A lot is posted on here about different meds and side effects, I don't think I've ever started a new med without having at least a head ache for a few days, but mostly, that's it.
Recently, I've have a bit of a rough time, feeling quite unwell which I put down to one or both of the new meds from the Dr, one was 5mg Amlodipine to add to the 10mg Ramipril I've been on for years, the other, 400 micrograms Tamsulosin Hydrochloride, for a suspected enlarged prostate, which after waiting over 5 weeks for an appointment with my GP, was found to be OK, but she gave me the med to see if it would help with urinating.
I was told that Tamsulosin might lower my BP and keep an eye on it.
Well, sure enough, BP down as low as 84/40 one one occasion and close to that on others, so I stopped both new meds, after 4 days, no change.
I went through my other meds then realised that the pharmacist had recommended several times that I change my 60mg Isosorbide mononitrate slow release from one tab twice a day, to both first thing in the morning, which I had done, so a dose of 120mg. When I started to investigate all the possible side effects for those, I was horrified to find that all the symptoms I'd been suffering were listed there, so I went back to the original one tab, twice a day.
After a couple of days, BP normal, no dizziness, feeling so much better in myself and the problem with urinating has improved a lot.
So, my next appointment will be a face to face with the pharmacist who is still recommending doubling up.
One good thing that came out of it, I've dumped the old wrist cuff BP monitor and bought myself a whizzy new arm cuff type, very expensive indeed, but it gives an average of 3 readings and seems very accurate.
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Hi whilst we should follow professional advice, seems like you now your own body and have had a positive result. I’m too early in my meds journey and not working well. I’d be interested to know about the cuff devise though, are you allowed to say the make on here? I’d like to take a look even if price makes my eyes water!!!!!
I look after my partner 24/7 who has MS, Muscular Dystrophy, COPD, and a host of lesser ailments, is on 45 pills/capsules a day, oxygen and nebuliser, it was a steep learning curve and I've been told many times by Dr's and nursing staff, I know more than they do about her over-all health and how to treat it, so when it comes to me, I have to try things myself as I need to be well enough and don't get much of a chance to go out, even to the Dr. if I got a phone appointment, the Dr would only tell me to stop taking the new meds, I can do that anyway. As long as its safe.As for the new BP monitor. Think of a name for footware that comes up to your knees 👢 and the device is BP bpm art fibr Al. model 63-78-544
Firstly made me laugh and will search it out, secondly thank you for explaining that your experience and wealth of knowledge help you make informed choices. If did not come across in my post I found your post positive again reinforcing I need to take charge, learn about my condition and “politely” challenge back (cardiologist says just muscular - I’ll rub a ton of deep heat on and see how that works for me 😆).
The most positive thing I did at the start of my own problems was to read as much as I could about it, not believe everything I saw but generally got an idea of what was happening. This forum has been a great help from the start, so, if I need to go see a Dr or whoever, I know if they're fobbing me off 😉But you're right, take charge of it, stay positive and do things safely. Any time you're unsure, talk to the Dr or even phone 111 and ask to talk to somebody who is medically trained. (the op who takes your call isn't)
Some appointments I've had or taken the OH to, I've had the feeling the Dr etc has lost interest and just going through the motions, sad isn't it.
OMG and I thought I had problems. I really feel for you and your partner. Our GP surgery has an in house pharmacist so I never discuss medication with my GP. She knows far more.
There have been so many changes in our health centre, I don't think there is one in house any more which is a shame. He was a good chap.Although when he first got involved with the OH and her meds, he came to see her so he could sort her meds out, put them in some sort of order etc, when he got here, he asked what she's taking so I showed him the list, strength, quantity taken, at what time. He took one look and said "you don't need me do you" 😂😂😂
He was, much missed from the centre by everyone.And I agree, they don't know enough and that's why I feel comfortable about changing things around if I think it makes a difference and giving the Dr feedback.
