Vioxx & High Blood pressure

[Jeff Summers]

I have a question for the experts, you all know who you are. Since being on Coumadin, and not being able to take Ibruprofin for aches and pains, my Dr gave me Vioxx. I have not been a regular blood pressure tester, but I have been lately, and it has jumped. I hurt my back, and have been taking the Vioxx very regularly over the past couple of months, and the Dr thinks that this could be a part of the problem--along with stress. I never had BP issues before my valve replacement, and had always stayed in the 80's since (close to 4 years since AVR), so no need for meds. But I've been hitting 150/120 for the last couple of weeks. So I went to my Dr (after a 2 week denial phase) and he instructed me to stop the Vioxx ASAP, and put me on Micardis (80mg per day) for the BP. Soooooooooo, what can a coumadan patient take for pain other than acetaminophen, and if I have to stay on BP medicine, what are some of the drugs you all are taking, that does not mess with INR. This Micardis is making me a little groggy, but it supposedly doesn't mess with INR-I will validate that in a couple of weeks when I see the Dr again. Any inputs would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[tobagotwo]

If your backache is one of those that is constantly chewing at you, won't let you stand or walk upright, etc., it can be extremely stressful to your body. It is not inconceivable that it can create a temporary hike in your blood pressure.

As you are probably aware, one of the rarer reported side-effects of Vioxx use can be a severe increase in blood pressure. However, if the doctor believes it to be from the Vioxx, it seems odd that he would then prescribe something else for it as well as take you off the Vioxx.

Fortunately, there are a lot of knowledgeable warfarinites here who can share the wealth of their pain relief know-how with you.

Best wishes,

 

[hensylee]

Bob, Micardis is a bp medicine.

Jeff - you might have to put up with it for awhile. Would Celebrex do the same thing. Why not go on the net and explore the side effects of these medicines.

 

[tobagotwo]

That's what I meant, Hensylee. If the doctor thought the Vioxx was causing the issue, and took him off the Vioxx, it would seem that should take care of it. If the doctor adds in a BP prescription now, he masks whether the Vioxx was the issue.

Also, Jeff's now on yet another prescription drug. I'll bet the doctor's going to be extremely reluctant to let him get off it later, even if there is evidence that the requirement for it is no longer there. It seems like they never want to take you off of any blood pressure meds they prescribe without an Act of Congress.

Blarsted pill-pushers, I says...

 

[hensylee]

you are right on that one. It's nigh on to impossible to get off bp meds. About a yr ago I had another major surgery, my bp went down, and the dr took me off the bp while in the hospital. When I got home I kept track of the bp, it stayed low so I stayed off it - till I went back to my local dr. He said 'get back on it'. I did. Go figure.

 

[ticktock]

Hard to believe he would stop the Vioxx AND start the BP med... that will certainly confuse things.... For pain, I have been given Vicodin (i only take 1/2)... but only when Tylenol doesn't do the job. It doesn't interfere with my INR, but then I only take it rarely! It is addictive for long term.

Good luck..... let us know how the BP does.
mindy

 

[Jeff Summers]

The theory on going on the BP meds now was that if I was running a 120 and higher on the lower #, get on something NOW, and get off of the Vioxx, then re-test in 2 weeks. High BP is a BAD thing. If the BP is in the low <80, then go off of the Micardis, re-check in 2 weeks, if out of the normal zone >90, then back on BP meds. Thanks for the Vicodin put. Will investigate.
Any other BP meds out there anyone would suggest? Bye