Questions about Diovan and HCTZ

[bluejay111]

Prescribed once a day Diovan (320mg) and HCTZ (25mg) for blood pressure.
Has anyone had experience with hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) and their blood sugar? Did it raise blood sugars? Did it affect weight loss?
I have the same questions about Diovan.

[Gaelen]

BlueJay, I was on HCTZ (a diuretic) along with a couple othe BP meds toward the end of my first chemo regimen. It didn't affect my blood sugar, and it didn't do anything for or against my weight loss...but I did have other things going on at the time, and a lot of other meds coursing through my system for those nine months.

If your BP was high enough to need meds, then you will need to give yourself time to adjust to them...and be careful because if you strictly follow a low carb way of eating, that, too, can help regulate your pressure so that you're doubling up on effects.

[debwoo]

bluejay i am currrently on diovan HCL 25mg per day and yes i do think that it is raising my blood sugar readings. i am having a med review on monday with my family doctor and we are going to talk about me stopping this med. how i can tell is that all my other after meal and before readings are well below the norm but my after breakfast readings (i take diovan before breakfast) is quite elevated and i have tried everything i can think of to correct this myself and nothing has worked.
try experimenting with the times you think it might be effecting. eat the same food at another time, hours aft you have taken diovan and do blood sugar readings and compare, for me there is a huge difference.
hope this helps
deb

[sue sue]

I have been taking Zestoretic (half HCTZ, half Vasotec) for 20 years. After 5 days on PP, the doctor halved my dosage--my BPs dropped to 98/54!! Now my BP stays in the 115/65 range on a half dose, and I am about to go off of that.
Having said that, one complication that I had that I believe could have been attributed to the HCTZ was high calcium. The high calcium was causing heart palpatations, and I was having muscle cramps. Under my amazing doctor;s guidance, I started taking Magnesium and Potassium suppliments, as per directions in Protein Power Lifestyle. (there is a whole chapter on Magnesium). I just had bloodwork done this week and my calcium is now normal and the cramps and heart palpatations are gone.
Bottom line: if you take HCTZ, you should be supplimenting both Potassium and Magnesium under your doctor's care. I don't know off hand whether Potassium or Magnesium deficiency caused by taking HCTZ can impact BS readings, but it is worth looking in to.

[Mitra]

After 5 days on PP, the doctor halved my dosage--my BPs dropped to 98/54!! Now my BP stays in the 115/65 range on a half dose, and I am about to go off of that.

:cool: that's good to hear :). Thanks for telling us - and about your experience with Mg & K supplements.