My cardiologist recently prescribed Cartia 180mgxt caps once a day for high blood pressure he said I have, although w.o. any symptoms I felt. After a few weeks he then he upped it to two per day at the same dosage. Last reading at his office was 150/90. Now I m also supposed to additionally take Losartan 50mg once per day. I have not started that, and cut the Cartia back to one per day, because taking it seems to have brought on unaccostumed constipation, as well adding to my periodic dizzy spells, thought by my regular doctor to be a product of positional vertigo. Now I m thinking to stop the Cartia totally, although I ve seen some directives at this sight cautioning me not to stop the medication altogether, once taken. I m taking Cartia after warning the cardiologist that any hydrochlorothyside content would be awful for me, since I ve been plagued with painful kidney stones every 5 years or so since I was 19. I am now 75, active and otherwise healthy, and daily continue my work as a professional film editor. Question: Should I cut out the Cartia altogether, and search for another less side-effect laden blood pressure medicine?