Bioprolol

[achillislander]

Hi, l have been following many of the post on the forum and gleaning much information which is helping me cope with Micro-Vascular Angina which I have been struggling with since October 2016. It was very frightening initially with 5 admission to hospital in the first 8 months. I am now at the stage were I thought everything was under control but the return of the cold, damp weather has caused a return of all my symptoms. I have had 2 incidents of angina in the past 3 days which have left me feeling drained. Other than hibernating for the winter I don't know what to do next. I have an appointment with my Cardiologist in 2 weeks.

I am taking,

Atorvastatin 20mg

Bisoprolol 3.75mg

Monomil XL 90ml

Ranazoline 1500mg

I am wondering if anyone is prescribed anything different which may make my life more comfortable.

[Hidden]

Just querying the Ranolazine dose as the maximum dose recommended by the manufactures is 1000 mg bi daily and UK licence limits to 750mg bi daily you appear to be on twice the maximum UK dosage.

It`s just that I am on 1000mg bi daily and all the cardiologists I have spoken to will not increase the dosage any further.

Steve

[achillislander in reply to Hidden]

Sorry Steve the 1500 is split between 750 am & pm. Should have put it more clearly.

[Gabbi1966]

I was diaognoised with quite unstable micro vascular angina recently ( October) and CHD in 2 of my main arteries plus I also have a pacemaker which was put in in Jan 2018 as my heart stopped. I am on similar to you minus the Monomil however I have 5mg of bisoprolol and 1000mg ( 2 x 500gms per day). I feel like the angina has eased a lot on this combination although like you the last few days with the weather turning colder have been a challenge. I don’t like using GTN spray, how do you find this?

[achillislander in reply to Gabbi1966]

I have got used to the headaches that often follow the use of Gtn spray. It is unfortunatly the lesser of two evils, chest pain and shortness of breath or a short term headache. As time has progressed I have found it easier to cope with the gtn side effects. Thanks for your reply, I hope you can get your symptoms settled.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hi I have lived with Coronary vasospastic angina causing Microvascular angina and Coronary artery spasms for over six years.

I live with chest pain everyday mainly at rest in the evenings and at night. I go in hospital from time to time for some IV GTN and a PCA of morphine usually in the winter.

Microvascular angina is a complex condition and whilst we all feel chest pain the underlying cause may be different.

My blood vessels can dilate so I can exercise they just go into spasm afterwards

My main stressors are the cold, mental and emotional stress.

Coffee, artificial sweeteners, chorizo sausages, adrenaline and ephedrine found in over the counter cold remedies make my spasms worse.

Beta blockers and Ranolazine increased my spasms. So I don't take either.

I take 2 long acting calcium blockers, Nicorandil, Monomil XL and nitrate patches.

Statin and clopidogrel.

Short acting nitrates work briefly but I then get worse rebound pain so I don't use a spray or tablets.

It is trial and error finding the right combination of drugs that will work best for you.

I use many other stratergies to manage my pain such as CBT, Meditation, yoga and Tai Chi.

I am counting the days to when the warm weather returns!

In the meantime I wear many many layers of thermals and cover my nose with a scarf when I go out in the cold.

[achillislander]

I too am counting the days to the return of warm weather. Thank you for you indepth reply, maybe I need to have a discussion with my cardiologist about adjusting my medication regime. Roll on Spring.