I've been told that by people in the medical profession a few times. Things have changed, people are more switched on and able to ask questions, do research with ease. Gone are the days when you dare not suggest to a doctor what you might thing is wrong with you.I remember once doing that, telling a Dr I thought I had glandular fever, he looked at me angrily and told me. "I'm the doctor, I'll decide what you have" 😲
My husband is still o f that mindset, you do not ask questions of doctors; even when his mum was seriously dehydrated in hospital with a dinner plate sized bedsore, he said nothing. ( I said plenty). He won't stand up for me at all; even went back to bed when I was taken in with a heart attack. If you can't see illness it doesn't exist. I spent 10 years telling GP and neuro surgeons I had Maigne syndrome in my spine. They'd never heard of it and hated that I'd been online and just might be right. 10 years on a pain consultant took one look and said "You have maigne syndrome. I could have treated this 10 years ago but it's too late now"
I had a review 2 years ago with in house pharmacist which was diabolical, practically telling me I had chronic kidney failure (I haven’t) and wanting to prescribe additional b p medication despite my by being at acceptable levels. He was so bad at the way he handled things I put in an official complaint to one of the partner GPS (whom I have seen for my annual reviews for several years) and the practice manager suggesting additional,training for the pharmacist particular in inter personal skills and actually reading a persons notes. My wife had been told by the same pharmacist that she was well over due for a cervical smear test - she had a hysterectomy and oovrectomy some 25 years previously and he had obviously not fully checked her notes.
I'm luckythat all dealings with our in house pharmacist have been great apart from my notes suddenly saying I had stage 2 kidney failure. Apparently it automatically gets added if you have a blood result over a certain level. I had had a second blood test which was fine but it still came as a shock. I'd been on a diuretic for 20 years and suddenly started getting really low readings for the bottom figure on my BP. The pharmacist worked with me to help level out both kidney and BP readings.
Hi Fishface, try looking at any of the Ormron BP monitors. They are used by professionals and we amateurs alike. They have a range of prices and are not too expensive.
I have the Boots Pharmaceuticals Advanced Blood Pressure Monitor with Atrial Fibrillation Alert, that does 3 readings as well, and it's £99.99. Well worth every penny.
Yes that is eye watering price but certainly worth considering. I am waiting for results of 7 day monitor, I described my heart activity to my brother (has some professional experience but I think he Is torn between worrying / upsetting me me and wanting to be realistic) and he felt sounded like Could be AFib. I’ve just googled and I can relate. It’s scary when happens, as it’s in night and when wake up I just lie very very still. At present I am not clear on what’s happening to me.
Yes, lots of £££'s 😲 but what price do you put on your health is what I asked myself.My old wrist cuff monitor got lots of use and is pretty old, so I thought now is the time.
One tiny piece of advice if you think that's what is happening, keep a record, Drs etc tend to take more notice if you keep notes of what's happening, when, for how long and anything else you think could be relevant.
Yes Will start doing that, only did it per instructions for my 7 day Monitor wrote loads and pressed buttons in middle of night etc when half sleep. And yes What price - just the potential Financial impact On family of something happening does worry me as main earner. So early warnings are key. Thanks for your advice.
The extra worry of finances certainly doesn't help does it. You'll get through it, just frustrating that nothing in NHS land ever seems to happen very quickly. But when you read a lot of the posts on here, you realise that we were all worried about things at first, it becomes far easier eventually and not so stressful.Good luck with your journey 👍
A few years back, I was having a bit of a problem controlling my diabetes, I was living in a very different part of the world and so dietary conditions were not exactly what I was used to, so the doctor asked me to keep a record of blood sugar readings with notes about possible factors affecting it. I got into the habit then of daily record keeping.
Fast forward to last year, HA followed by HF.
I expanded my diary and started keeping it on a simple spreadsheet. As you all know, the start of the HF road is a bumpy one, meds have to be swapped in and out, doses titrated etc, so my spreadsheet grew. Every morning when I get up, I record weight, Blood pressure, and glucose, then as the day goes on I add exercise done and notes on meds changes, symptoms (very brief, breathless today, too tired to walk, feeling good and so on)This was most useful with my GP, she was able to track changes and adjust meds accordingly. Then when I had my recent appointment with the cardiologist, instead of saying sometimes I manage to do xyz, others I get abc. I handed him the sheets. Of course, I also told him my symptoms as well! But he looked through the sheets and was mumbling away for a few minutes, apologising and saying, "I'm just roughly working out some averages rather than get out my calculator" He had hard facts to back up what was being said and to help him make decisions. He asked to keep the sheets and referred to them in his report.
Not saying that anything there is essential, or that any of the readings are gold standard accurate, but trends and effects do show up clearly, and in the difficult business of managing and monitoring of a complex condition like this all extra data helps.
