July 8, 2009 I took Lisinopril for 2 months and began noticing s...

I am a 47 year old male, I consider myself in great shape, eat right, do not smoke or drink. I am a runner, a marathoner to be exact (3 time Boston marathoner). I train religiously but have always been hampered by hbp. I think it is genetic. Now after a visit to the doctor she gave me Lisinopril to bring it under control. I took my first dose last night. Now I am concerned how this will affect what I truly enjoy, running. Will it affect my training, she said it would not, but she is not a runner. I feel good and I think I can control the hbp, but I have to think about stroke, etc. Any suggestions?

I applaud you for quit taking it; i am going thru the same thing and told the doc about the cramps and such. so he said take pota and magnesuim.. I am always tired and such. Dizzy..so when i go back next week we are having this discussion.. There are herbs I am going to check into for my blood pressure because I am borderline like you and seen no decrease

First, i will state clearly that the following is not medical advice, and certainly does not replace having a chat to a doctor, infact, if anything it should be considered encouragement to bring any concerns you have to a doctor.

The reason they say not to take potassium supplements is because angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (such as lisinopril or others ending in pril) decrease kidney excretion of potassium. Too much potassium can cause heart arrhythmias, thus leading it inefficiency in the pumping/filling of the heart and possibly even heart failure. Symptoms of these inefficiencies would include muscle weakness, fatigue, tiredness, swelling in the feet or chest, rapid weight gain and many many more, which your doctor could tell you about.

Additionally, potassium can potentially increase your blood pressure by increasing the volume of your blood, which may be responsible for your borderline hypertension.

Reaction you should neilnewton should take: Mention these symptoms and your concerns to your doctor. If you do not have faith in your doctors abilities, you are compromising your own health care (because bad compliance is clinically proven to result in worse patient outcomes), and thus you should find yourself a doctor you can trust - one who tells you what to do and WHY he wants you to do it.

RCrunner - physical exercise increases renin. Renin is converted to angiotensin I which is then converted to angiotensin II (by Angiotensin II converting enzyme) which has effects in the body to increase your blood pressure. Lisinopril stops the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II. This means for you that naturally you have higher angiotensin II, and when on this medication you have more angiotensin I being stopped from becoming angiotensin II.

Your doctor most likely chose this medication tailored to your physical activity because she thinks its your higher angiotensin II causes your blood pressure. Some alternative blood pressure medications may affect your performance and/or are banned in sport. This medication itself, may have one big effect on your performance, which is, that if you take it after or during periods of exercise, when your renin is at it's highest, your blood pressure drop will be greater, which may cause you dizziness or at worst make you faint. Do not take it at this time, and you should be fine. You should also consider increasing your normal water intake at training slightly, as this medication causes increased retention of potassium which can have somewhat of a dehydrating effect.
Any doctor or pharmacist could tell you this information.

bevercask, it's never good to applaud not taking a medication without consulting a doctor you have faith in. if you do not have faith in any of your health professionals, you are seeing the wrong health professional for you.