Should my medication stop?

[Caroline36]

Hi everyone, I had a heart attack a year ago when I was 43 and had a stent fitted. I'm certain that I was told I would come off most of my medication after a year but my GP thinks I'll only come off one of them. The heart-related drugs I currently take are - atorvastatin, bisoprolol, ramipril, aspirin and ticagrelor. Has anyone else been in a similar position and was this the case for you? Thank you

[Lezzers]

I think you're probably best to speak to the BHF nurses on Monday for advice. Not always wise to compare as everyone is different. Also, maybe ask your GP what each tablet is going for you? What, if any, damage does your heart have after the HA? My husband had a heart attack when he was 42, that was 21 year's ago. He's been on medication since then with bits of tweeking on the way, he's done very well on them & taking them seems a small price to pay.

[Caroline36 in reply to Lezzers]

Thank you, I'll do that. I asked my GP if I could have a referral to a cardio person at the hospital but she told me there was no need. I was hoping there would be some sort of check up after a year but apparently there isn't and you can't refer yourself, although maybe I'm being a little over the top to expect something like that. I'm happy to keep taking everything, I just want to be sure it's correct.

[Lezzers in reply to Caroline36]

I don't think they do refer you to a cardiologist if they feel you're stable & doing OK. GP's are obviously not cardiac experts, so I would definitely speak to the BHF nurses & then discuss it with your GP. There's always the option of going private & paying for a consultation with a cardiologist, I understand the costs of a "one off" is quite reasonable.

[Sillyfroggy]

I believe you’ll possibly come off the tricagelor after a year, and possibly the statin can be reduced. The others protect your heart in a number of ways (the blood thinners being the exception). I am assuming it depends on how you’ve recovered, whether you’ve made the recommended changes around diet, exercise and weight.

[Caroline36 in reply to Sillyfroggy]

Thank you for your answer. I've recovered quite well, I exercise every day (well walk my dogs, nothing extreme!) and I'm not overweight. However I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes three months ago. So far I've been allowed to try and control it with diet and exercise alone so that's made my diet different but still healthy.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Please bear in mind I have no medical qualifications. From my experience the only drug that gets stopped is Ticagrelor although it may be continued for another year or continued on a reduced dose. The other medications are basically for life to prelong life. Depending on lifestyle changes, including weight loss if appropriate, it may be possible to reduce doseages. One thing to bear in mind is that statins also stabilise plaque and reduce irritation, often a precursor to plaque formation. A friend's mother is over 40 years post HA and is keeping well for somebody in her nineties. She takes her meds which have had to be tweaked over the decades but enjoys her cream teas. Let us know how it goes.

[Caroline36 in reply to MichaelJH]

Thank you. It's definitely starting to sound like I've got it a bit wrong. I hope I'm also enjoying cream teas in my nineties

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Caroline36]

I hope everyone is but only as an occasional treat! 😁

[Sillyfroggy]

I don’t like cream. Can I have KFC in my nineties please?!

[Lezzers in reply to Sillyfroggy]

Only if its skinned!! 🐔 😂

[Sillyfroggy in reply to Lezzers]

KFC without the skin? We’ll have none of that sort of language here!

[Lezzers in reply to Sillyfroggy]

😂

[jon2018 in reply to Lezzers]

the last kfc i had looked like it was 90 years old lol

[SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to Sillyfroggy]

You sure you want a KFC, it will be vegan by the time you;re in your 90s, see below:-

independent.co.uk/life-styl...

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

Think I will give it a miss! ☹️

[Sillyfroggy in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

Stop spoiling KFC! I saw them testing a vegan one on tv. Didn’t pass muster!

[jon2018]

i had ha in january and a stent along with the usual meds. one of them,the one that stops blood clotting is labeled as to stop in feb next year all the others stay as they are,they dont seem to cause any problems anyway

[Caroline36 in reply to jon2018]

Thank you and glad you aren't having any problems with them.

[Casper020918]

It will be the ticagrelor you stop as you are also on aspirin. The other drugs are for cholesterol, to lower your heart rate and blood pressure, so they need to be continued.

[Hidden]

As others have said, you’ll come off the Ticagrelor a year after your stent (I had two in 2014 and stopped exactly a year after). You’ll probably continue with all the other medication for the rest of your life as it’s designed to prevent further heart attacks

[Salihyuksel67]

Hi I had triple bypass last year and they give me 80mg station,amplodipine 5mg,aspirin75 mg,bisoprol 3.75mg and lasoprazole 30 mg.

Cardiologist told me after a year might come out some of medicines except aspirin .I will take life time.

After 4 months my GP drop the dosage statin due to my mussels a lot pain .I am now take 20 mg atorvastatin.But my GP said come back after a year and we look other medicines.

