Hello, new to the forum and recently diagnosed with moderate myopathy and put on bisoprolol and ramipril 1.25mg
When speaking to the doctor, I asked about drinking and he seemed fairly set on stopping altogether soon as I asked ‘can I drink on these tablets’ but I get the impression he got the idea I was alcoholic, rather than a young lad that likes to go out and have a few beers in the pub once or twice a week!
I wouldn’t say I drink to excess (apart from maybe one or two weekends a year) but I couldn’t get through to him that some weeks I don’t drink at all, others I drink one or two pints in the pub and some weeks I go to town and have maybe 10 pints and shots so there really isn’t an average!
So I don’t know if I should take his word for gospel and not touch a drop again, or maybe continue but with a cut down amount as I do understand alcohol can worsen the condition.
Thank you in advance would appreciate any help!
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Farmer23
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and now for the sensible answer - alcohol makes myopathy over time (Google explains it in detail) worse and if you drink with Ramipril and Bisoporol it can increase the blood pressure lowering effect of those two prescriptions. It can make you faint/ blackout. From what you have said possibly losing your driving licence or having it suspended would affect your working day hugely. Everyone has to make these decisions for themselves but you will be very popular as the designated driver if you do give up drinking totally. Listen to what the doctor has told you - you know you are risking worsening the condition - and decide what you want to do.
Google can be a dodgy information source at times, scary also! I know nhs is a good source of information
Yes a lack of driving license would pretty much right me off, living in the country side and working on a farm it’d ruin me! Is that a possibility with this condition?
You have to think twice with myopathies - once in the short term and then again for the long term.
IF the alcohol and meds interaction caused you to faint/blackout then you may have your licence suspended. (And that;s not a great scenario for working with farm machinery safely either).
Then, long term, the muscles could be adversely affected hastening less strength, and wishing you had quit drinking whilst younger......
Old head on young shoulders is what you need but it is your body and only you can decide. I'd listen to the doctor as you said he;s keen for you to give up. He;s the one who has seen it all before and knows the likely progression and what happens when you introduce variables like alcohol.
Both Northants Steve and Michael have given you other things to think over. You could always ring BHF nurses if you want to discuss it with a medical professional - lines open Monday to Friday 9 - 5.
Take care - none of this is easy and it is only human nature to hope someone else can throw a different light on things - but I think you already know what you should do. Not as simple a decision as it seems when you are young and your social life is around pubs and clubs and being one of the guys. If you;ve already worn the road cone on your head perhaps you don;t need a night out with 10 pints and shots?
Hi Farmer23. This is what the BHF has to say about alcohol. In summary it’s not great for you and saving up your quota and having a heavy night is really bad for you. bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...
Hello and welcome to the forum! Nothing much to add to the advice already given. However, a heavy session could result in collapse with serious consequences and in the worse case scenario - game over.
A friend was a member of CAMRA but since developing AF he found alcohol was a trigger. He now limits himself to a small glass of wine (125ml) a few times a year.
Hello. My husband has Dilated Cardiomyopathy. He was told that because his condition wasn’t caused alcohol consumption, that he can drink moderately within government guidelines. As it happens, he now finds that beer doesn’t suit him and a couple of pints of cider or glasses of wine is plenty. It makes him feels c**p if he has any more.
Sometimes cardiomyopathy is caused by alcohol consumption and stopping can really turn the patient’s health around. So really, it’s very individual but within that, definitely no binging on 10pints and shots as it could make you very ill, heartwise, indeed. Or even fatal if you go into arrhythmia. If you can’t drink moderately, then I’m afraid it’s no alcohol, full stop.
Have you discovered Cardiomyopathy Uk? They’re fantastic. Their website explains all about the different types of cardiomyopathy, treatments, exercise, lifestyle etc. And there’s a nurse run helpline. Here’s the link:
I've more or less stopped drinking alcohol since my HA and stents. The sugar in it is bad for weight gain and the effects of consumption don't help with cardiac issues.
(Although storm Denis is hammering on my windows 😩)
I feel your pain.
My brother was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy in 2018. He was 39.
Loved a drink like yourself, drank Stella and cider every weekend, 6-8 pints, nothing in the week.
He also smoked, not heavily but still 😡
He was overweight and his job was sitting behind a desk all day in an office.
We buried him 2 days after Christmas 😢.
He had a massive heart attack while fishing early one morning. He was alone and from what experts have told us, he would have died instantly. He was 41.
We are absolutely heartbroken.
It’s still very raw as you can imagine.
After the initial shock and disbelief, I’ve had my angry moments.
Why didn’t he stop drinking? Why didn’t he exercise more? Why didn’t he stop smoking? Why didn’t he eat more healthily?........So many what ifs but obviously too late now.
He abused his body and it finally gave up on him.
Take heed by what people are telling you.
