Amlodipine

[Prada47]

Hi is Amlodipine another anti-angina medication ? I take a 60mg Isosorbide mononitrate " Carmil XL " Cardiologist suggests I add Amiodipine also on Candesartan, Eplerenone and Furosemide. Need a degree in medication to work out what they all do !!!! Oh forgot also 5mg Bisoprolol.

Regards

Frank W

[stevejb1810]

Hello Frank

I agree it would help sometimes to have a pharmacy degree to understand everything that you take and why you take it. It is often the case that heart failure is treated with a cocktail of drugs, which is the case for you. So, to your question, the simple answer is 'yes' - Amlodipine is another medication to treat (or prevent) Angina. Bisoprolol is a beta-blocker (lowers your blood pressure), Candesartan is another one to control blood pressure but also helps to prevent heart failure/stroke etc., Eplerenone is a steroidal antimineralocorticoid of the spirolactone group that is used as an adjunct in the management of chronic heart failure, and Fruesemide is a loop dieuretic (reduces fluid retention) in your case for treatment of heart failure.

In theory your GP or cardiologist should explain what each of these meds do and why you need them all. In practice, that rarely happens because they are too busy, but you could always ask your pharmacist.

Steve

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Amlodipine is a drug used to treat blood pressure and angina. It is one of the class of drugs known as CCIs (calcium channel inhibitors). I was prescribed it in addition to Lisinopril as the modern trend is to mix blood pressure treatments, for even mild blood pressure. I came off it because it caused quite severe oedema (well known side effect). Some European countries do not allow its routine use. Coming off it caused no increase in my blood pressure but a few months later I had my first angina attack although at the time I thought it was caused by the cold weather and a chest infection. . My cardiologist thinks it probably hid the symptoms of angina whilst I was on them and for a while afterwards.

After being diagnosed with angina I was put on the mononitrate and then for reasons that are unclear put on another CCI, diltiazem hydrochloride that caused even worse side effects but that is another story!

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to MichaelJH]

Opps, can't edit! I wanted to add talk to your pharmacist as they tend to be better up on many drugs than GPs. Mine gave me the background information I needed to discuss with my GP.

[bluesky62]

google.co.uk/search?q=amlod...

google or search bar any of your meds will tell you what they do