Jo's Cafe

Thank you WebMD – and you’d think I should’ve learned by now!

I was put on blood pressure medication several months ago.  The first script scared me when I found out a good friend’s husband was on it and after 2 years had a near-fatal allergic reaction to it.

The doctor switched me to another medication and I put the first script on the shelf.  I don’t know why, but good thing I did.

For several weeks now I have been experiencing what I call flu like symptoms:  low grade fever, sore throat, chest congestion, etc.   BUT – nothing I would normally take OTC would touch it.  

This rocked on until I ran too low on my BP script and when I called in the re-fill, they had to contact my doctor.  So Wednesday last week I didn’t take any meds for my HBP.  On Thursday I woke with a pounding headache.  I don’t get headaches – ever.  I knew it was my blood pressure.  So even though afraid of it, I took the first script (Lisinopril) off the shelf and took one.  By 10:30 am my headache had subsided.   Hubby picked up the script refill of my regular meds (Enalapril) that afternoon.

Friday I took the Enalapril and by noon I was suffering the flu like symptoms again. 

Screw this.  On Saturday I took the Lisinopril instead and I’ve been fine since.  

Off to WebMD and sure enough, one of the side effects of Enalapril is:

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these highly unlikely but very serious side effects occur: change in the amount of urine, signs of infection (e.g., fever, chills, persistent sore throat).

BINGO!  Now the infection part of that statement is a bit unsettling, but at least I’m not walking around feeling like I’m dying.

Oh, the Lisinopril has the same warning on it, but right now I’m not having the symptoms.   I need to dig further into the main ingredients etc, but for now I feel great!

I see the Doctor on the 19th and I’ll let him know then.

That’s a load off my shoulders.