Digestion issues - meds?

[Georgeygoose94]

Hi all,

I have a diagnosis for CHF secondary to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy back in July. Was put on all these pills which have halved the size of my ankles and overall make me feel like I’m - well, not dying anymore, which is great. But I’ve been experiencing some digestion issues (almost like IBS) which I thought was a parasite but now think it might be a side effect of one or a combo of my drugs. Does anyone else have a problem with this? I’ll put a list of my drugs below, but there’s no dietary rhyme or reason to it and it’s really getting in the way of my daily life now. Any advice would be well appreciated - I have almost no contact with the HF team, my GP can’t run a bath and my consultant won’t see me till January so anything would be so helpful.

Drugs I’m on are:

Edoxaban

Entresto

Empagliflozin

Lanzoprazole

Mirtazipine

Carvedilol

Desogestrel

Spironolactone

Furosemide

thanks x

[devonian186]

Pharmacists like to show off their considerable medication skills which are normally better than a GP. Go see them armed with your full list and dosage and knowledge of the ailment they are supposed to be improving.

Ask if one medication might be conflicting with another, whether all are needed, if dosage is right and if you are taking them at the right time of day.

If they believe there might be a problem they will need to refer you back to your GP but its worth asking the questions so you can get a general idea.

[Hrty]

Definitely worth chatting a pharmacist if you can. I've had several chats with the practice pharmacist at my GP and he has tweaked meds for me. I'm not on as many as you but just about all mine list some sort of stomach issue as a side effect. I had to stop taking lansaprozole owing to the volcanic effect had resulting in spending an awful lot of time in "contemplation" in the smallest room in the house. I was switched to famotidine. Good luck

[Bigmark61]

George did you get any help with your issue. I’ve had similar issues with IBS symptoms for over a year and it started shortly after after going empa, but after colonoscopy and scans they find no reason for the problems and say it’s probably IBS that I have I did ask my GP and gastrointestinal consultant and they said it wouldn’t be that tablet. I’m not to sure.

[Georgeygoose94 in reply to Bigmark61]

Hiya, I didn’t get any help really with this I’m afraid, I’m pretty sure it was the Empagliflozin but I’ve learned to manage it with apple cider vinegar, multivits and probiotic supplements. It’s still a bit hit and miss but it’s now far more manageable at least if that helps!!

[Bigmark61 in reply to Georgeygoose94]

Hi, I appreciate the reply, yeah I’m on probiotics and others, so doing the same as you managing it on top of everything else. I’m pretty sure it is the empagliflozin but the medics don’t seem to agree.

Thank you again 😉