struggling: I have been on idapamjde... - British Heart Fou...

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confused71 profile image
15 Replies

I have been on idapamjde for 12 years I was taken of them cold turkey and put on ramipril since then 11 days ago i have a dry cough my blood pressure has increased from 120/76 to 146/70 i feel more breathless than before and weight gain 10 days ago i was 74 kg I am now 76,2 , No chest infection GP said i havent got water retention and didnt seem very breathless ,Has any one else had any problems with Ramipril

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confused71
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15 Replies
Blackcatsooty profile image
Blackcatsooty

good morning confused 71.

I wonder if your chemist would review your medication. Ask for an appointment. Or maybe your GP surgery has a specialist?

Ramipril might need a few weeks to settle. Maybe it’s coming off Indapamide that is the problem. it would give you some reassurance if you knew what your medication was intended to do. Your chemist should be able to explain.

Your BP is pretty good for our age group. Please can I have your BP !

I take Ramipril and have no obvious bad side effects. I am on 10 mg. And my BP is still hopeless.

Best wishes

Kristin1812 profile image
Kristin1812Heart Star

Ramipril seems to cause a dry cough in many. Talk to your GP for an alternative. NHS site says it will go away ‘up to 4–8 weeks’ after stopping it.

mesally profile image
mesally

Ramipril gave me a hacking Cough. Gp concerned e ough to refer me for xrays and scans. All clear. After months consulted Dr Google. It's a well known issue. Stopped taking it and was better within 2 weeks. Discuss alternatives with your Gp

Coopergirl52 profile image
Coopergirl52

Yes I was put on Ramipril after my heart attack in hospital almost straight away started coughing told them I keep coughing nothing was done told my rehab nurse after discharge she spoke to the consultant and was switched over to Losartan no continuous cough since.

MountainGoat52 profile image
MountainGoat52

I wonder what the reason was for you being taken off Indapamide. You refer to the GP stating you had no water retention, but I would query that as you have increased in weight now that you are no longer on it. Could it be that the additional weight is due to the fact that you are now retaining water?

As far as Ramipril is concerned, I too was inflicted by the infamous cough and after a skirmish with Amlodipine which did not suit me, I was put on Losartan which has been the staple drug in my treatment for over a decade. One that gets a big thumbs up from me. 😀

confused71 profile image
confused71 in reply to MountainGoat52

Thanks for your reply GP said no chest infection for cough so it was dismissed I spoke to pharmacy and she said water retention doesnt always show by pressing the skinand that you can retainfluid internally --I had to come off duiretic because I wason Amiodarone and the two tablets taken together can cause problems .I have another appointment with a different GP as I cant cope with the coughing or the extra breathlessness

MountainGoat52 profile image
MountainGoat52 in reply to confused71

My question would be why you weren't put on another diuretic. Are they all contra-indicated with Amidarone? I certainly hope your appointment results in a solution to your problems.

confused71 profile image
confused71 in reply to MountainGoat52

I went to GP and asked for a different duiretic with no success there are ones that you can take I was on Indapamide for 10 years --he just made me feel as though i was complaining for nothing --- I hate taking medication and wouldnt ask if it wasnt necessary .I know my body well --I have had it for 77 years. Iwas told by GP that i had heart failure and Atrial fibrilation 5 months ago and yet when I saw the Cardiologist she said I didnt have heart failure ---so happy about that but went through terrible anxiety thinking I had 2 heart diseases.

confused71 profile image
confused71 in reply to MountainGoat52

Just thought i would let you know that because of the results of my chest xray I have been put on frusemide due to fluid in the lungs it turns out i do have both Atrial Fibrilation and Heart Failure .Shadow on lungs didnt show up on the echo

MountainGoat52 profile image
MountainGoat52 in reply to confused71

Hmm, that horrible term heart failure. I hope they tell your more detail in due course and prescribe the appropriate medication. Okay on being prescribed Furosemide... that's standard medication. Not one I personally can take, but the same goes for most diuretics.

ETHEL103 profile image
ETHEL103

Yes I got the rampiril cough.Losarton ok.

fishonabike profile image
fishonabike

you don't have to put up with the Ramipril (ACE inhibitor) cough - get you doctor to change it as soon as possible

i put up with it for a couple of years, not realising it was a side-effect - as soon as i found that out i asked for a change and my GP did it without hesitation

it is a well known side effect, but ACE inhibitors are cheaper than the alternative ARBs (Losartan etc) so they are often prescribed first when cost is an issue, as it is in the NHS

Andrew_A profile image
Andrew_A

I always tolerated ramipril very well but my daughter did not and was put on something else. I am now on entresto which for me is much better but the nice guidelines for this are very strict.

A lot of people complain about the ramipril cough but you do need to give it a bit of a chance and not refuse it after only 11 days. Speak to your doctor and see how long they recommend using it before trying one of the alternatives

Digeo19 profile image
Digeo19

Hi... I've been on 10mg Ramipril for just over 3 years.. not had any issues (that I know of) 🫣

Alison_L profile image
Alison_L

I switched from Ramipril to Candesartan. It didn’t stop me gaining weight though 😞

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