Breathlessness

[Dancingmaid]

I have heart failure diagnosed October last year. I left hospital on Omeprazole, Frusemide. Isosorbide mononitrate, ramipril, Bisoprolol, digoxin, wRfarin and atorvastatin.

All was ok until a couple of months ago when my GP noticed I had a cough and stopped the ramipril. She also said that I didn't need isosorbide if I was on Bisoprolol but as I was reluctant to come off it she reduced it. Within days I became breathless but as the first appointment I could get was 25 June I saw a locus instead . He reinstated my original dose of isosorbide last Thursday but I'm still short of breath palpitations and tight band round chest, and waking each morning withfluid in my lungs.

I've got an appointment at the hospital in three weeks. Any ideas as why it's getting worse please or will the isosorbide kick,in

[beckyfd2012]

From being in a similar situation with my own mom and I know that everyone is different.

However when she got diagnosed just over two years ago she was put on ramipril for her shortness of breathe and was told that the ramipril was to stop any water retention and to stop her lungs filling of water due to heart not functioning properly and that's where the water would then go.

She is only a small dose and has to take one of a morning. There has been occasions where she has forgotten to take it or when she has been waiting for her tablets on repeat prescription and had non left, and my god she can tell she hasn't taken it and that's just missing it for one day, so I would hate to think how she would be if they took her off it all together.

My advice to you would be to phone everyday to get an appointment with your gp or even phone to speak to your specialist. I would defiently question further why you was originally given the ramipril, why you have been taken off it, and if you feel that your breathing has got worse since this medication has been removed can you be put back on it.

Hope this helps or if you have any further questions please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Becky

[Dancingmaid in reply to beckyfd2012]

Thanks Becky. My GP took me off because I had a cough which is one of the side effects I know but I was surprised that she didn't replace it with a similar drug and even more surprised she wanted to stop the isosorbide which basically does a similar thing to the ramipril.

All the drugs were originally prescribed by the hospital consultant who said that the ramipril and isosorbide would relax the vessels enabling the heart to cope better.

My GP is on holiday for the next couple of weeks and as I see the consultant shortly after she comes back so hopefully I can manage till then. No use seeing any other gp in the practice. Last time I was told they could do simething but wouldn't as I wasn't their patient !!

[beckyfd2012 in reply to Dancingmaid]

I have spoken with mom as well now that she is home from work, she is on a low dosage of ramipril due to a higher dose causing her to have high levels pertasium, which could also contribute to water Retention and breathlessness

[stevejb1810]

I’m not medically trained but I think your lack of ramipril is more likely the issue rather than the removal of isosorbide. Suggest you have another chat with your GP and explain the situation. There are alternatives to ramipril which should do the same job. You might also want to talk about your diuretic as adjusting that might help too. On a personal level I wouldn’t take isosorbide ever again - for me it was case of the cure being worse than the symptoms. Without doubt the worst med I have ever taken.

[Nanne]

I always work on the theory that the cardiologist knows more than the go and if they have put me on a drug it is for good reason. Do you have a heart failure nurse team in your area? I have and when I have problems I can phone them and ask for help. They monitor my drug dosages, b.p. and bloods and tweak dosages as needed.

[MelB51]

The hospital consultant also put me a a low dose of ramipril because even though I also have chronic kidney diese, he said that the benefits for my heart outweighed any negative effects. A cough is a known side effect and recently, my cough became worse (productive, not dry) so I had a course of antibiotics, which just made me vomit with accompanying diarrhoea. The cough remained and was preventing me from sleeping, so that I felt that I was losing my mind! We bought a cough suppressant from the local pharmacy and so far, that has worked 🤞🏻and I have slept during the last two nights. My point is that, I think that the ramipril ACE inhibitor is an important medication and so I agree that you should get some answers and see if you can get a cardiac consultant to explain it all and maybe put you back on it or a similar drug. I am surprised that you were taken off a drug without an alternative being prescribed, but GPS are just that...general practitioners and can’t be expected to know about cardiac care in any detail.

Hope you get some answers and that your breathlessness lessens.