Has anyone been able to reduce meds after coronary heart bypass and mitral valve repair, I know we are all different but I'm just hoping I can reduce some of mine,
I have my pre. op. on 4th May at Papworth.
I take..... Ramipril, Atorvastatin , Aspirin, Isosobride Mononitrate
Hi Bowler,
16 months in, one set removed, Clopidogrel, though I am told thats normal, another, the Bisoprolol reduced from 5mg to 2.5. Statin, aspirin the same.
Another addition, name escapes me at the moment, but thats for a different problem
Thank you skid112, guess I will have to wait and see, but it would be nice to come off some of my meds.
Yea but conning off meds isn't really an option..they for life...if you get the pun
Someone I know came off the mononitrate after having stents. Statins and aspirins tend to remain to try and prevent plaque build up, and potential clotting. BP medication can sometimes be cut back depending on the root cause.
P.S. Had my pre-op last week but haven't had the full results yet. I did fail the lung function test because of a niggling cough - I thought it had gone but the test brought it on again! 
Triple CABG in October 17. I was able to drop Lanzoprazole almost immediately on leaving hospital and I expect to be able to reduce my statin dose in about 8 months time (or at least that is what I have been lead to believe). As for Aspirin, Bisoprolol and Ramipril, other than possible dose changes, I'm expecting to be on these for ever!
Steve
The bypass deals with the immediate problem but it doesn't cure the underlying coronary disease. To avoid future problems you need a combination of medication and lifestyle changes ( cardiac rehab is a great help).
The nitrate may go if you don't have any angina.
If a particular drug doesn't suit you there are generally alternatives.
All the best
Wishful thinking on my part, as I was hoping I would l be off the meds.
Thank you for your reply.
U onli take 5 different types of meds I take a lot more. I’d love to reduce meds for my heart condition but can’t at the mo been told I will be able to as my heart condition improves.
I hope your heart condition soon improves, so you can reduce your meds.
I do take other tablets other than the 5 that I listed, but they are for other health issues not related to my heart and I will be on them for the rest of my life.
I had heart attack in July 17 (just one month away from my 38th BD) two stents fitted to my LAD, after 3 months ECG and Echo was done which showed my heart function had resturned to normal so my Cardiologist advised me to come off Bisoprolol and since my BP was normal she also advised me to come off Ramipril.
At the moment I am on Asprin 75 mg, Ticagrelor 90mg, Atorvastatin 80 mg and Lansoprazole 15mg to protect my stomach from Asprin's side effect.
Ticagrelor will stop in July 18 (i.e. after 12 months which is standard). I have been told by Lipid speciallist that it is unlikely that Atorvastatin dose will be reduced as people with stent need to maintain LDL (Bad cholesterol) <1.5. I will discuss this with my cardiologist after a year depending on my LDL reading then.
Asprin will be life long but it looks like I have l am already getting side effects. I got ear ringing after 3-4 months. My GP thinks it could be Asprin and asked me to stop Asprin and just continue with just Ticagrelor but all the readings I did I know first 12 months are very critical and we need to be on both Asprin and Ticagrelor so I asked him to continue my Asprin. If it becomes major issue Asprin may be stopped and I will be put on only Ticagrelor for life long.
My advise would be -
1. know details of your medicines (what they are, what they do, how they do) the more information you know the better it would be.
2. Take your medicine on time everyday.
3. If GP suggest changes in medicine, ask why? what are alternatives? and if you don't get satisfactory answer see a Cardiologist/Heart Specialist before stoping any medicine.
In my case when I was discussing my ear ringing with my GP, he immediately went in the system and removed Asprin from my prescription so I asked "what is alternative", he said "Ticagrelor which you are already taking" so I said "But I need to be on Dual Anti-platelets tablets for at least a year so and I am worried that stopping Asprin would cause problems and my ear ringing is not huge problem so I would rather live with it than get another heart issue" so he added Asprin back to my prescription.
If my ear ringing gets worse I will see ear specialist to rule out any other problem. If nothing else is found I will see a cardiologist to discuss things.
All the best!
Thank you survivor for your reply and run down of your medication and advice. Like you say If there's a suggestion of change of meds. by GP ask why, we do tend to take what we are given so to speak. I had to stop Lansoprazole as it actually upset my digestive system, but so far ok with the aspirin which I take with plenty of water, strange how we react differently to the meds. I'm so happy for you that your heart is back to normal, especially at your age as you still have your life in front of you, I'm 73 so I don't know why I'm moaning and feeling sorry for myself I've had most of my life, however, I cant wait for the 4th May for my pre op, and hopefully it wont be long after that, that I have my bypass and mitral valve repair, at least I have the summer months to recover.
keep well, and thank you.
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