triamterene?HCTZ X numbness/tingling

[rcs]

Hi, I'm a 30-year-old female. I learned about 3 months ago that I have
high blood pressure (only diastolic-benign according to my doctor). Since
then I started taking Triamterene/HCTZ 37.5/25. I had a few side effects
in the begining and after one week I was ok. After about 15 days taking
this medicine, I had a numbness sensation coming from my forehead, all my
face and neck (left side), it was gone after a matter of minutes. I had it
three more times and went to see my doctor. I had a blood test, and compared to the one I had before start the medication only the potassium level changed (it was slightly above the minimum value and now it's slightly above), CT scan (head - normal), MRI (head-normal)
Nobody blames the medicine I'm taking, and the neurologist first said it was psicologic and now he says he has no idea. The symptons are getting worse, after my face start tingling, close to my
left eye I feel a funny sensation all the time, and now, I frequently wake
up with my hand and forearm tingling (and I checked, I wasn't sleeping on
my left side), my left foot and my lip are tingling as well. What it could
be?? I was taking the medicine in the evening, because make me drowsy, but I start switching to the morning and the tingling in my arm got better.I now one of the side
effects is what I've been feeling, but I had some questions, like should I
feel everything most of the times in only one side of my body??? The blood tests came
borderlinel because I was having sporadics relapses and I was in between then?? (the doctor said it could be because they left my sample waiting too long - but this wouldn't change other parameters??)
Please, help me out with this, I've been really disappointed with my
doctors and trying to find other options and waiting for appoitments, I'm doing B12 test (because I asked for it) and waiting for a nerve conduction test, but
if I can get some clarification I think I will feel better and have more
arguments to talk to my doctor.

Thanks so much.

[rcs]

Hi, I'm a 30-year-old female. I learned about 3 months ago that I have
high blood pressure (only diastolic-benign according to my doctor). Since
then I started taking Triamterene/HCTZ 37.5/25. I had a few side effects
in the begining and after one week I was ok. After about 15 days taking
this medicine, I had a numbness sensation coming from my forehead, all my
face and neck (left side), it was gone after a matter of minutes. I had it
three more times and went to see my doctor. I had a blood test, and compared to the one I had before start the medication only the potassium level changed (it was slightly above the minimum value and now it's slightly above), CT scan (head - normal), MRI (head-normal)
Nobody blames the medicine I'm taking, and the neurologist first said it was psicologic and now he says he has no idea. The symptons are getting worse, after my face start tingling, close to my
left eye I feel a funny sensation all the time, and now, I frequently wake
up with my hand and forearm tingling (and I checked, I wasn't sleeping on
my left side), my left foot and my lip are tingling as well. What it could
be?? I was taking the medicine in the evening, because make me drowsy, but I start switching to the morning and the tingling in my arm got better.I now one of the side
effects is what I've been feeling, but I had some questions, like should I
feel everything most of the times in only one side of my body??? The blood tests came
borderlinel because I was having sporadics relapses and I was in between then?? (the doctor said it could be because they left my sample waiting too long - but this wouldn't change other parameters??)
Please, help me out with this, I've been really disappointed with my
doctors and trying to find other options and waiting for appoitments, I'm doing B12 test (because I asked for it) and waiting for a nerve conduction test, but
if I can get some clarification I think I will feel better and have more
arguments to talk to my doctor.
I forgot to mention, my doctor prescribed neurotin (100mg once a day).

Thanks so much.

[ant912]

This is a post from a while ago, but I'm wondering whether the OP has any follow-up information or anyone else has advice. I've been experiencing essentially the exact issue this poster describes.... I am a young female being treated for high blood pressure, previously with Tenoretic and now with Lisinopril/HCTZ. While on the Tenoretic, I experienced recurrent one-sided numbness as described by this poster. This would affect my right leg, arm and face, persist for a few minutes and then go away. It was also accompanied by nausea/anxiety and made it extremely difficult to sleep. My doctor had never heard of that as a possible side effect but switched the medication. Everything from the cardiac side of things seems to check out, and I have no other medical problems to speak of.

I've also experienced more of a tingling/falling asleep sensation in my extremities on both medications, but that is a distinctly different feeling from the numbness and not restricted to one side. I am supposing that this is a result of electrolyte imbalance from the diuretic component of both medications? I'm considering asking my doctor to do blood work to be sure that everything is normal.

[rcs]

Dear ant912,

Sorry for your problems... I know how streessing it can be. I am still feeling those weird things, and all doctors I went had no clue about it. I had 2 MRIs done, and everything seems ok. All exams I have done were ok (and I had A LOT done...). It's really frustating. My doctor changed my blood pressure medicine 4 times (different active ingredients) and everything is still the same. Now I have a weird feeling on my foreahead and on the top of my head all the times, sometimes it's worse, sometimes I almost can't feel.

This is going on for more than 1 1/2 year, and my neuro said that she has a lot of cases similar to mine (all doctors I went don't think it's due to the medication...).

Anyway, I would recommend you to see a neuro and have all the exams done (they always think in MS because of our age), at least it's something and gives you comfort knowing a doctor is checking all the possibilities (it took me 3 neuros to find 1 I like).

Good luck and hang in there!

All the best,

rcs