Is Aspirin advisable for elevation in the BP level despite taking Losartan?
Patient: Hello, I am a 60 year old female who started taking 25 mg of Losartan daily about 4 months ago. my blood pressure has dropped some since I started taking it but is sill not in the normal range. Was 170 s over 90 s when I started taking it and is not normally 140 s-150 s over 70 s. I spent the last 24 hours with my daughter who is going through some traumatic circumstances and returned home this evening to find my blood pressure is measuring around 165-175 for the top number and 99 -102 for the bottom number. I am trying to relax and my blood pressure has gone down a bit since I got home (167-98) but I m wondering if I should go to the ER or if I could just take an aspirin to help for the moment? I actually have a physical scheduled for tomorrow afternoon so that will be handy but would like to know:1) exactly what my blood pressure needs to be where it is bad enough to go to the hospital (obviously not where I would like to spend the evening) 2) Is were something I can do right now, such as take a low dose aspirin to help reduce my blood pressure without having to go the hospital? Thanks for your help! Marie Doctor: Hello,Your blood pressure is a little high despite the use of losartan. I can understand that you have had a stressed day and that may contribute to higher blood pressure. If you don't have any other disease (renal disease), you can take another Losartan. If you were my patient, I would give you hydrochlorothiazide starting with early morning. It takes a few weeks to start acting. Meanwhile, you take daily or twice a day Losartan. It can low your blood pressure. Aspirin does not play a role in decreasing blood pressure. It only might increase it a little.Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.Regards,   Dr. Anila Skenderi