When I first started taking blood pressure medication I had chest pains, is this normal?

Q: I take Bystolic 10mg and Benicar 40/25 (1 per day) but sometimes it gives me chest pain. My body wouldn’t tolerate these meds at first so my Dr. gave me a little at a time until I could take it. Is it ok to take them together?

A: Chest pain should always be evaluated by a doctor. Make sure your doctor is aware that you are having this symptom. Starting off at a lower dose is a way to build tolerance to a medication and this technique is frequently used. It is not uncommon to combine a beta blocker (Bystolic) with an angiotensin II receptor antagonist (Benicar).