[Gamecock]

You point out some very real concerns. But any drug can have undesirable side effects. That is why any patient should be followed closely whenever starting on long term medications.

Beta Blockers generally are not the first like of drugs for high blood pressure. The gold standard reccomendation is that the majority of patients should start out with thiazide diueretics. BTW, there is a rule of thumb that 1/3 of all patients will only require 1 drug, 1/3 will require 2 drugs, and 1/3 will require 3 drugs.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Why is it that drugs are always prescribed by doctors? Isn't it ever possible that there are natural choices that could be tried first?

[Ditter]

I have been on Diovan for my blood pressure for about 6 weeks. I noticed that I was feeling very tired in the middle of the day for no apparent reason. I had been taking Diovan first thing in the morning. Two days ago I started taking it at night and I feel better already. My doc never told me when to take it, should I call and discuss this with him or is taking it at night OK?

(I know you must just love getting medical questions from your freeper friends, forgive me)