Blood Tests

[dollymay]

I have been prescribed Ramipril/Indapamide for high blood pressure, with no problems, for a couple of years. However I have received texts and phone calls from the surgery saying that I need to have a blood test (non fasting) and no further repeat prescriptions will be issued until this is done. No-one I have spoken to there can tell me what the blood test is for. I dont want to make an appointment with a doctor to find out, as it takes so long, meanwhile it is getting close to when my prescription runs out. I do resent a bit having to have a medical procedure, and visit the surgery, without knowing why, but have no choice. Can anyone tell me what the blood test is likely to be looking for??

[jno]

I can't tell you, but the surgery certainly should.

[choux]

Possibly for kidney function.

[ummmm]

Request a call back from a GP.

[Boto]

Ring the surgery and insist they tell you why. The receptionist should be able to ask the doctor, they may need to ring you back.

[Vagus]

It’s just routine when you’re in those drugs. I have to have a blood test periodically for a similar reason. No point resenting having to have it done,it’s for your own good.
Get it booked and done, your repeat prescription will then be issued.

[pauln90]

I too am on similar medication. My GP has me in annually for blood pressure check and blood tests. These are mainly to establish if the drugs are affecting Liver and kidney function or causing any other problems.

[jno]

I have regular blood tests and don't much like it (I seem to have only one vein), but I'm always told what it's for. You should be too.

[Togo]

You may find that it is what the surgeries like to call "medication monitoring" . A blood test( they like to call that a Phlebotomy) will highlight any unusual spike or trough in your blood count/results. This is something that GPs were supposed to be doing all along, but weren't, but now the surgeries are shut, and with the Doctors and staff hiding behind the epidemic dangers, they are sending out the test requests in the thousands in case they are held responsible for any adverse result of the prescriptions they are issuing without actually seeing you. They can do this of course from home....or whilst on holiday and breathe a sigh of relief. Good luck trying to get an appointment.....they are hiding too.

[ummmm]

Maybe at your surgery, Togo, it's not how it works in mine.

[queen 1954]

I am on 3 bp tablets Indapamide being one of them.I also have to have a yearly blood test as they can affect your liver and kidneys over time.My surgerys very strict on it and will withold meds if you don't have a yearly review.Not sure if i will have to go to the surgery when mine is due but as i monitor my bp at home i will prob just be told to go for the blood test.They should have told you what it was for.

[Buenchico]

Ramipril is an ACE inhibitor. Taking ACE inhibitors comes with a small risk of impaired renal function (and/or changes to the amount of potassium in the patient's blood), so it's necessary to carry out periodic blood tests to check on the levels of urea, creatinine and potassium in a patient's blood.

[Mamyalynne]

I'm also on Ramipril and have regular blood tests.

[tinkerbell23]

Ramipril is nephrotoxic ie can damage the kidneys.

I assume your GP will be routinely monitoring your kidney function.
X

[diddlydo]

My husband is on Ramipril and had his latest revue and blood test cancelled by the surgery because of the Covid pandemic! Nobody is seeing anybody at our surgery - you're only allowed through the door to collect a socially-distanced prescription. Rubbish!

[barry1010]

On Ramipril and had my regular blood a couple of weeks ago. I think a GP would be irresponsible to keep prescribing without insisting on regular blood tests, but the surgery should have explained it to you properly

[jno]

you've had bad luck, diddlydo. My surgery is operating phone appointments but they'll call you in if what you describe sounds serious or urgent. Also for bloods, inoculations etc.

[barry1010]

Time to change your GP, diddlydo

[Apc2604]

Our surgery is still sending out letters asking us to make appointments for our yearly blood tests. OH got his last week. They never cancel our repeat prescriptions though if we delay. They just keep sending letters.

[barry1010]

Do you take Ramipril, apc?

[dollymay]

Thanks everyone for all your advice and comments. It looks, from your replies, as if the test is routine for liver and kidney function, wish they could have told me in the first place. I did ask reception to ask the doctor what it was for and they rang back to say it was 'to be on the safe side' (whatever that means! Perhaps they didn't understand/listen to my query). Anyway the blood test is later today so will ask, again, what it is for. Once again, thanks to you all.