Renaxa

[Maltise]

Hi I was prescribed 250 mg Renaxa as an empirical treatment for angina vasospastic probably. Is anyone familiar with this med ? Side effects seem to be severe . So far I did not tolerate Cardizem,Amilodipine or nitro patch. Thanks ...getting quite discouraged!

[Tos92]

Hi Maltise

I’m sorry to hear you’re still struggling with the angina.

I was put on Ranexa, but stopped due to not being able to tolerate the side effects. I haven’t had much luck when it comes to medication keeping my symptoms of vasospastic angina at bay. It’s quite a challenging condition and not everyone responds to the same type of medication. Some don’t respond to treatment at all. I have noticed throughout my journey so far, I am sensitive to cardiac meds.

What side effects are you having as you haven’t mentioned them and how long have you been taking it for?

All the best Maltise.

Tos

[Maltise in reply to Tos92]

Thanks . I did not take Renaxa yet . The dose prescribed in not available !

[Tos92 in reply to Maltise]

I have previously taken half a tablet on cardiologists’ orders before if a dosage was not available. Could that be a possibility for your cardiologist to consider if you were prescribed it in the form 500mg for example and then broke it in half?

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Tos92]

I didn't think scored Ranolazine tablets are available.

It's not recommended to cut some tablets in half, especially if they are unscored.

[Tos92 in reply to Milkfairy]

I was advised to cut my Ranolazine tablets in half and take them by a cardiologist last year. Whether they all come un-scored, I don’t know.

It seems the opinion may vary depending on the cardiologist and the individual treatment plan.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Tos92]

Perhaps better to take the advice of a Pharmacist?

It would be very difficult to cut an unscored tablet like Ranolazine evenly.

Best done with a pill cutter following the advice of a Pharmacist.

[Tos92 in reply to Milkfairy]

I’d like to think that I can trust the cardiologists at my local hospital and take their advice too.

I have a pill cutter as I’ve had to cut different tablets on a few occasions on the instructions of a cardiologist. They’re cost effective and easily available should people require them.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Tos92]

Have you had any joy in your request to be referred to another Cardiologist who understands vasospastic angina?

[Tos92 in reply to Milkfairy]

I’m still waiting to hear from the hospital that I’ve been referred to whether I have been accepted or not.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello Maltise,

I have been prescribed quite a few medications over many years to help manage my vasospastic angina, including Ranolazine.

Have you decided to take up the tests you have been offered to determine the cause of your angina?

The symptoms of microvascular and vasospastic angina can overlap, however the treatment options are different.

Ranolazine is a medication that comes with mixed reviews. There is antedoctal reports of individual patients being helped by Ranolazine with vasospastic angina.

Some patients say it's the one medication that was a game changer for them.

As you are not able to tolerate any other medications usually prescribed for patients living vasospastic angina, perhaps it's worth seeing how you get on with the medication?

The only way you'll know it works or not is by taking it.

I only took Ranolazine for a short while as it gave me arrthymias. However that's me and we all respond differently to medication.

I hope Ranolazine helps you with minimal side effects.

[Maltise in reply to Milkfairy]

Thanks. You always reply so quickly and so eloquently ! No , I did not have the provocation angio . I discussed again with the cardiologist the risks and my intolerance to meds so far . Even if I have the angio and then I don't tolerate the treatment ? It is very challenging ! Now the dose of Renaxa 250mg doesn't exist here and the capsule cannot be cut . So stuck again trying to reach the cardiologist .

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

I can understand your reluctance to have an invasive functional angiogram if you can't tolerate the usual medications.

Ranolazine is also available in 375mgs tablets.

Would that be a possibility?

The WARRIOR trial is a study on a possible treatment of Ischaemia non obstructive coronary arteries, INOCA.

It is going to see if statins, angiotensin converting enzyme, ACE inhibitors eg Ramipril.

Angiotensin receptor blockers, ARBs, eg Candesartin will help.

Maybe discuss this with your Cardiologist ?

classic.clinicaltrials.gov/...

