Entresto

[malcolmwilliams]

Entresto. My heart nurse has said that I qualify for a new drug Entresto FOR HEART FAILURE. Any views appreciated, as get anxious with medication changes ie reactions?

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello Malcom. Entresto is proving an excellent drug for heart failure. Being fairly expensive it is not offered to all. All drugs have some side effects but in general Entresto seems well tolerated. I would advise you give it a go - you have potentially a lot to gain and really nothing to lose. Do keep us updated.

[Prada47]

Hi Malcolm

I have been taking Entresto now since the 10th January 2019 started by Heart Failure Nurse on a low dose. Had an MRI on the 12th June saw my Consultant 9th July who said I needed to go to maximum tolerable Entresto asap. So Heart Nurse increased Entreso to 49/51 mg which I believe is the mid dose twice a day on the 13th August .Had a blood test on the 27th August which showed Kidney function Satisfactory ( GFR 77 ) so now awaiting next move to highest dose , which is looking like December. I will go to the Highest level Without any Worries !!

I don't know if Entresto has actually improved my Heart Failure I still get breathless for no apparent reason!! But it seems to have improved my Ectopic Beats quite considerably. I had what the Cardiologist said was a high burden of Ectopics from Holter Monitor

Only other problem I have is still a drop in BP on standing and a productive cough.

To prevent a further drop in BP Cardiologist stopped Isosorbide and reduced Bisoprolol to 7.5mg from 10 and stopped Furosemide 40mg. I do still take Bisoprolol 7.5 Eplenerone 25mg as a mild diuretic Aspirin 75mg and the ubiquitous Pravastatin.

Cardiologist has booked me in for a Echocardiogram in late June 2020 prior to a further appointment with him.

I do have a degree of Moderate Heart Failure 43 % EF with Class 3 NYHA symptoms. Along with a 100 % blocked RCA and a bypassed and stented LAD. With a Circumflex that is Patent after being bypassed ( Vein to OM Branch) . Currently my Heart has a Perfusion Defect of 12% which is non reversible so 88 % of it has a blood supply, I feel comfortable with that being 72 YO

I do feel pretty good and not worried about my future, sometimes I wonder if I am a little blasé, but hey ho !!

My BP does swing from 90/60 to 130/75 with a pulse which can follow 40 to 60.

I know the above dates because my wife keeps the Calendar up to date for any Nurse / Hospital visits. I must stress that I am not obsessed with my Heart I just share what's happened with me so other people can evaluate what's going on ( hope that makes sense ) My wife also files all letters from Consultant/ GP and Heart Nurse so it's quite easy to compare over either months or years improvements or otherwise LOL

So at the end of the day I see Entresto as my Future until something better comes along

Regards

[Hidden]

I was recently moved from Ramipril to Entresto but have stopped taking it of my own accord. For me, it caused a very strong dry cough that was more trouble than it was worth. Will see NP on Monday to get something different. In terms of what it was supposed to do, it done a great job - just that cough. I think I was one of the unlucky ones because all I hear about it is good...

[Bigmark61]

Hi I was put on entresto last year also and the side effects for me are, dizzy if I stand up to quick a bit of a cough now and again and when I go to bed I get an itchy face for about 5/10 mins, these are all new to me since I started the medication. I’m on the middle dose as they didn’t want my BP and pulse dropping any lower.