Just to add, this really only takes a couple of minutes a day but it also gives me a feeling of being a little bit more in control, more of a part in the monitoring process
I absolutely agree with you, I've mentioned elsewhere that I did that for my OH and presented the notes to her neurologist, he read through them and said they confirmed what he had been thinking and diagnosed MS, although at that time it appeared to be progressive, the diagnosis was later changed to relapsing, remitting MS. Since then I've kept notes for both of us.
I take been taking tamsulosin for some time and noticed no side effects. In view of your urology problems has your GP arranged a PSA test. Under the NHS every man over 50 is entitled to have one.
I assume you mean your PSA is within the 'normal' range for your age and ethnicity. I also suggest you make sure you get a PSA done annually.
Finally be aware that BPH usually slowly worsens over the years, so when it gets to the point where it has become a real problem, talk to your GP who should refer you to urology specialist. Don't just put up with it.
Yes, "normal" and the parting shot from the doctor when I had the prostate examination was.... "It could just be your age".I was given a choice by her at the time, the Tamsulosin to see if it helped and clinical measurements after. Or straight to C M.
Clinical measurements may mean post void retention (PVR) via an ultrasound scan, and flow measurement. When the PVR gets past about 400 ml the medics get a bit twitchy. Anyway that's me done, this is not a urology forum. 😆
Not a quiz forum either 🤔 but I agree with you, any problem raised on this forum is relevant to someone, and as it happens, the isosorbide I was advised to take 2 of in the morning instead of one twice a day had an effect on my waterworks. A lot of people take isosorbide for heart related chest pain. So it will be of interest
I only have to look at a tablet and get a side effect !
I am glad you managed to work out what was causing yours which in a lot of cases I think we have to and then tell the Doctors or pharmacists but it is true we do know our own bodies best
But at least a new whizzy new arm cuff has been purchased which you may never have had
Trying to focus on your positives here
Good luck with your face to face appointment when you go x
Hello and thank you 🙂I suppose I'm quite lucky in that my Dr trusts me to do such things and over the last couple of years it's been a lot easier to work with her rather than butt heads 😂, she will probably tell me not to listen to the pharmacist in future, he's new and doesn't know my history like the old one did.
I think when we have a good Doctor and they get to know us they can realise that some of us have a good idea what we are on about and it does make life easier when they do :-)Our pharmacist is a right jobs worth if the Doctor does not put the right wording on the prescription he wont give it you and makes you get them to change it
I do try and stick with the same doctor if I can. But at the health centre, they encourage patients to see whoever is available. This pharmacist I've got now is new, the old one was brilliant, always on first name terms, any probs with my meds he would phone me, and the delivery service was excellent. The new one isn't in the same league.And thank you, I hope you have a great weekend too., 🙂
Having worked in pharmacy, your pharmacist is quite right not to "dish out" what the doc has written or not written properly. If a patient dies because a pharmacist doesn't check properly it's his job on the line. It's not just a 'it's on the shelf, pass it to me job!'
Actually, in my case the pharmacist "dished out" the wrong advice, and because we are supposed to trust everyone in the profession, I followed it, which made me very I'll. There was no need at all for the farmacist to alter anything as I've been on this particular med for years with no I'll effects, so, as the saying goes, no one is perfect, not even pharmacists. 👍
I agree totally I was a dispenser and we used to get so much stick from patients. We're only human. Pharmacists/doctors anyone in a 'caring profession ' can certainly get things wrong. It's good when people know their own body and take responsibility for what they eat and do to care for themselves. Take care and have a good weekend.
The old staff at this pharmacy were brilliant and always have been, know their stuff. But the new farmacist brought some of his own people in and that "personal" service we always had is gone. The poor chap that delivers around the area tells me he gets lots of complaints about the service, long waiting times, stuff missing.. Its such a shame.
From 2017 until I had my stents fitted 6 months ago I got on fine with all my meds.
After my stents, they changed my blood thinners to Ticagrelor and aspirin from Clopidogrel. They doubled my Atorvastatin to 80 mg, they added Ezetimibe. I was also prescribed Gliciazide (around the same time)
I have suffered, shortness of breath, generally feeling exhausted, not sleeping properly so I get up as tired as I went to bed and more recently stomach pains.
I was told to stick with the Ticagrelor and aspirin for 12 months, but I really don't think I can do another 6 months.