I have Supra Ventricular Tachycardia.
I’ve had it all my life. I’m on 300mg of slozem a day. I too like a drink. Vodka being my tipple.
A few hours after drinking I find my heart races. Not palpitations as such, more like I’m very aware of my heart beat and it can be quite uncomfortable if I’m lying down.
My previous doctor advised if I knew I was having a drink, not to take the tablets on that particular day (not great advice I’m sure and will no doubt alarm a few people)
I have done this and it does work.
I guess its because the meds lower the blood pressure and so does alcohol.
My condition is no where near as life threatening or serious as cardiomyopathy but I think we all know alcohol isn’t good for us.
We’re all adults and yes we make our own decisions.
I love a good time and as sad as this sounds I love a drink and how it makes me feel.
Some people don’t need to drink to enjoy themselves.
I can imagine you are thinking ‘If I give up the alcohol how do I enjoy myself on a night out?’.......I think the same but I guess it’s weighing up the risks.
As I said my condition isn’t as serious as yours, so only you can make that decision.
I must admit I have cut down.
Losing my brother has scared the hell out of me, all of us actually.
It changes how you see things.
Life is so very precious and I’m sure your loved ones want you around for a very long time to come.
Thank you for sharing, I myself lost my dad to a dissect aorta three years ago when I was 20, which started off me having scans which discovered the cardiomyopathy and then monitoring to eventually be diagnosed this year. He drank, not to excess he smoked, back in the day I haven’t got a picture of him without a fag on haha!
I used to smoke, packed it up with help of a vape (I say packed up it’s been a week now) and now planning to cut down on the nicotine slowly in the coming months
As for drink, I’ll pay attention to the advice given to me here, might have the odd pint here and there but not as much as I used to, seems those days are over
Because my condition is only moderate, I’m not entirely sure how serious it is, something I need to find out
Best of luck. I have Apical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy & was told not to drink alcohol. So I've tried a lot of non-alcoholic wines & lagers (I don't like beer) which all taste ok to me, so you might like to try some. They'll be served in the normal glasses in the pub.
If anyone asks why you're not drinking as much as before.... you can tell them why. They should respect you for respecting your health.
Clare
You just answered your own question my friend " I do understand alcohol can worsen the condition."
if you are a "young lad" you need to stop now, the more you continue as you get older the harder it will be to stop.
I assume you are not in a liquid limit, I’m on 1.5 litres of liquid a day with my moderate cardiomyopathy and heart failure, drinking 10 pints in one sitting would I think l make your heart work very hard to remove it from your system and put it under a lot of stress, but then I’m not a doctor.......!
I like a drink despite a quad bypass 20 years ago and a SCA 7 years ago. I drink very small quantities when we indulge ourselves (weekends) and have become a fan of half-bottles which between two people is a decent bit of rationing. But I have been exploring alcohol-free or very low alcohol beers and ciders and many of them are VERY good. Take a look on -line at Dry Drinking a firm which specialise in such drinks. Some of them have fooled my serious beer loving son in law; and it's so nice to hit the fridge and help myself to a beer at lunch time knowing that it is low calorie as well as alcohol free and very tasty.
Hello mate so my experience is a little different . Heart attack las year at 36.
I was very similar with regards to drinking just a few out and the odd beer in the house probably more than I should (who dosent).
Im on Ramipril 10mg a day i am allowed to drink but in moderation . And i mean moderation reason being alcohol magnifies the effect of these drugs and can significantly drop blood pressure. I would presume because you have CM that could cause some very serious side effects with the ticker.
Its a complete lifestyle change matey but dont see to many negatives get out and find new hobbies but still enjoy 1 or 2 pints every now n then.
I’ve got hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, my consultant said I could drink in moderation. I typically have one pint a week. If going out I limit myself to two pints as a maximum. Never been beyond that two pints since diagnosis and bisoprolol.
I’ve got non ischemic DCM. Caused by chemo. Had HF two years ago. I’m on Entresto, bisoprolol and spiralactone. My heart has amazingly virtually recovered (reshaped and EF up from 20% to 43%), but Alcohol no longer likes me. I can drink a glass or two once a week and never daily. I get horrible acid build up/indigestion. Some weeks I don’t drink at all and therefore I’m a really cheap date! 🤣. It’s nice to feel normal and take the glass of fizz offered but I have to be sensible and say no to the second glass. It’s a bit like being on a diet the odd cream tea won’t hurt but daily …., oof 😆. If you ban it, you’ll pine for it. But if you are sensible it’s more easy to steer clear of regular drinking. Just realised this post is two years old. How did you get on?
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Haven’t had any support please help 
Letting off steam - could the professionals be more positive about people NOT DRINKING!
any tips for exercising on a fluid restriction?
Alcohol while on Beta blockers..?
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