AboutDr Alan Galbraith Expertise I can answer most questions on drugs, both medical and "recreational". Answers can be given in either technical or layperson terminology. My main areas of interest are psychiatric, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular drugs.
Experience I have been a university lecturer/head of department for almost thirty years, but am now retired. My research interests were alcohol, smoking and cardiovascular disease.
Organizations Institute of Biology, London.
Publications Principal author of "Fundamentals of Pharmacology" 4th Edition published in November 2003 by Pearson Education, Australia.
Expert: Dr Alan Galbraith Date: 5/2/2008 Subject: Running intolerance with hypertensive medication
Question Dear Dr Galbraith,
I am a 60 year-old, reasonably fit male. I've been a runner all my life (2h27
marathon). However, since starting on BP medication around 4 years ago
running has been very difficult. The symptoms are a tightening between the
shoulderblades quickly accompanied by the onset of chronic fatigue, to the
point where I have to stop running. The medication I've taken so far includes
Atacand, Atacand diuretic, Zestril Amlor and currently 10mg Amlor. The
symptoms disappear if I stop taking the medication, but my blood pressure
rises.
I'd be grateful for any ideas you might have.
Many thanks in advance
Best regards
Graham Dalton
Answer Dear Graham
Strange to take Atacand and Zestril together as they both have similar modes of action. Anyway, the culprit is almost certainly the Amlor. You will have to speak top your prescriber regarding your problem and see if he/she is willing to change the Amlor to another class of antihypertensive or increase the Atacand and/or Zestril dosage. Maybe you should be thinking about fast or power walking because of your age. Exercise is excellent for cardiovascular health but not if it is overdone. Do you recover quickly from the fatigue? If so you are probably not overdoing it.