I never thought I would go against the directions of a GP, but yesterday I have reverted to my pre stent meds (I had some here) I have an appointment with my GP next Thursday where obviously I will talk all this through.
I really understand the risks, but I just couldn't continue to feel as bad as I do. Obviously if nothing changes I will need to rethink but how do you know when taking 10 different tablets what is the problem.
I have done some research and cut out/back on the medication I feel I can and have replaced the Ticagrelor and aspirin with Clopidogril.
Fingers crossed I feel better soon and between myself and the GP we can make the necessary changes to the medication without compromising on effectiveness.
It's difficult to know which med to choose first without careful thought, luckily, although I'm on 11 different meds daily, I found the problem a lot quicker than I would have waiting for a Dr's appointment. I certainly couldn't carry on the way I was feeling.
I'm glad you've worked out what is causing your problems, and I identify when you say any new medication creates problems to start with. My latest GP acknowledges that I have weird reactions to all sorts of meds which she thinks is genetic. It's refreshing to have someone who believes me.I agree with keeping a record of your BP, I always do. Also if you have an ECG ask for a copy. I used to keep copies of all my mother's ECGs and it was very useful. If I ever have to have paramedics out they will never get a normal ECG from me so if they have something to compare it to it can really help.
Being ultra sensitive to meds, I have of late listened to the doctors advice and accepted her upping my Candesartan. I was on 4mg and she’s upped it to 8mg. I asked if I could try 6mg first( BP had raised slightly) she said no because they work in (?!’vs£) something I did not understand. So I’m cutting the 8mg down to 6mg and BP is stable.
Maybe I’m wrong but having suffered hell since HA through meds , muscle wastage included, I am very careful about what I take.
I always listen to the doctors advice, but if I follow it and have a problem, I revert back to how I was and talk to her about it. The problem now is the time it takes to get an appointment, as I mentioned, the last one over 5 weeks, so I sort of take things into my own hands until I get an answer or an appointment, it's a sad state of affairs really.
You are so right. You also feel like your wasting their time. ( they’ve prescribed you something so get on with it). It’s not like that at all, some people can take any amount of meds with no adverse symptoms.I get so many people telling me about statins. Well I can’t take them , I was so ill last year with muscle wastage that I nearly landed up in hospital.
Trying to get a DR appointment in Essex is a joke. 5 weeks is so long a time to wait.
I'm not a fan of statins but I have to take them.Ive had plenty of appointments over the years where I've left feeling I've not been listened to or fobbed off. Even the doctor I have now has been like that in the past but her attitude changed for some reason and now she's very easy to get on with and open to suggestions.
I haven't had any effects starting my extensive list of meds except for lyrica which gave me vivid dreams and twitches as I upped the dose. Of course my GTN spray gives most people a headache and it does me as well but that's not actually starting a new med. It seems I'm pretty lucky.
I've never had side effects like I did taking isosorbide, one of which was the worst headache ever and feeling like a zombie.I've heard that lyrica can be nasty, my OH is on 2x 300mg a day and no probs with it.
I had a strange side effect with RAMIPRIL which might be relevant to you. I took it for over 1 yr after h.a I had very bad angina, for example I could not even make my bed without having to stop and take my gtn spray and wait for pain to go, three times, each side of bed!! Then I took pneumonia, which I have never ever had before or since, and couldnt take my Ramipril for a few days. My angina stopped!!! I kept waiting incredulously for it to return!! When I restarted ramipril, it did return! Doc said to stop when I told him .Hope this helps you as I see you take isosorbide mononitrate too. Curious story, but thats what happened to me!
Yes, very strange. That's one thing I've never had a prob with, unless I forgot to take it. I have to be very careful with BP, if I don't take a ramipril it soars and causes tremendous chest pain.
Oh me too! Unfortunately I follow one line of my family who all suffered strokes and heart problems as far back as I can trace, so there's no hope for me 😲.
