Candesartan

[alexgilbert]

Hi, does anybody have cramp type pain, hips, knees, tops of feet? I suspect it might be caused by Candesartan. I have been prescribed these as I discovered the hard way that I am intolerant to ACE Inhibitors.

[skid112 Heart Star]

Hi Alex,

I have been suffering from cramp on the top of my feet plus hips, or thought it may be gout, jeez, on top of all the heart crap!! Never thought it may be the pills, off to search doctor google

cheers

Mark

[stevejb1810 in reply to skid112]

Hi mark. Having had gout in the past, believe me when I say the pain is a lot worse than a bit of cramp. If you had gout in your knee for example, it’s unlikely you’ll be walking anywhere. Also with gout the joint is likely to be very red, swollen and probably painful to the touch. Did Dr Google come up with anything?

[skid112 Heart Star in reply to stevejb1810]

Came up with if it gives cramps or muscle aches go back to docs. Off tomorrow to have a chat

[alexgilbert]

I definitely don't have gout, it's not even serious pain, more like mild cramp but it's there ALL the time, day and night, driving me nuts! Will speak to my heart failure nurse about it and let you know how I get on.

[stevejb1810 in reply to alexgilbert]

Hi Alex. Apologies, I was responding to Mark's comments with my gout comment. It does look like Candesartan might be at the root of your issue. It'd be interesting to know your GP's response

[skid112 Heart Star in reply to alexgilbert]

Well I saw my GP, he wants to up my dose of candestartan and remove my amlodipine as the swelling of my legs and hands and now my face is getting rather painful. He also believes the foot cramps are being exacerbated by the swelling.

We had a chat, I'll stop the amlodipine for the time being, not going to increase the candestartan unless my BP starts to rise as im concerned about the cramping.

[Hidden]

Hi Alex

Are you on statins as well? I found that when I had Simvastatin and Candesartan the cramps were almost unbearable. Docs changed me to Avorostatin and lowered dose. Still get cramps first thing but nowhere near as bad

[alexgilbert in reply to Hidden]

I have been off statins for a few weeks so can't blame them.

[Howardl]

Hi Alex

I have a in-tolerance to Ace Inhibitors, trying ramipril, Pendropril and finally Candesartan. All have given me sore muscles and joints when taking very little dosage. My body feels like it’s aged twenty years. At the moment I’m on 2mg of Candesartan and I feel the muscle and joint aches with very little activity, eg gardening. I also suspect the statin contributes to the problem.

I have started to take vitamin D/calcium supplements to see if they help. Not sure yet need to give them more time.

Good luck

[dickielex]

I've been on Candesartan for several years but with none of those side effects. We are all different insofar as reactions to medication.

[AlunH]

I have cramps in my feet and my calf’s, with me it’s been diagnosed with having claudication at a relatively “young” age. Unfortunately there isn’t anything to ease the pains, I just got to keep stopping for a rest every 100 yards. Let’s hope they can offer you better advice. Sorry this isn’t much help.

[alexgilbert in reply to AlunH]

Thanks for cheering me up lol

[Speakeazi in reply to AlunH]

Hi Alun

I have intermittent claudication, diagnosed last August. I couldn’t walk as much as 100 yds without pain and stopping.

I now walk to and from work, 20 mi s each day, excersize 3-4 Times a week. The bike is great as it doesn’t hurt my calves.

Yesterday I walked 4 miles. And yes it wasn’t speedy but I did it.

The more you walk, and yes through the pain, the more collateral vessels you build which supply more oxygen to the muscle. You have to wLk every day or the small collateral vessels close up

Ask your gp if you have peripheral vascular disease. If you might ask for a scan on of the arteries in your legs if not an mri.

Good luck. Please keep walking.

PS I was 54 and have had the problem at least 3 years before I went to GP

[Speakeazi in reply to AlunH]

PS minutes not miles🤣

[alexgilbert]

I had never heard of claudication until AlunH mentioned it in an earlier post (thanks pal 😠) I had to look it up online but the symptoms do seem similar to what I have. On hearing of other experiences on this forum I think my situation seems a bit odd. I am newly diagnosed with heart failure but my blood pressure is very low and my pulse rate is also very low at all times, however the meds I take are the usual cocktail of drugs to relive HF symptoms but all have the effect of further relaxing of the heart muscle and consequently further lowering BP and HR. This at times makes me feel weak, dizzy and faint and I can see how it can also lead to claudication in the muscles that are furthest away from my heart.