After having 3 stents fitted in April and May this year following an NSTEMI event, I am still getting some chest pain. I still have a partially blocked artery that the cardiologist wants to manage with medication.
The cardiologist has put me on Ranolazine (375mg twice a day) to try to combat the pain I am still getting, and there is no doubt that this has helped significantly. And the improvement has continued now for four/five weeks - gradually getting better over time. This was to be expected (apparently).
I wonder - does anyone have a view on how long it will take to have its full effect (when will it stop improving)?
I still have some pain (although reduced) and have a call with my doctor on Thursday. I am considering asking for an uplift to 500mg x2 (which is pre-approved by my cardiologist) but I don't want to do that it it is going to keep getting better for another few weeks yet on the existing dose.
Thoughts welcome.
Written by
cocobearbhf
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I was prescribed Ranolazine however, I couldn’t tolerate the side effects and stopped. I’m happy to hear it is working for you.
It is possible to build a tolerance to any medication, but as you’ve only been on it for a month or so on a 375mg dosage twice a day, I personally don’t think it’s possible to develop a tolerance to medication that quickly.
I don’t have anymore experience to offer you on that front I’m afraid, but your cardiologist will definitely be able to tell you whether you should wait longer and continue on your current dosage, or have it increased.
Sorry cocobear….just wanted to support Milkfairys comments. I too got arrthymias with Ranolazine, which went when it was stopped. It was effective with my angina.
We sound similar, I was still getting chest pains and short of breath and using GTN on a regular basis following my 2 HT and a quadruple CABG. Like you after starting on this new med, I would say it all reduced by around 50%.
I would say it took about a month to all find a level. I’m really pleased, still waiting to see my cardiologist again to what the next steps are.
I’m glad it’s helped you as well, let’s hope it stays that way👍
As per Milkfairy’s quoted NICE advice, my cardiologist followed this to the letter and now, on taking 2x 750 Ranolazine per day (along with 4 other tablets), I find my symptoms are brilliantly reduced.
Ranolazine was the real game changer for me and allows me to engage in normal activities most of the time, although, like everyone else on here, I have some pretty bad days as well, usually following a series of stupidly overly active days….maybe I’ll learn to manage these more successfully in the future!!😝
Ranolazine initially didn't work for me until I reached the 2 x 750 mg dose. I didn't get any side effects but found that after six months or so it didn't help so eventually stopped taking it. I personally found that Amlodipine helped reduce the angina pain although initally prescribed as a BP drug.
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