How Low is too low for BP ?

[ctyguy]

Im 3 weeks post op and am taking TOPROL 100mg per day. This was given to me not so much for my blood pressure as it was to reduce my heart rate. Seems my resting rate now is in the high 70s/low 80s which is all well and good. My concern is my blood pressure. I had it checked the other day at the doc and it was like 105/62. Is there a point where blood pressure can get too low ? What are the dangers associated with it ? I still have a 2 week supply of TOPROL. Anyone have any experience with Low BP ?

 

[Adrienne]

When I had endocarditis, my BP got down to something like 90/48!! I was really worried, but the doctors in the hospital said that if I wasn't lightheaded and dizzy when I was up, not to worry.

 

[Bina]

It can be tricky to take enough BP med to keep the HR decent without crashing the BP.
During the first 18 mths post op I had many low readings...84/62 with a pulse of 78.....not fun.
Sometimes I would get dizzy or see black for a few seconds until I could lie down. Then I would drink water and eat something salty. I have a home BP monitor so I could call my doc and give him the readings over the phone. The BP meds are very important for keeping the heart quiet while it is healing and re-modeling.

 

[ctyguy]

anxious

anxious

Im anxious to get off the BP meds. I've got two weeks of em left and then hopefully the doc will either reduce the dosage or eliminate them entirely. I've always had low BP historically 100/62 is nothing unusual for me. They gave me the meds to keep my heart rate down. I've got my heart monitor out from when I was exercising prior to my surgery and it seems my resting rate is around 80 with the meds. Hopefully I can wean off them in a few weeks and have one less pill to take. Im just concerned my BP will get TOO low.

 

[Bina]

Before OHS I was around 120/75.....now I feel good at 105/65.....HR is around 65.
I am now taking 50mg per day and I'm not very active.

 

[Cooker]

Im anxious to get off the BP meds. I've got two weeks of em left and then hopefully the doc will either reduce the dosage or eliminate them entirely. I've always had low BP historically 100/62 is nothing unusual for me. They gave me the meds to keep my heart rate down. I've got my heart monitor out from when I was exercising prior to my surgery and it seems my resting rate is around 80 with the meds. Hopefully I can wean off them in a few weeks and have one less pill to take. Im just concerned my BP will get TOO low.

I have never had high BP....I was put on Toprol and when I asked my cardio about coming off of it he said "hell no".....I take 25mg a day...I can't tell if I take it or not...no side effects....I resolved myself that one more pill is no big deal for me.

 

[MikeHeim]

105/62 is about what my BP was at prior to my heart issues (early twenties). I don't believe that is too low at all and am pretty sure that still falls within the normal range. Like somebody else mentioned, if it is too low you will have issues with lightheadedness.

 

[westie]

no problem

no problem

our gp took my blood pressure a few days ago and found it to be 100/60. he said this was no problem as long as i was not fainting or getting dizzy. i was not previously aware of the low pressure

i am taking half a solotol tablet twice a day

 

[SarahL]

the 2nd week after my surgery my blood pressure plummetted to 58/45 and i was readmitted into the hospital for 2 days. the problem was they had gave me to many blood pressure medications and they kept me n the hospital one day to take me off all blood pressure meds and one more day to introduce the right abmout. it felt like i was going to die.

 

[briansmom]

I know the docs love a low blood pressure. I have certainly questioned them because sometimes my son's BP would drop to the 80/50 range. They told me that as long as he is not dizzy it is ok.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

One Cardio told me that 100mg of Toprol was the "minimum theraputic dose" and would not lower it.

Another believes in the "minimum dose that relieves symptoms'. He recommended cutting the dose in Half for Two Weeks, then re-evaluate. Did the same again. Several of our members found that 25 mg worked fine for them.

 

[ctyguy]

I am happy with my BP readings, they have always been historically low and hopefully they will stay that way. My concern was more a "what if" type question. What is too low and unhealthy. But I know that my readings right now are great news for me. Now I gotta get past this Cardio visit today and hopefully if I do have pericarditis that its resolved with meds. I am so NOT up for getting put back in the hospital.

 

[ctyguy]

back from the Cardiologist

back from the Cardiologist

Just got back from the Cardiologist's office, unfortunately my guy isn't in today so I met with a different one who was very underwhelming. Don't you hate it when a doctor wont look you in the eye when he talks ? Bottom line is he didn't have much to offer me other than to order up an echo which was completed while I was there. They are going to call me back this afternoon and tell me if the excess fluid around my heart is something I need to worry about and also what meds I should take. Based on my BP and heart rate it doesn't sound like I need to worry(both were normal). It didn't sound like he was going to prescribe anything and he would recommend over the counter stuff (Aleve). I asked him about how it would interact with the Coumadin and with the Vicodin and he said he isn't a "meds guy" so he really couldn't say. Comforting eh ? A cardiologist who can't recite how drugs interact with Coumadin ? Fortunately today Im not in any significant pain, I did take a pill about 2 hours ago so Im assuming thats keeping things at bay. Now I will wait on the call from them about the echo and see what the next steps are.