I went to back to my GP last month and remind her and now 1 year gone and she saying I have to use all medicines life time and making me confuse.I ask to see my cardiologist but she didn't refer back to my cardiologist .But I find out if you have life insurance you can get free appt.5 times a year any specialist.

So I just talk to my insurance they will make cardiologist appt.So I can get all my answers.If you have life insurance worth to check with them and ask them they have any Doctor services available to you at no added cost.

[Marg2017]

I had a cardiac arrest in July 2017 and had a stent fitted. I was on all the same medication as you, but I only had the Ticagrelor prescribed for 1 year. My understanding is that I will be taking the rest of the medication and for life.

[Handel]

Hi Caroline. I can only speak for my husband as everyone is different. After a quad bypass last November, he was on the same drugs as you plus Clopidogrel and Furosemide.

Over the months following our GP spoke to the cardiologist and knocked off most drugs. He's now only taking Atorvastatin 80mg, Omeprazole, Bisoprolol and a little aspirin.

Our GP is great. He monitors everything regularly.

I agree with everyone about the weird KFC not chicken thing. What's going on there!!

Wonder what our cave dwelling ancestors did when their burger van guy came along (they'd invented the wheel by then!).

Good luck and best wishes xxx

[Lanalane]

Hi there. I too experienced a heart attack one year ago. I’m on exactly the same medications as you. I was told that they would stop the Ticagrelor after one year, which they've now done. My Cardiac nurse also “tweaked” a couple of the other meds-increasing one, reducing another, but I still remain on 80 msg of Atorvastatin, as my Cardiologist said that as long as I could tolerate them, it was beneficial to remain on that dosage. It’s best to get checked out by the medical professionals first though, as each of us are different and react differently. Hope this helps.

[Malgail]

Hi Caroline, I had a heart attack last year (Sept) also at 43 & was told I would be taken off all medication other than aspirin after a year. I get quite a few side effects from mine ( same pills as you), but suffer them because of the thought of coming off them. I see a new GP on Monday to get my repeat prescription moved here, so will see if he is willing to discuss it. If not then definitely going to need to tweak mine. Good luck.

[Malgail in reply to Malgail]

Just back from Doctors, ticagrelor is stopping, but the rest will carry on for life.... bit disappointing, but Doctor has agreed to review after blood tests due to substantial fatigue issues. Already changed Ramipril to Losartan due to cough, so will have to wait & see what my new prescription will be but 4 out of 5 pills will remain. But hey ho as long as they help stave off another HA, then so be it.

[Carecrime]

If you still have doubts you could always book perhaps a one off appointment at a Private Hospital for reassurance.

This action is not unusual.

Reassurance is healthier than worry.

Good luck.

M B.

[Ianc2]

If you can rigorously stick to your anti diabetes diet and keep up the brisk walking with your dog you will find that your weight will change quite noticeably, your waist size will reduce, your blood pressure measurements improve and as your cholesterol and sugar levels measurements also improve. At that point your vitality will have improved and your GP may well want to look at your medicines and dosages again

[Surreychica_1]

Well as my friend a medical doctor said, it is not the stent which is stopping you from having a heart attack it is the medication you take. Good advice. I am still taking everything I tool before the stent.

[Paul74]

Hi I had my heart attack last year at the age of 43. After a year I came off the blood thinners but have had to keep on with the rest. I suppose you will be the same. It will be best to talk it through with your GP or cardiac nurse.

[Atky]

Hi following heart attack and having 4 stents fitted the only drug that was stopped for me a year after my heart attack was Ticagrelor. I have continued taking the others. No side effects or problems whatsoever .

[wheezybronch]

You need professional advice, firstly from the prescribing doctor. Every medication you are taking is suitable for after a heart attack, heart failure, high blood pressure. Your doctor is probably the only one with all your medical history, if he says you still need them,you probably do. If you are unhappy or unsure ask for a second opinion. You could talk to the surgeon who performed the stenting. I think that you should be on the Atorvastatin and aspirin for sure but that is only my opinion, I am not a doctor. You could be put on vasodilators which could mean dropping your other meds but there are some side effects and if you are settled on your present medication then it might not be worth it. Good luck !

[Sphen]

I am 45 and had MCI last October I am on the same as you and come off the triagalor next month. They told me the same but now looks like am staying on everything but the Tri

[Aspidistra]

Hi Caroline36, It sounds like a similar story to mine though I am about 20 Yrs older, but what worries me is that there is very little coming through about the emotional side of womens heart health, my 'cardiac event' and subsequent stent and meds seem to be based on very male orientated data and that leaves me a little bewildered like you but taking all the prescribed meds consistently. The cardiologist said to me that 'you will have to change to a mostly plant based diet and take up yoga', I have been vegetarian and prcticed yoga for forty years!

[Aspidistra]

practiced