eplerenone cough

[bigolbears]

hi is there anyone on eplerenone and has Asthma. Got a really phlegmy cough. I’ve been on it for 3 weeks and gave a tight cough I didn’t have before

[Hidden]

Hello

I have Asthma but never taken those meds

However I would check with your Doctor about the cough and phlegm you are getting to make sure your chest is ok and they are happy for you to keep taking them

Let us know how you get on x

[Nanny1086]

sorry in regards to the medication i can’t help you i’m afraid , but i too have a productive cough ,so i’m using my nebuliser more to help me , i always thought the productive cough was due to my COPD,,, but i was recently told it could be my asthma causing the problem , hope someone can you advise you ,

[francesw47]

Hi I am also taking Eplerenone and also have a cough! But no ashtma. My logic may be faulty - I had put the cough down to the Sacubitril part of Entresto (based on the assumption that Sacubitril is a similar drug to Ramipril, known for its cough) but you've just thrown a curve ball into the equation. Its on my list to ask the cardiologist when I see him in September. But its a nasty cough, so what with the cough and the runny nose caused by bisoprolol I sound as if I have a cold most of the time. But .... Talk to your medics...Epleronone is used to treat chronic HF and a persistent cough is also a symptom of HF as well as being a symptom of asthma - so a chat with a clinical pharmacist or your GP or prescribing medic would be a good idea. Its all complicated and honestly not worth second guessing when your health is at stake.....so go back to the medics and have a chat. I'd be interested in what they say.

[VelvetSky]

hi, I take Eplerenone and I am a Chronic Asthmatic, I don’t think the Eplerenone increased any problems for me but I cough and can’t breath anyway. Everyone reacts differently to drugs. I definitely coughed on Ramapril and came off it. Asthmatics can’t take Beta Blockers, every Cardiologist has different opinions on medications, it’s a minefield. You might well have a chest infection, I would say go to your Gp but if they are anything like mine you would be wasting your time. A Gp will phone you in a months time, what good is that?

[pcrock81]

I get some Asthma and I am on Eplerenone, never caused me an issue, Its a drug that supposedly has relatively few side effects, you should check with your doctor. I take 2*25mg of the drug to adjust my Potassium levels rather than HF.

[Ktomoph_ in reply to pcrock81]

Hi I read your reply with interest as I have also just been prescribed Eplerenone because my potassium level is low.

The cause of low potassium is the high dose of diuretics I am prescribed to try to rid the body of fluid retention - I have heart failure with a CRT-D device fitted 6 years ago, CKD, and the return of atrial fibrillation a year ago - as the diuretics just flush everything out.

I have been on Furosemide for most of the past 6 years, and have been told there is a side effect known as the 'Furosemide cough'. Whether there is any connection, I didnt get this cough until I changed from Furosemide to the Bumetanide....

I am told that Eplerenone is a blood pressure medicine, lowering the blood pressure to make it easier on the heart. However, I have low blood pressure anyway, so the reason it has been prescribed is because it also works as a 'potassium retainer', raising how much potassium is stored in the body.

There are side effect warnings about feeling dizzy and light headed, perhaps because if the patient has low blood pressure, any drug that works toward lowering the BP will have an adverse affect!

A while ago I was on Spironolactone, a 'potassium sparing' diuretic taken alongside the Furosemide. It wasnt until I began having severe, very painful and disabling full leg cramps that I discovered the 'culprit' was the Spironolactone, which was retaining too much of the potassium in my body! Stopped taking Spironolactone and cramps stopped, but as the end spellings of medications always indicate, SpironolactONE and EplerenONE are similar and related meds.

So....I am a little concerned about taking the Eplerenone, but at least now I am fully aware of the signs.

will update with any noticeable further developments......

[pcrock81 in reply to Ktomoph_]

Hi, I am an identical twin , I was on Eplerenone and my brother on Spiralactone, he had a case of severe cramp pain and I told him to get his heart specialist to change the drug. This has stopped his leg cramps straight away, the Elplerenone was also much better at reducing his BP, I suspect you wil be given the lowest dose first as it seems to take aweek or more for the new drug to start to have its full effect, you will need to slowly work up to the correct dose for yourself, keep a close eye on your BP to make sure it doesn't go too low. Our potassium problem is genetic and related to an excess of a hormone created from the adrenal gland (aldosterone), so its taken for a different cause but for the same effect. Both Eplerenone and Spiralactone are Aldosterone antagoinists so the basically use up (bind) with the excess aldosterone to stop it having its negative effect elswhere in the body. I expect most people that are on spirolactone should really be on Eplerenone but the Eplerenone is significantly more expensive. Eplerenone is completely different to Spiralatone, Eplerenone is a much more modern drug and it has way less side effect (although nothing is perfect). This is of course is just my opinion, I am not a medical professional so you should always consult your doctor.

[Ktomoph_ in reply to pcrock81]

thanks for the extra info re the Eplerenone, and also the genetic link to potassium levels - I will now research this further.

My GP(still of the age where he is absolutely focussed on the patient and how he can help!) is 'quite keen' on my being prescribed Elperenone and like you have said, he has mentioned it is fairly new but has good reviews.

....interesting (and intriguing to me as a non-twin) factor to be seen by you and your twin - do you both suffer the same condition? and responses to meds?

[pcrock81 in reply to Ktomoph_]

Yes, we are now on exactly the same meds and suffer from the same issues. He has been affected less , I had to have a triple bypass two years ago which all went well and I am now feeling good and my BP is under control.