Heart drugs

Not heart drugs, but blood pressure meds.

I was taking five different ones to keep my pressure down, with the result of feeling literally like death warmed up.

My solution is not one that I'd care to post on here, but I'm awake, warm, have a least a bit of energy, and don't feel as if I'm likely to slip into a coma.

I have permanent af. Initially I was given beta blockers alongside other drugs. I was exhausted, inclined defeated me. My cardiologist took me off the beta blockers and I felt better )not totally but.,,)

I have AF as well as all the other stuff and I agree that the beta blockers are the main culprit ... I am in hospital at present so am having to be good, but I confess that whan I was at home I used to drop the dose in the middle of the day so I would at least have had a bit of the day to function in. Today my pulse and BP were so low that they wanted me to stay in bed ... whereas at home I just have to suck it up and carry on!

Do you know about the British Heart Foundation website? I've found it really useful. I am on beta blockers and unfortunately they seem to make most feel pretty awful but there are alternatives depending on your actual heart issue. Good luck, I think you've been having a rubbish time of late, I hope they get you sorted.

I think we’ve been fortunate. Mr C also has a drug cocktail for his heart. We’ve found both GP and cardiologist very responsive to negative side effects. I’m so sorry you aren’t being better supported lucky. Last year when worried after surgery I found the nurses staffing the British Heart Institute medical helpline knowledgeable, professional and above all kind and understanding. It can do no harm to seek their advice on alternatives.

My GP's answer to me mentioning side effects is that every drug has side effects. Yes but as others have said we need to function especially if living alone.

If you think beta blockers are the main cause of the problem, don't just stop them. You need to mention it and insist they change them to something else. There are a number of drugs suitable for high blood pressure. I've had a heart attack and stent and currently take Candesartan, which doesn't seem to cause me any problems. I guess it depends what your blood pressure was in the first place.

I was on a cocktail of heart drugs, I too was dizzy, nauseous and exhausted. I didn't leave the house for weeks. I kept going back and forwards to the doctors, without a resolution.
It was a trainee GP, who decided to contact the heart consultant, who admitted me to hospital. It turned out one of the heart drugs was totally unsuitable for my unusual heart condition.
It took five days in hospital, before a specialist heart nurse realised the cause and the consultant agreed. The drug was changed and another BP medication added, the symptoms decreased dramatically.

It may be worth persisting, not easy I know. I was in despair initially.

Marydoll, you’re an inspiration, cracking on with your associated health conditions. It remains the case that most people have no idea that auto immune conditions travel in packs. ‘Oh I have arthritis in my knee so I understand how you feel ‘ is a comment those of us with inflammatory arthritis and it’s auto immune companions will have heard often.
Still, thank goodness for the nhs and the new treatments,

Iam64

Marydoll, you’re an inspiration, cracking on with your associated health conditions. It remains the case that most people have no idea that auto immune conditions travel in packs. ‘Oh I have arthritis in my knee so I understand how you feel ‘ is a comment those of us with inflammatory arthritis and it’s auto immune companions will have heard often.
Still, thank goodness for the nhs and the new treatments,

Thank you, Iam. I think were are of a similar ilk.

I have had so many cancelled outings in the last few weeks, due to being unwell, that today I have decided to go on an adventure all by myself. Life is too short and if I keep waiting for a good day, I will never get anywhere.
DH is going on a golf outing with DS! and I am on my own.

You are correct in that people have no idea how different R.A and its companions are from osteoarthritis. It is a cruel vicious and systemic disease, which attacks every organ in the body. (including my heart.)
The all consuming pain and fatigue are indescribable.

Many years ago, we wouldn't stand a chance of having any quality of life.. For the first time in ages, I can have a life again, thanks to new developments. I am forever grateful to my R.A and Cardiology clinicicians.
Of course, the drugs are toxic and may have dreadful side effects, but one has to weigh up the pros and cons and then of course there are the contraindications, into the bargain.

Lucky , it is exhausting, but keep nagging away, until someone listens. I hope you manage to feel a bit better soon. 💐

You have it spot on Marydoll. I was approved for
Biologics after the toxic methotrexate stoped being a disease modifier. Amazing improvement but of course they suppress immunity - I decided in my forties to take the drugs and go for quality not quantity of life - so far so ok xx

I am on my third set of biologics, the other two made me so unwell, but on this third lot, I seem to have turned a corner! 🤞
At £10,000 annually, I could never have afforded this, if the NHS didn't pay for it.
I am very fortunate. My mother and her siblings never had that opportunity.

