Ramipril

[Dcable]

Evening all . Im 39 years old and I had a heart attack just over 3 weeks ago and had 3 stents fitted . Initially I felt better then I had for ages after 10 days I was back exercising and felt brilliant then 4 days ago my ramipril was upped from 2.5 to 10 and bisoprolol from 2.5 to 7.5 and I feel like I’ve been hit by a train my legs and groins are cramping my chest hurts on the left hand side and I’ve got a terrible cough.

I wondered if anyone had a similar experience I probably over did it exercising and had a bit of a cold but I can’t help thinking it’s due to the meds as it all started the day after.

[Gail1967]

I think ramipril is well known for bringing on a cough- I find I have a little tickle while exercising. Bisopralol made me feel like a zombie- had it reduced to 2.5 and found my coping level- speak to your gp for advice - good luck

[SpiritoftheFloyd]

Hi Dcable

A dry cough is common with ramipril when you first start taking it - my cough started after a few weeks and then subsided after a couple of months.

You seem to have been moved from a low dose of ramipril up to the maximum doseage, and the bisoprolol, while not the maximum doseage is still a steep rise.

For both of these medicines the advice is that they should be uptitrated gradually, in fact the NHS site for bisoprolol - over a few months, and for ramipiril a few weeks.

Is this your GP or the hospital who have increased the dose? I'd go back and ask why they have been increased so dramatically.

Hers' a link to Bisoprolol on the NHS site, see How much will I take:-

nhs.uk/medicines/bisoprolol/

And, here's a link to Rampiril on the NHS site, see How much will I take;-

nhs.uk/medicines/ramipril/

[Dcable in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

Hi spiritofthefloyd

It was the GP it seemed like a big jump at the time especially as my blood pressure had been reasonably low and i was feeling fine .

I’m going to try to get an appointment tomorrow if not I’ll ask the cardiac rehab team their advice

[SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to Dcable]

Good luck - definitely too much too quick. The idea on thumping up medication at such a rate only 3 weeks after you're been put on that medication is madness, it is completely the opposite of what uptitration is all about

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Dcable]

Absolutely agree with SotF. After my bypass I had Bisoporol added to the mix but my ACE inhibitor (Ramapril is one) reduced. Good luck with the appointment. You could also get an opinion from the BHF nurses in the morning.

[Zena166]

Hi Dcable. Talk to whoever prescribed the increase. Ask why it has been changed. Explain what has happened. When I change my medication I do it in very small increments. My GP is happy for me to have different doses so I can adjust them and by cutting them in half/quarter as required. It is always supervised with the agreement of the GP and/or pharmacist. It maybe if you need the higher dose that you do it in stages rather than all at once. Ramipril can cause a cough. But there are alternatives so again discuss with your GP other options. Hope you sort it out soon.

Take care. Zena

[lettingoffsteam]

Hi Dcable, sorry to hear you are not feeling so great.I was diagnosed with very high blood pressure last year and was straight away put on 10mg amlodipine and 5mg ramipril.I felt dreadful and came up in a rash on my right leg.Next they tried 5mg amlodipine and 10mg ramipril and that dropped my potassium levels too low...still felt awful.Then, as I was doing better I was changed to 5mg of each which I am on today...feels better.

I agree too many meds at once is not great.I got a burning feeling in my left chest, which I still get albeit mildly, and I did have a tickly ramipril cough at first which occasionally affects me.

It does seem quite a jump, especially when your bp was good.Perhaps you need a second opinion at your practice.

[tunybgur]

The increase in these meds is a bit extreme, especially the bisoprolol which is a beta blocker and slows your heart down, it can feel like a medical cosh!

The ramipril is an ACE inhibitor and is designed to lower your BP, it does often come with a cough, I've still got mine after 7 years...

It's essential you liase with your consultant and try to optimise these meds, after all whatever the problems, we still need a reasonable quality of life.