I have been involved in helping my Mum control her high blood pressure. She's a born worrier which does not help her condition. She has been hospitalised twice now from the side effects of beta-blockers and Ace-inhibitors. They have probably caused more harm than good. It is down to the attention given by her GP that this has happened. She was given too strong a dose the first time with Atenolol, then again with the combination of drugs including Bisoprolol.
The side effects included serious congestion of her Upper Respiratory Tract, leading to Pulmonary Edema, which meant she was spitting up blood. As you might tell I was furious that this was happening to my Mum, so I looked into the drugs she was on, Bisoprolol 2.5mg and Eprosarten 600mg. She took these first thing in the morning, and her blood pressure was still high.
Through reading the Lancet online I discovered that the side effects from these drugs could cause what my Mum suffering from. I read extensively, monitored my Mum and gradually took her off the Eprosarten altogether, (which was safe to do) and changed her dosage of Bisoprolol to 2 x 1.25mg taken in the morning and late afternoon.
The results were that her lungs started to clear, her blood pressure started to become more regulated and lower for the first time in years.
She has since changed her GP, unfortunately she can't come off the drug Bisoprolol as it can have serious side effects to stop it immediately.
She has been taking more celery, rhubarb and chinese herbal tea, which are high in pressure reducing elements, and she has moderate blood pressure instead of continually high.
I would like to say that she has stopped taking the Beta blocker Bisoprolol, but she isn't confident enough to challenge medicine, and knows that at the age of 78, her blood pressure is going to be higher than that of someone younger. 145/80 is nothing to be too concerned about, especially since she was 172/100.
Good luck and hope this info was helpful.
Alison