Side Effects

[Stevie1960]

Does anyone else on Heart Meds have problems with a dry cough and/or swelling/itching, tightness of the skin in the lower legs.

[Hidden]

Dear Stevie1960

Hello to you and a big warm welcome to the forum and your first post.

We hope that the forum will provide you with all the answers to the questions that you have about your diagnosis and even provide {dare I say} a little entertainment for you.

Now you don’t give us any clues to your full diagnosis and what drugs you are on, we are not nosey it just helps with answering you.

Now these leg problems can be down to a few things but the most common is, { please remember that I am not medically trained } water retention.

This will give a tightness to the lower leg and a sort of cold touch, mottled skin that leaves dents and white patches when pressed.

This needs to be reported NOW { I would underline it if I knew how} to your DR /Heart team or 111.

It is important that they check you out the pulse down your legs etc, are your toes cold? Fingers? This could be a sign of your medication, but I say could as it need looking into, along with that dry cough.

Take care and get it sorted, please let us know the outcome.

[Stevie1960 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Blue 1958Many thanks for the swift reply, I do attend, or have done up until this so called COVID outbreak a Lymphedema Clinic, my legs are never cold, quite the opposite, they are boiling hot, skin is tight, stinging and swollen, purple in colour and will go away without medication, regarding my heart I'm on the usual Ramapril, Bisoprolol, Atorvastatin plus some others and also Warfarin as my Heart is in AF, I had a Cardiac Arrest in 2013, Stents fitted etc, do not have any problems with that and no chest pain.

[Hidden]

Hello, I wanted to respond to this as heart palpitations after eating is what started me off with ongoing heart problems for the last 3 years. Back in 2019 one evening after eating I suddenly felt like my heart was beating out of my chest to point I was sick. I ended up in a&e and they put it down to anxiety but after pushing the nhs for tests and going back and forth for various checks I finally had a ct scanand they have found my main artery is over 50% blocked and showing signs of disease 😢

[Stevie1960 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Ally, that sounds terrible, I hope you are feeling ok now 🙂

[Hidden in reply to Stevie1960]

Now I have the right meds I'm feeling a bit better. Just waiting to have an angiogram to see if I need a stent, all at the ripe old age of 38 😆

[Stevie1960 in reply to Hidden]

All will be ok I'm sure 🙂

[SheldonC in reply to Hidden]

Ally did you respond to the right post?

[Hidden in reply to SheldonC]

Nope 😆 🤦🏻‍♀️ sincere apologies

[SheldonC in reply to Hidden]

lol thought you hadn’t so thought best mention it 😉

[Hidden in reply to SheldonC]

Thank you. I'm new to this so obviously didn't check before I started typing 😁🤦🏻‍♀️

[Buzzy-Beans]

Side effects, tell me about them!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Over the past 5 years since being on a wide selection of medications for my heart, lung and spinal problems I have exhibited quite distinct side effects to several of the drugs, some minor and some, ouch!

The worst for me was being put on Tramidol by an inept A&E doctor which resulted in me be ending up so totally constipated that I have never experienced pain like it when trying to pass anything!!

With regards to your medications, my suggestion is to read the packaging leaflet very thoroughly and then do a thorough search on the internet and write down your concerns, then go and see or speak to your GP and outline your worries and ask for an alternative to be prescribed.

From my experience, they will always try and prescribe the cheapest version first!!

[Larneybuds]

Hi Stevie, I have these symptoms and am on heart meds and diuretics. I am waiting for surgery for mitral valve replacement that was originally cancelled at the last minute so have to keep a daily track of weight, blood pressure etc. My meds thankfully seem to be keeping everything very stable but my understanding is that some meds can give these side effects. I have a cardiac nurse who I can contact at any time but if you are concerned I recommend you ask about your symptoms and meds. Everyone is different so perhaps make a phone call to be on the safe side. Dont ever be frightened to ask questions or express yr concerns with your doctor or hospital team. Take care

[Cards21]

Dry cough

[MumaLines]

Happy Saturday Stevie1960No anxiety, a 50% blockage that can be put right by a stent. You will have a new lease of life after, ask the HEARTIES on here that have had Stents fitted as it is an everyday procedure performed by our miracle Cardiologists and their fantastic teams.

What meds have you been put on? I'm guessing one is Statin, if so what dose? Your legs puffing up, feeling tight, maybe joint stiffness/pain in ankles/knees?

[Raffles77]

Probably someone else will have said it but Ramipril is usually the cause of the cough. Spoke with my doctor yesterday regarding the very same subject. She told me to stop that medication for 2 weeks and see if anything changes.

[Snackjack in reply to Raffles77]

I also had the cough whilst on Ramipril, I am no longer taking it, I am now on Entresto (Sacubitril/valsartan) instead. Cough has subsided.

[Pastime]

Hi Stevie I got this cough with captopril and lisisinopril . Gp told me anything ending in pril can cause the cough .

[Lilypond39]

Are you on Enalopril orRamopril? I had a cough on those . A friend advised me I had the Ramopril cough Lol . It's well known, I have been OK since it was changed.

[Nadeje]

Hi, no cough but itchy lower legs and a bit of swelling...I'm on Bisoprolol, Atorvastatin, and Frusemide...didn't think the itch on my legs could be associated with the drugs...sometimes it feels like ants crawling on my skin...not often thankfully! That's a food for thought for me, thanks for mentioning this. 😊Hope you will get some answers, best would be contacting GP.

Monica

[peterjones105]

As a precaution my Ramapril daily dose was recently increased from 2.5 to 5mg, I have never had the dreaded cough but it can make me light headed, occasional face flushing and sometimes a musculoskeletal pain in the chest, all side effects well documented.

[Harefieldfan]

Hi Stevie1960. I have a dry cough caused by Ramipril. I no longer take Ramipril — switched to Losartan— but still have the cough after many months. Doctors don’t seem bothered. Ramipril is well known for causing a dry hacking cough.

[Rockwellrob]

Hi i take Ramipril and have the dreaded dry cough, i also have an issue with my left leg near the ankle with the skin being itchy and leathery

[Mollhon]

Yes, most annoying, mostly at night.

[Hoocher]

I was on apixaban and my ankles and lower back constantly itched all the time I was on it

[Siamesechris]

I had the dry cough within days of being on statins for 8 weeks till my gp said come off them, because I was also having horrendous leg and foot cramps and really tight feelings up the front of my lower legs ( but not mottled cold skin)

[PumpkinTag]

I have a very annoying dry cough and constant "tickle" in my throat, this is worse at night. I also get pains in my legs but no swelling or tightness which lessened when I reduced Atorvastatin. If you have swelling in your legs you really should check that with a healthcare professional.

Hope you get sorted.