Calcium channel blockers

[LEMCON]

Having recently been diagnosed with angina and prescribed calcium channel blockers, I have been reading up about them. I am quite alarmed to read that they can be dangerous, eg cause heart attack, stroke, cancer! Does anyone have any more information on this drug?

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

You are being treated for angina and CCBs are effective in reducing blood pressure and angina. In reducing blood pressure they also reduce the risk of stroke. Sometimes they are contra-indicated in some types of heart failure but this would not be applicable in your case. There was also a study which showed no cancer link:

bmjopen.bmj.com/content/6/1...

They are being prescribed to reduce the risk of angina and possibly a cardiac event. The idea is to keep you safe!

[LEMCON in reply to MichaelJH]

Thank you for your reply, it is all a step learning curve!

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hi I have been on 2 Calcium channel blockers for nearly 8 years

Without them I would probably have had a heart attack by now.

I am on very high doses as I live with Vasospastic angina and they are the mainstay of the medication that keeps me in this world.

[LEMCON in reply to Milkfairy]

I have been prescribed 2 tablets a day 90mg, that seems a high dose to me. I am just reading as much as I can to increase by understanding of angina/ medication etc.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to LEMCON]

I am on 420mgs a day

[LEMCON in reply to Milkfairy]

Wow , that is high. Glad it is working for you.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to LEMCON]

No it's not I have a form of Refractory angina my vasospastic angina is resistant to treatment as they say

However without calcium channel blockers I would probably not be in this world.

[stevejb1810 in reply to Milkfairy]

Milkfairy, you should know better ...420 mg of what 😉

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to stevejb1810]

😊 well spotted!

420mgs of Diltiaziem modified release tablets a day 😉

[stevejb1810 in reply to LEMCON]

90mg of what?

[Hidden in reply to stevejb1810]

The original post only mentions "calcium channel blockers" and is I am assuming, not that specific to mention a drug by name since they only wanted general comments on this type of medication.

[stevejb1810 in reply to Hidden]

I agree, but as soon as we start mentioning doses, as was the case in this thread, it is important to clarify which drug is being referred to.

[Hidden in reply to stevejb1810]

I'm sorry but doses were never mentioned by the original poster, rather their concern regarding how calcium channel blockers "can be dangerous, eg cause heart attack, stroke, cancer" who was clearly asking for any personal information. Doses, excessive doses and specific drugs by name is clearly an area for a professional and not within the remit of individuals on an "ad hoc" help and advice page populated by patients.

[stevejb1810 in reply to Hidden]

I did not raise doses, someone else did. All I am saying is if someone raise doses, whether in the first post or in the thread, that dose information must include the drug, otherwise the doses are meaningless

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to stevejb1810]

2 x 90mg Diltiazem is a typical starting dose for angina.

[LEMCON in reply to MichaelJH]

That's my prescribed dose.

[LEMCON in reply to stevejb1810]

90mg Diltazem

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to LEMCON]

Got the T-shirt! 👍

[SaraTwycross]

I take 1000 mg of ranolozine every day. For me it works well it stops me having to go to A and E everyday now its just once in a while. Hope your medicstion helps you hugs sara

[LEMCON in reply to SaraTwycross]

Thank you, glad things have improved for you.

[Bassman65 in reply to SaraTwycross]

I am on 750mg ranolazine a day

[IMAGES]

Hi Brangwyn,

When you say you checked up on them, if it wasn't through a professional trusted medical source I'd take it with a pinch of salt as the saying goes, in other words don't take it that it is true beyond doubt.

And did you red the information leaflet that accompanies the medication? A lot of people don't bother but there is a section that deals with side effects.

[LEMCON]

Thank you for replying. I have read the leaflet that came with medication. As I said, this is all very new to me so am just trying to read as much about angina/ medications as possible. If I am honest I found my cardiac specialist nurse pretty vague about the medication. I know not to believe everything I read

[LEMCON]

I am so sorry my post seems to have caused an isssue.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to LEMCON]

Brangwyn

Do you feel more reassured about taking your Calcium channel blockers?

If you are still uncertain have chat with your local pharmacist they are in my experience very knowledgeable about medication and their side effects.

I have few side effects not even swollen ankles but I do need my daily intake of prunes😊