I don't know what biologics are.

Luckygirl3 I had similar problems on beta blockers, my HR was dropping into the low 40's even on a relatively small dose of bisoprolol but my ECG showed I had a stage 1 heart block which without bisoprolol wouldn't have been an issue but with, it most definitely was. I now have a pacemaker which won't allow my HR to fall below 60 bpm. I've had five changes of medication in the last four months because my HR even on 15 gms of bisoprolol was still racing along at 130 bpm and was so irregular that most of the time I couldn't take my BP. It was so frightening, exhausting and debilitating but this last week I am actually feeling much more like my old self. You are recovering from a heart attack, have had stents fitted, have A fib and it seems not always listened to, I'm not surprised you feel pretty rubbish but it is still early days. Some of these drugs take a while to give you relief from symptoms and your body can take time to adjust to them. I now take digoxin with a lower dose of bisoprolol and although it settled my HR pretty quickly all I wanted to do was lie on a sofa and sleep, two weeks on and I'm just about to take the dog for an hours walk (my pace not his though!) Try to keep positive. Can you speak to an arrhythmia nurse at the hospital, they seem to have more time than the consultants. You've really been through the mill recently but hopefully you'll start to feel better. Keeping my fingers crossed for you and sending a hug.

MissAdventure

I don't know what biologics are.

Biologic medicines contain substances that have been created by using living cells or organisms. Examples of biologic medicines include gene therapies, transplant tissue, recombinant proteins, stem cell therapies, and monoclonal antibodies. They are often used to treat many severe and life-threatening diseases.

Are you any the wiser Miss A ? 🤣
They are a last resort, when all other RA meds have failed. Unfortunately, they leave you imunocompŕomised, are extremely expensive and the criteria to get on them is strict.

Thank you for shared experiences and thoughts, and commiserations to the RA sufferers.
I am being discharged this afternoon. The beta blocker dose has been reduced a bit ... it will involve cutting them in half. It is an experiment to see if it will work to prevent so much AF and bring the HR down without giving too many side effects. All the other drugs to stay.
The good thing about the stay in hospital is that I have been on 24/7 monitor and lots of tests have been done which is reassuring, but it does look as though I have to try and get my head round a more limited lifestyle.. not what I want, and a big psychological hurdle for me. I am used to being active ... not in a gym sort of way .. but involved in the community and making things happen. I have to hope that I will adapt to the drugs and be able to do more. I am sure many others on here have had similar challenges of acceptance. I am v jealous of David Attenborough... lucky man to be so fit.

Biologic medicines contain substances that have been created by using living cells or organisms. Examples of biologic medicines include gene therapies, transplant tissue, recombinant proteins, stem cell therapies, and monoclonal antibodies. They are often used to treat many severe and life-threatening diseases.

Errmm... nope!

I had 12 wonderful months 11 years ago on my first biological treatment. Sadly I then reacted badly, 12 months off disease modifiers other than methotrexate 😵‍💫. By the end of the year is was ill enough to be prescribed an alternative biologic and well enough to take it.
As Marydoll says, eye wateringly expensive but life changing. Thank heavens for the nhs

MissA, they are prescribed, when there is nothing else left to try.
I ďon't want to die! 😉

"Biologics" have been around for quite a long time but the name is relatively new. It distinguishes them from drugs made by chemical reactions - biologics are made by biological reactions. They've got more sophisticated recently - some anti-cancer drugs can target specific areas on cancer cells.

14.24

🤣 Sorry. I was texting DH what train I was on. I blame those blooming biologics!

Luckygirl Have you had an echocardiogram, which would show what's actually going on with your heart?

It’s interesting to read others experience of heart meds.
Unknown to me a few years ago I was having Tia’s. With a lot of persevering the GP took notice and referred me to Cardiology. After a lot of tests, I was eventually diagnosed with heart failure, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, unstable angina & slightly leaking heart valves etc. Was prescribed; 5mg Amlodipine Besylate, 5mg Apixaban, 2.5mg Bisoprolol, 10mg Isosorbide Mononitrate, 20mg Simvastatin. I think it’s the Amlodipine that’s making me feel very tired in the morning. Everything seems an effort. I was advised to pace myself and rest when I feel I need to. All I can say is thank goodness I’m retired! I also take 200mg Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate, 20mg MST Morphine & 75mcg Levothyroxine. So, I’m rattling! I must echo, thank goodness for the NHS! Where would we be without it! I hope you can all try to do your best, just like I’m trying to do. Difficult I know at times. Best wishes.