I have just been speaking with my GP about the link between ACE inhibitors and ARB drugs prescribed for hypertension (and other conditions) and the incidence of severe Covid-19 infection (several million of us are on these meds).
He said there was no proven link and these stories were just dreamed up by the red top press, the official line from the Dept. of Health was to continue with these meds as it was more dangerous to stop taking them.
I have since found this article in the Lancet dated 9/3/2020 which seems to suggest the opposite:
76% of deaths in Italy from Covid-19 had the underlying medical condition of high blood pressure, I wonder what meds they were on?
This really is a matter of life and death, I am in the high risk group and taking Ramipril, my wife ditto and on Candesartan....who do we believe?
Anybody have any other supportive data? Personally I would be happier on a Calcium Channel blocker but my GP will not change my prescription....can I insist? What are my powers here?
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tunybgur
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It does give some reassurance, but I wonder how much this has to do with protecting the pharmaceutical companies who have a huge investment in these drugs.....remember lung cancer and smoking were only ever linked by epidemiological studies, there was never any proof.
As I understand it, the issues with the drug are proven, but with other virus’s. The question is only is it the same with this virus. It was proven with SARS?
I'm also a 'glass half full' man, but if it was just me I wouldn't be bothered, but my wife is also on an ARB and I just worry I could/should be doing more....can't just sit back without asking questions, that's why this forum is so important.
85? that's not old, I play golf with an 88 year old who still plays 3 times a week, and competitively...an example to us all.
I've kept away from close contact with people for the past two weeks and not been in any shops. My next door (Russian ) neighbour knocked with some documents about work to be done on our building . He got too close and I could smell his Russian lunch on his breath. I twice reminded him that we had to keep our distance and he backed off but as he turned the papers over he kept on closing in to show me them. At least he was not coughing but I can still taste/smell his lunch.
Goodness, this is really worrying me. We've just gone into self isolation as I have developed a niggly, tickly cough and I never get coughs.
I should be OK regardless, but my husband is a year past a heart attack and stents and on 10mg of ramipril and also high dose aspirin. He's an asthmatic too.
We would have liked to have social distanced a lot earlier, but he is a 39 year-old teacher and we have two young children, one at school so it made it difficult.
I'm absolutely terrified now that if I've got the dreaded c-virus, it will be too much for him with the medication he's on. I'll get him to call the GP on Monday but from what everyone is saying, it sounds like they won't be keen to mess with his prescriptions (and that's if he gets to speak to anyone).
I know this is a worrying time for everyone, but any advice or positivite thoughts would be gratefully received as I am really panicking.
If you don't have a temperature I wouldn't worry at all, in any case you are in a low risk group....unlike us septuagenarians...(hope I spelt that correctly).
Apparently now treatment is being decided on the chances of recovery....which means I would be quietly pushed into a corner and asked to make as little noise as possible, que sera sera.
I know it's difficult, but think positively and don't worry unnecessarily.
Hello (am not a doctor and am not making you worry ) but you know here in our island people who got the corona virus got fever etc but when tracing was done to find with whom he got along in the past days..his whole family was traced for sure and without any symptoms they were in quarantine and the result came positive...so now think about it..take care n ur family..god bless
I understand that Rampril can cause some folks to cough anyway, I have a tickle from time to time but find half a teaspoon of (very expensive) manuka honey disolved in the mouth little by little soothes it away immediately.
I have been on Amlodopine 10mg and Ramapril 2.5mg daily to control excessive BP for a year, last September I caught the Covid and it was just like a cold without the sniffles but with a temperature, after an uncomfortable couple of days my symptoms subsided with no after effects.
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