[Maltise in reply to Milkfairy]

375 mg is not available in Canada . The pharmacist did not agree with cutting the pill in half as it is a slow release med and the danger is in getting too much at once . The cardiologist I consulted now also mentioned the clinical trial with aspirin, ace inhibitors and statins. I did not read about it yet .

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Maltise]

It's a shame 375mgs tablets aren't available in Canada. Is it possible to get a supply from the US?

Pharmacists are professionally responsible on how to safely dispense medication including advising which tablets you can and cannot split.

canpd.com/products/ranexa?v...

[Frogman53]

I have been on Ranexa for years 500mg morning 750 mg at night with no serious side effects..also on Isosorbide and Amlodipine...

[Suzyh]

Hi I take one twice a day I don't know what side effect are but iv been ok on it

[francesw47]

Hi Maltize. I understand from the cardiologist that Ranolazine is a Marmite drug - many do not tolerate it. I take 375mgs twice a day for angina (unspecified but suspected small vessel angina) and I'm one of those people who has responded well to it. Indeed, from about the first few days I could feel the relief and although I still have angina its nowhere near as bad as it was (just lands me in A and E from time to time). Cardiologist assures me that 375mgs is a small dose and can be upped if necessary. No side effects - thankfully.. I'm always a bit apprehensive about adding new meds to the list as the one known side effect is to knock my blood pressure into freefall and I simply hate the process of acclimatising to a new med whilst my bp is on the floor - a really unpleasant feeling and rather dangerous due to the risk of falls etc. Its hard isn't it to be prescribed a drug that has a scary list of side effects and also have the knowledge that it is something that quite a few cannot tolerate. Let us know what you decide to do.

[Maltise in reply to francesw47]

Thanks. I hope I can get the right dose and try it !

[jj62]

Hi I'm also on Ranexa .I've been on them about 4 years now My dosage is 375mg x2 morning and night .They did make me feel like crap for about first 3 months but I'm used to them now so hopefully they will settle down for you .

[Maltise in reply to jj62]

Thanks. Good to know it took you awhile to set used to it .

[World1inmotion]

Hi Maltise, my experience of ranalozine is that I experienced some side effects for about two or three months mainly just feeling tired . I take 750mg twice a day and quite a few other medications. My condition has definitely improved over the last 7 months although continue to have angina attacks, just nowhere near as often or severe as a few months ago.

[Maltise in reply to World1inmotion]

Thanks. It seems it takes a while to get used to it !

[chaz59]

Hi , i have been taken 750mg twice a day for approximately 6 months or so for angina.

Along with lots of other medications and to be honest it seems to work ….. no hospital admissions since taking them and i was regularly in A&E via ambulance all the classic symptoms of HA but have only had the 1 in August last year along with 2 stents on 2 different visits .

[Maltise in reply to chaz59]

Thanks. I am glad it worked for you. I will try it if able to get the right dose .

[Ellie-Ann]

Hi Maltise

I have stable angina and am now 76 yrs old. ( female). I was put into RANEXA ( RANOLAZINE )375mg twice a day a couple of years ago.

I haven’t had any nasty side effects and I do think that it has helped a lot with chest pain / shoulder, upper back pain when exercising.

Give it a go. It may help you. Good luck.

[Maltise in reply to Ellie-Ann]

Thanks. Glad it helped you . I will try it if able to get the right dose.

[Poppy451]

Hi thereI was taking renaxa for awhile and it did seem to help at first although it did give me constipation. Then I developed arrhythmia but that was because I was taking calcium channel blockers as well. If you are not taking CCBs then why not give it a go ,if you can get the right dose

[Maltise in reply to Poppy451]

Thanks I will try to get the right dose.

[Hidden]

Hello Maltise, following a heart attack (NSTEMI) in September 2020, I was prescribed Ranexa 375mg tablets: one tablet in the morning and one at night. Last year this was increased to 750mg tablets: one in the morning and one at night. This is the maximum dose. I have not experienced any side effects that I am aware of at all. I take multiple medications for heart condition.

[Maltise in reply to Hidden]

Thanks . I am glad that you are tolerating the high dose . Thanks for answering me