The Comparative Efficacy and Safety of the Angiotensin Receptor Blockers in the Management of Hypertension and Other Cardiovascular Diseases
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Just had my BP tested at the vaccine clinic (getting Shingrix). BP is 106/69 with RHR 71. Not taking Telmisartan for a while now. Not sure what caused a permanent drop in SBP from 125-135 to 95-105 now. I am stopping all BP treatments except citrulline.
Are there any other supplements that could be behind this drop? Maybe CoQ10?
I’m a way, I feel like I am slowly aging backwards. My markers are slowly improving. Could it be tied to aggressive arteriosclerosis prevention?
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Sure, but what meds and supps you taking? That’s an easier way than listing all possible supps that can cause BP to drop. As always, when faced with unusual BP readings make sure they’re real first, before going any further.
The clinic matches up with my at home readings on my Contec BP machine. It registers 95-105 as well. This is after lots of readings. My DBP registers 54-60 (too low) at home, but it was 69 at the clinic. Also bpm is lower at 71 at the clinic.
OK, sounds like the reading is legit. Why so low, maybe the hormones have shifted, so as long as you don’t have negative symptoms, hypotension, dizziness, fainting etc., it should be fine.
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I find it really weird that you chose to ditch the safe and validated drugs and keep the shitty, unproven supplement.
Q10 can lower BP a lot depending on the dose (with a U-shaped curve): Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) U-shaped dose-response relation with blood glucose and blood pressure
And as usual with unregulated supplements, there’s a risk that what you buy contains way more or way less than the stated dose.
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By the way on citruline:
- Effect of L-Citrulline Supplementation on Blood Pressure: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials 2018: “The present systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that L-citrulline supplementation had no beneficial effect on blood pressure.”
- Open-access Acute citrulline oral supplementation induces greater post-exercise hypotension response in hypertensive than normotensive individuals 2018: “Acute citrulline oral supplementation can induce greater post-exercise hypotension response in hypertensive than normotensive individuals.”
Citruline has a very short half-life (1.5h) so it might explain the lack of long-term benefits (first article) despite the hypotensive risk (second article). It’s also interesting that the hypotensive risk is higher among hypertensive people (the body overshoots in reaction to citruline?) and after exercise.
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I ditched Telmisartan because it’s lowering my BP too much. I like the taste of citrulline and doesn’t cause me problems with my BP.
The issue might be telmisartan + citrulline rather than telmisartan alone. What are the proven longevity benefits of citrulline? Or do you just take it because you like its taste without health considerations?
Telmisartan is a great drug, and it helped when my BP was too high. For some reason my BP is too low 105-95/65-55 and Telmisartan is making me dizzy so I am stopping it.
Citrulline supposedly increases arginine and Nitric Oxide. It doesn’t make me dizzy but it relaxes me and I enjoy the taste. So I still take it.
If your BP is too high, by all means you should take Telmisartan. It’s a great drug.
Flozins can lower BP.
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Thanks. That’s probably part of the equation. I don’t think it’s the whole deal, but probably a good amount of it.
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I also was labeled “non-compliant” with my nephrologist. They (nephrologists) seem to be hesitant to try new things or deviate even a bit from common protocols. 
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Do you chew your Citrulline? It’s a huge pill difficult to swallow. I should probably try chewing it.
Liability is always a factor in medical decisions in the USA. If they do something that is outside the typical protocol they need to have good justifications or if something goes wrong they are liable. I can understand the hesitancy.
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Depends on the doctor. Many are conservative by nature, but some are more laissez-faire. Some write prescriptions with a liberal hand, and some act like they pay for every pill. .
I also totally understand them. It’s especially risky with somebody like me with kidney transplant. It’s safer to be on a conservative side.
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The citrulline I use is a powder that I mix into my tea. It ends up making the tea taste like lemonade when I add glycine. I use citrulline malate powder.
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You must follow the renal diet, right? Do you ever deviate? What is your weakness?
A friend of mine once maintained a transplanted kidney for 30 years. When it failed they gave him another one, because he had taken such good care of the first.
The one regret I have about entering the health care system is the loss of privacy and independence. I’ve had doctors over the years who prescribed me almost anything. But then they retired and Medicare became a major player. I appreciate the doctors I have, but at the same time I’m straining at the leash.
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Yes, I follow renal diet and do not deviate. I’ve been on plant based food for decades. I don’t think I have any weaknesses food wise - don’t drink alcohol (and don’t like it so it’s easy) and like what I cook and don’t want to eat anything else.
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