Will I suffer side-effects?

Serious side-effects are now, happily, very unusual. It is natural to
attribute any symptom which you have after starting a new treatment to that
treatment. This is not necessarily the case. When new forms of treatment are
being tested in research, patients are often given a totally inert tablet and
many patients confidently report unpleasant effects on that tablet: this is
technically called a “placebo effect” and is a well known factor in assessing
treatment. At the same ite occasionally quite unexpected new side-effects
may be encountered. It is extremely important, therefore, to discuss any new
symptom with your doctor. If blood pressure is reduced to low levels then
symptoms of light-headedness, dizziness and even fainting may occur.
These effects are particularly noticeable on getting up from a bending or
lying posture, In these circumstances the dose of drug may need to be
reduced or an alternative preparation prescribed. Some patients may be
allergic to a particular type of preparation and develop a rash. Beta-blockers
are highly effective drugs but side-effects such as tiredness, cold hand and
feet and wheezing may occur in some people. The heart rate is usually
reduced and the response of the heart to fear and anxiety is modified.
Beta-blockers have been used on occasions for preventing “stage fright”
Drugs of this type may not be suitable for patients with some chest diseases
such as asthma and chronic bronchitis. Diuretics or ‘water tablets’ also lower
pressure and tend to have few side-effects although they cause lowering of
blood potassium and this may need checking with a simple blood test, Gout
and diabetes occur on rare occasions. Occasionally patients experience
sexual difficulties with some blood pressure-lowering drugs, and it is
important to report such side-effects if they occur. Some of the older drugs
cause lethargy and sleepiness in some patients. You should not let this list of
troublesome side-effects make you apprehensive. The vast majority of
patients receiving treatment for high blood pressure feel perfectly fit and
well and the only problem is that of remembering to take the tablets. If you
do not feel one hundred per cent well on your treatment it probably means
that you have some other problem or that your treatment needs altering.