Elevated BP - cause and effect from dystonia?
I had a strange appointment today. I have noticed for about a year, since dystonia has made a bigger appearance in my life, my blood pressure is getting worse. I pretty much do not have a history of high blood pressure, unless you count the last few weeks of my three pregnancies. Current medication is Trileptal 300 mg 3x a day, Advair 250/50 2x a day, Zantac 300 mg 2x a day, Baclofen 10 mg 2x a day, Benztropine 1 mg 2x a day.
My normal numbers have always been in the 120/70-80 range though it has certainly been going up. Today it was 147/90 something while at the doctor. He has the history in the chart, seeing how the BP has increased. I tell him this week has been horrendous pain wise as I have been having constant muscle spasms since Monday. Thursday and Friday night, sitting, not stressing, putting pain in the back of my mind - yet still have a fast heart rate with BP headache and all.
Today the doctor says he believes this is due to the Baclofen (which I have been taking too much of this week in an attempt to relieve pain\spasms – at times 3 – 4 pills in a sitting) and Benztropine. Claiming these drugs interfere with my brain telling my heart to slow down. My thought is the doctor is just nervous \ scared and does not really understand what is going on but I wanted to ask the group their opinion on this. I see Dr. Joseph Jankovic this coming Tuesday and plan on bringing this to his attention as well.
Thanks in advance!
Mellissa ~
My normal numbers have always been in the 120/70-80 range though it has certainly been going up. Today it was 147/90 something while at the doctor. He has the history in the chart, seeing how the BP has increased. I tell him this week has been horrendous pain wise as I have been having constant muscle spasms since Monday. Thursday and Friday night, sitting, not stressing, putting pain in the back of my mind - yet still have a fast heart rate with BP headache and all.
Today the doctor says he believes this is due to the Baclofen (which I have been taking too much of this week in an attempt to relieve pain\spasms – at times 3 – 4 pills in a sitting) and Benztropine. Claiming these drugs interfere with my brain telling my heart to slow down. My thought is the doctor is just nervous \ scared and does not really understand what is going on but I wanted to ask the group their opinion on this. I see Dr. Joseph Jankovic this coming Tuesday and plan on bringing this to his attention as well.
Thanks in advance!
Mellissa ~
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mo on -
this is the FIRST time i actually heard or read where a doctor FINALLY blames the drug. oh no it is never the drug. they defend big pharma till they die. but in this case the doctor is partially incorrect. baclofen actually lowers blood pressure because of it's suppression in the brain to slow down the nervous system. what i dont get is his statement: "believes this is due to the Baclofen (which I have been taking too much of this week in an attempt to relieve pain\spasms – at times 3 – 4 pills in a sitting) and Benztropine. Claiming these drugs interfere with my brain telling my heart to slow down."
this action lowers blood pressure. man... i cant believe how many doctors out there dont quite have it right.
now with the benztropine.... "Children may be more likely to have an increased heart rate while taking benztropine." this of course would raise blood pressure. My inference, this could happen to adults too.
I would focus perhaps on this drug (benztropine) as the culprit OR you may be going though tolerance withdrawal which casts the opposite effects quite often with what the drug is actually intended to do.
mo
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Permalink Reply by ramona on -
Baclofen is not an "as needed" medication. It is the type that you take a regular dose of on a daily basis and if it is not doing the job you can titrate up on the dosages (increase them gradually). However, it can be dangerous to stop taking Baclofen quickly so I am assuming it would be just as dangerous to take extra doses "as needed".
Blood pressure can be affected by many things, like stress, exercise, etc. When your muscles are spasming more than usual, you can be stressed physically and emotionally, both of which can raise bp. There are plenty of meds that can raise it, too, though, and it is likely that Baclofen may be one of those. I take a boatload of meds a day and some of those are to counteract side effects of others... frustrating...
Ramona
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Permalink Reply by Rebekah on -
I am concerned about your casual taking of 3/4 pills of Baclofen in a sitting.
This is extremely dangerous. Please DO NOT increase your dosage of bac and/or Binge of baclofen. It is a drug that increases your body's production of gaba and should NEVER be stopped or increased suddenly. Taking BAClofen flippantly can cause stroke and other deadly reactions. Please take the prescribed amount on a REgular schedule.
In the mean time, call you doctor and see if he can call in a prescription for a pain med you CAN take as needed for breakthrough pain-- or for pain, rather. Since you don't seem to be taking a pain medication. I'm concerned about you. How long have you been taking the Benz? It can cause changes in your heart rate...
The overdosing of Baclofen could very easily be the cause of the headaches as a bp of 147/90 (barring other medical factors and depending on your level of fitness) is elevated, but not exactly headache territory. I've been up to a whopping 160 without headace.
THANKFULLY, I discovered the bp which should never have been high for me in the first place, was driven up by a malfunctioning heart due to dystonia. Pain can also drive up your bp.
Take care and be well...
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