Common Side Effects Include: |
| Accupril (quinapril hydrochloride) | Headache, dizziness |
| Aldatazide | Diarrhea, fever, headache, decreased coordination |
| Aldactone (spironolactone) | Cramps, drowsiness, stomach disorders |
| Aldomet (methyldopa) | Fluid retention, headache, weak feeling |
| Altace (ramipril) | Headache, cough |
| Calan, Calan SR (verapamil hydrochloride) | Constipation, fatigue, decreased blood pressure |
| Capoten (captopril) | Decreased sense of taste, decreased blood pressure itching, rash |
| Cardene (nicardipine Hydrochloride) | Dizziness, headache, indigestion and nausea, increased heartbeat |
| Cardizem (diltiazem hydrochloride) | Dizziness, fluid retention, headache, nausea, skin rash |
| Cardura (doxazosin mesylate) | Dizziness, fatigue, drowsiness, headache |
| Catapres | Dry mouth, drowsiness, dizziness, constipation |
| Corgard (nadolol) | Behavioral changes, dizziness, decreased heartbeat, tiredness |
| Corzide | Dizziness, decreased heartbeat, fatigue, cold hands and feet |
| Diuril (chlorothiazide) | Cramps, constipation or diarrhea, dizziness, fever, increased glucose level in urine |
| Dyazide | Blurred vision, muscle and abdominal pain, fatigue |
| DynaCirc (isradipine) | Chest pain, fluid retention, headache, fatigue |
| HydroDIURIL (hydrochlorothiazide) | Upset stomach, headache, cramps, loss of appetite |
| Hygroton (chlorthalidone) | Anemia, constipation or diarrhea, cramps, itching |
| Hytrin (terazosin hydrochloride) | Dizziness, labored breathing, nausea, swelling |
| Inderal (propranolol hydrochloride) | Constipation or diarrhea, tingling sensation, nausea and vomiting |
| Inderide | Blurred vision, cramps, fatigue, loss of appetite |
| Lasix (furosemide) | Back and muscle pain, indigestion, nausea |
| Lopressor (metoprolol tartrate) | Diarrhea, itching/rash, tiredness |
| Lotensin (benazepril hydrochloride) | Nausea, dizziness, fatigue, headache |
| Alozol (indapamide) | Anxiety, headache, loss of energy, muscle cramps |
| Maxzide | Cramps, labored breathing, drowsiness, irritated stomach |
| Minipress (prazosin hdrochloride) | Headache, nausea, weakness, dizziness |
| Moduretic | Diarrhea, fatigue, itching, loss of appetite |
| Monopril (fosinopril sodium) | Nausea and vomiting, headache, cough |
| Normodyne (labetalol hydrochloride) | Fatigue, nausea, stuffy nose |
| Plendil (felodipine) | Pain in back, chest, muscles, joints, and abdomen, itching, dry mouth, respiratory problems |
| Procardia, Procardia X (nifedipine) | Swelling, constipation, nausea, fatigue |
| Sectral (acebutolol hydrochloride) | Constipation or diarrhea, gas, chest and joint pain |
| Ser-Ap-Es | Blurred vision, cramps, muscle pain, dizziness |
| Tenex (guanfacine hydrochloride) | Headache, constipation, dry mouth, weakness |
| Tenoretic | Decreased heartbeat, fatigue, nausea |
| Tenormin (atenolol) | Nausea, fatigue, dizziness |
| Veseretic | Diarrhea, muscle cramps, rash |
| Vasotec (enalapril maleate) | Chest pain, blurred vision, constipation or diarrhea, hives, nausea |
| Visken (pindolol) | Muscle cramps, labored breathing, nausea, fluid retention |
| Wytensin (guanabenz acetate) | Headache, drowsiness, dizziness |
| Zaroxolyn (metolazone) | Constipation or diarrhea, chest pain, spasms, nausea |
| Zestoretic (lisinopril hydrochlorothiazide) | Fatigue, headache, dizziness |
| Zestril (lisinopril) | Labored breathing, abdominal and chest pain, nausea, decreased blood pressure |
Wow – quite a collection! Nausea, headache, dizziness, and fatigue are a common thread through this – and also commonly reported with many of these drugs are the very undesirable side effects of loss of libido, impotence, sexual dysfunction, and erectile dysfunction.
Fortunately, for those like Warren who want to avoid these drug-induced energy-sapping side effects, there are alternatives.
Chiropractic therapy has shown positive results in the treatment of hypertension. A study published in The Journal of Human Hypertension demonstrated a significant lowering of blood pressure in hypertensive patients after only one chiropractic adjustment of the atlas vertebra. The study showed a reduction in blood pressure immediately following the adjustment as well as a full eight weeks following the adjustment. Blood pressure in the group receiving the chiropractic adjustment was lowered by an average of 17mmHg BP systolic and 10mmHg diastolic BP. According to the authors of the study the decrease in blood pressure was equal to taking two antihypertensive drugs at once.
Reference:
Bakris G, Dickholtz M, Meyer PM, et al (2007). “Atlas vertebra realignment and achievement of arterial pressure goal in hypertensive patients: a pilot study”. J Hum Hypertens 21 (5): 34752. doi:10.1038/sj.jhh.1002133. PMID 17252032.