The study didn't factor in the medications the men had taken in the past or were currently taken, and the authors acknowledged that there were a lot of things that could be contributing to a higher rate of hypertension. Many psychiatric medications cause weight gain, which very often leads to high blood pressure.
Smoking has also been connected to high blood pressure, and it's not surprising that so many of the men in the study were smokers. Last year I reported on a study that found people with bipolar disorder were more than 7 times as likely to be current daily smokers than the general population. Results of the admittedly unscientific poll attached to that blog seem to confirm this, too: 51% of those responding were current smokers and only 13% said they had never smoked.
I never had hypertension, even though it is common in my family history, until I began gaining weight from psychiatric medications. As my weight rose, so did my blood pressure, until finally I was put on medication to control it.
How about you?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Learn more or join the conversation!
NEWSLETTER |
FORUM |
BIO | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Well… after 5 years of psych meds, not only I have been diagnosed with hypertension, I have also been diagnosed with PCOS, Diabetes and tumor in my thyroid gland, all being associated with obesity due to Lithium & Zyprexa mainly, and much more.. I packed on 66 pounds within a year of taking psych meds.
I have been on psych meds of various cocktails sice 1996-14 years and have gained a signifigant amount of weight as a result. Depakote was the worst one for me. My medications now are weight neutral but I have hypertension I am medicated for. I always had low blood pressure when I was younger. I also have PCOS and thyroid problems plus asthma. My blood sugar levels are normal so diabetes is not a factor for me.
I’m on a cocktail of meds which includes depakote er and haven’t got much weight gain, just a few kg, but I’m a daily smoker. I was diagnosed with hypertension before starting my treatment for BP and depression, and now it seems that I’m suffering from hypotention, which is kinda odd.
This is an interesting study, but I’d like to know more about how it impacts women. I’ve never thought of my high blood pressure as being impacted by my bipolar disorder. I have a family history of high blood pressure and my diagnosis came 5 yrs after my bipolar disorder diagnosis. I currently take 2 Rxs for high blood pressure and the wonderful, weight gaining Lithium for bipolar disorder. I smoke 2-3 cigarettes most days but I am beginning to manage my weight again.
I am fat, I don’t like euphemisms, but not due to medication. Don’t smoke, drinks. Family history of high blood pressure and I’m using medication for it. I don’t think BPD really has anything to do with that. It’s what we do wrong when we have BPD that causes the problem.
I was treated for 14 years with lithium for my bi-polar. This worked well for me until my creatinine level rose above normal levels in a routine blood test. This is what led to my going on high blood pressure medicine. My only comment is the h.b.pressure has been very treatable with common in-expensive medicine. (Just a note my kidneys are not 100% normal, but I watch my protein intake for this new problem, & my creatinine levels have steadily increased over the last 5 years.)
My husband at one time fit all of the above: Hypertension, obese, smoker, chewer of tobacco. He refused to take Lithium for a long time, until I put my foot down! Now he is taking Depakote, and the jury is still out on how it is helping him! He has lost like 100 lbs, he does not smoke or chew, but he is still taking high blood pressure medication. Just sharing!
Been on Bipolar meds for about 4 years now-Have had hypertension, high triglycerides , liver enzymes and high cholesterol .I had weight gain but have lost about 20 lbs or so through diet and exercise and my health is slowly getting back in order. Need to stop smoking though.
You guys may want to check out Dr. Mark Hyman’s web page… just Google him.
I acutely have hope of taking less meds or coming off them someday soon.
His book( Ultra Mind Solution) is more than eye opening and a good read.
Take care.
Well, i am a rarity in this case. I too, have been on an assortment of Bipolar drugs including Depakote, Geodan, Abilify, Risperdal, and some others. High blood pressure exists on both sides of my family, but i do not have it. In fact, mine has been lower than normal my entire life. I only had a problem when i took those psyche meds. Stopped taking them about 4 years ago. My weight is returning to normal – i gained like 4/5 dress sizes. I do take medicine for my bipolar, but it is all herbs like St Johns Wort, Ginkgo Biloba, Ginseng, etc. I have less psychotic breaks taking these “herbal” remedies vs taking those prescribed meds. I should have high blood also, because im black, but i don’t