Ramipril

[JayDJ]

I was put on Amlodopine some months ago for BP which was running a little on the high side. The medication works very well and has brought my BP down to normal with no side effects that I can say that I've noticed. It has also calmed my (8) yr old Afib down, (now permanent), to the point that I hardly notice it.

Today I received a text that following a recent Heart scan that they would like me to try 'Ramipril', which is also part of the BP family. I hasten to add that the medication is also in line with Heart changes which are unspecified at the moment!

Does anyone have any knowledge or more importantly experience of taking Ramipril? Thanks in advance.

[Hidden]

I have been using ( and still am ) Ramipril (10mg ) since high BP was first identified way back in 2007. No problems with it at all.

My heart problems have worsened with age and I have had other drugs added to my party bag mix of drugs. Still works well with all the other stuff too.

[JayDJ in reply to Hidden]

Thank you.

[pottypete1]

I had a bad cough with Ramapril and was switched to Candesartan.

Pete

[JayDJ in reply to pottypete1]

Yes, it is one of the listed potential side effects. Thank you.

[tunybgur]

I heard that ramipril is less effective if you're older, 50+, but I would check it out first.It can give you a cough

[JayDJ in reply to tunybgur]

Thank you.

[Lupaal]

I take 7.5 a day, can give you a bit of a cough but haven't noticed any other side effects, I was changed from amplodine as it made my ankles swell.

[JayDJ in reply to Lupaal]

Thank you, that is something to keep an eye on.

[TenorJK]

Had a cough with Ramipril tried 3 more till I tried Ibersartan which suited. Me Good luck

[JayDJ in reply to TenorJK]

Yes others are reporting a similar side effect & its something that would drive me to distraction.Thank you.

[Ppiman]

I got the feeling that these were something of a "choose this or that" so I'll be interested to read what others say. I was given losartan but for "cardio-protection" rather than high BP, as I have LBBB alongside my arrhythmias.

Steve

[JayDJ in reply to Ppiman]

Cheers Steve.

[Jishuang44]

I am on Ramipiril. It has given me constant reflux, which is very annoying, but otherwise I have had no problems with it.

[JayDJ]

I'll have a chat with them to see what they are thinking the advantages are. If it's a 'cost' thing then I'm not going to be introducing potential problems into my life. Thank you.

[Tykelady]

I am on a small dose at night(1.25) and was simply told it will help. I take it along with Bisoprolol, Forxygia and Digoxin.

[JayDJ in reply to Tykelady]

Does it help you & how?

[Tykelady in reply to JayDJ]

To be honest I don't think it does. I have very low blood pressure and don't know why I need anything to lower it further.

[JayDJ in reply to Tykelady]

If you don't feel it's right for you then raise it with whoever said it was. I was on Dronedarone which is a pretty toxic drug. It never worked properly for me and eventually stopped working altogether. I put it to my Cardiologist that I should come off it, which he agreed to.

Do not be nervous about querying your medication.

[Tykelady in reply to JayDJ]

Thank you

[WhitstableWanderer]

I was put on Ramipril for a while but eventually realised that it may be the cause of a dry cough that developed. I was switched to Candesartan and was almost immediately free of the cough. Not everyone experiences this but a significant number do. Maybe bear this in mind.

[JayDJ in reply to WhitstableWanderer]

Yes, it seems that quite a few are reporting the same problem. Thank you

[Tellingfibs]

My son has taken Ramipril for about 5 years without any problems. He is 40. He has to take it because he has a kidney auto-immune problem and his blood pressure must be kept down. It’s still quite high though. My husband has recently started Ramipril and didn’t t feel too good on it. He was getting weakness in his legs and feeling tired and generally ‘rough’. GP is trying him on half Ramipril and half something else now ( forgotten the name ! ) and he seems a little bit better.

Annie

[JayDJ in reply to Tellingfibs]

What does it do for your husbands Afib?

[Tellingfibs in reply to JayDJ]

It was difficult to tell if the feeling unwell was associated with Afib or not., but he rarely has Afib symptoms and they don’t follow a particular pattern anyway. We think the ill feeling was just the Ramipril and he would have felt like it regardless of his Afib.

[JayDJ in reply to Tellingfibs]

Thank you.

[Peteh55]

ramipril is an ace inhibitor. If it causes a cough then try an ace blocker such as losartan. Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker and a completely different class of drug to ramipril. The majority of people with high bp need 2-3 drugs for optimal control. I take telmisartan and amlodipine, and find the latter much more effective. If it causes ankle swelling you can try Lercanidipine which I read is less likely to cause swelling but equally effective controlling bp.

[JayDJ in reply to Peteh55]

Thank you for the breakdown and explanation of the drugs functions.

[Peteh55 in reply to JayDJ]

No problem I think it’s always useful to ask the pharmacist why they suggest something. Friend of mine was recently taken off amlodipine and on a higher losartan dose. It did not control her bp whereas amlodipibe did. If you have a home bp monitor best check regularly over 4 weeks and report back to gp.

[JayDJ in reply to Peteh55]

I have on three occasions (with success) queried drugs they were going to put me on, on that I'm not shy in coming forward. Having said that, I like to hear about the experiences of others and to hopefully know a little bit about what I'm talking about.Re checking my BP, I've a home monitor and regularly check & record my BP.

[MainlyMyself]

I have been taking Ramipril for a decade or so and have no problems with it except when the weather changes dramatically. During a sustained very hot spell I have to reduce my dosage as it tends to lower my BP to an unacceptable level. I do have a dry cough early in the morning and I suspect it adds to my tiredness, but it is much more acceptable to the Sotalol I was on before. That acted like a tap suddenly cutting off energy to my legs as I went up inclines ( even gentle ones). I could not cope with this.

[JayDJ in reply to MainlyMyself]

It seems so often that we swap one problem for a host of others. As such I dont have a problem with Amlodopine & I'm wondering as to why they want me to try it. Stay well and thanks for your reply.