I get dreadful adverse effects from medicines. My GP now greets me with "Hello trouble" because he really struggles to prescribe for me. After my HA I was given the usual bag of tablets and within 6 months I'd had every single one changed or stopped, even aspirin. from soluble to gastro resistant. The problem is exacerbated because I react badly/ am allergic to a certain preservative and colouring so I can only take certain b rands but it's trial and error because we can't find out exactly what's causing the reactions. One is definitely a yellow colouring but the pharmacist can't ever see what colour tablets are. They try their best to get certain brands but if they are in short supply I have to ring round everywhere in town to see if they have the right brand in stock. Last month it was simvastatin. BUt even the hospital messes things up despite brand names being written on my repeat prescription. I take oxynorm ( brand name). The generic makes me dreadfully ill. Last time in hospital they were ok while they used the bottle i took in but then completely ignored my prescription and gave the generic which of course made me ill. They also refused to give it 3 hourly because they only did he drug trolley every 6 hours. It's short acting and short lasting so I was left in agony unless I kicked up a fuss. Previously when I've been in our local hospital I've been allowed to self medicate just as long as I kept it locked up. I just had to sign an authorisation form. Has anyone else been able to do that?
Oxynorm! The problems that has caused my OH in hospital. She takes the concentrate 10mg/ml and is allowed up to 5ml every 2 hours, that's a very high dose and she's never had to yet, it's been 2ml max up to now. Drs ect in hospital hate it because it's so addictive, some refuse to give it to her or give point 2 of a ml which is useless. One farmacist in hospital took it away and told her she couldn't have it back, I had a right argument with him but he refused to let her have it. So I went in next day and asked a nurse to get it for me from the CD cabinet, which she did 😂She's been prescribed it by a pain management consultant, it's been approved by her neurologist and is issued by her doctor, but some doctors in hospital think they can overrule that. As far as the consultants are concerned, she can have what she wants to deal with pain, except tramadol, that's recently been stopped.
There is now a big push to stop prescribing opiates b ut GPS have no read the guidance properly. I've been on it for 20 years; the liquid short acting variety because I can control my dose better that way; leave it longer between doses if I don't feel too bad or take a bit more if necessary. I've taken it for 20 years so I do know what I'm doing but the surgery recently gave a new young doctor the job of reducing usage. He was appalling; spoke to me as if I was an addict and wanted it stopped instantly without offering any alternative. The withdrawal would have killed me and even if not then the pain would have been totally unbearable. I had to put in a complaint. My named GP is now in charge of my medication. What the guidance actually says is that they should reduce prescribing to new patients; not to historical cases who have been on it for years. Mine was also prescribed by a hospital pain consultant after trying absolutely everything possible. It's not supposed to work on nerve pain but it does. I now can't increase it any further so I foresee problems arising as there's just nothing else they can prescribe. I've read articles by specialists in the USA where the panic started, saying they are afraid they are actually under prescribing which pushes people to suicide. The hospital problem here is simply lack of staff. There must be 2 nurses to give it and they can only get 2 nurses together every 6 hours. I discharged myself.
I know exactly what you mean. When the OH was in rehab after a bad MS relapse which caused her to be quadriplegic for a while, the head doctor in there refused to let her have any before she went for physio, I challenged him and he said because "she didn't shout loud enough" when she went for physio previously soo she couldn't be in very much pain. I was a bit angry tbh, asked him if he knew about her previous relationship....( You can guess the rest) he still refused so I went to the top, her neurologist was in charge of the place, he was so annoyed about it, took the Dr to one side and told him, if she asks for it, you run and get it. The Dr didn't speak to me for days 🙂
Eventually he did come round, it was difficult for him to ignore me really, the OH was in there for 3 months and I used to visit for several hours every day 🙂.I used to be so shy and reserved, but when you have to stand up for someone who isn't getting what they should, the shyness goes 😂
I learned to do that years ago when a urologist failed to diagnose my dad with advanced prostate cancer- he hadn't even read his notes to see that his boss had been treating dad for bladder cancer for 10 years and no I didn't seethat man ever again. I Insisted dad's care was transferred. I just wish I had someone to fight for me now.
Thats very sad and unfortunately far more common than we realise.We all need someone to stand up for us at some point, even me. Shouldn't be like that though should it.
Ok. Side effects, yes well. I, am NOT amused at being told a medications fabulous effects, life enhancing for the heart, almost abuse for me not to be on this all singin dancin drug, albeighits for my T2 diabetes but - when I read the side effects and oh by the way, for older people (me) more likely to get the side effects - upper respiratory problems, dehydration, aches n pains etc etc.Usually when something is too good to be true, it is!
Me, suffering abject pain in neck, head n shoulders since last Wednesday- go-to-the drs some wag advised 🙄
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