Was admitted to hospital as passed out, paramedics found seriously low blood pressure. Eventually it was brought back to a decent level. I've been taking GTN as and when needed as gp said its a angina different in women and certainly was in my mum's case in her shoulder or shoulder blade. I've found it works the same for me. However it is suspected angina not yet confirmed by cardiologist as haven't seen one since I had stents fitted in June and July. Long story short I'm now waiting for cardiac perfusion mri and in A&E vasovagul spasm and syncope was a possibility so have been prescribed Ranazalone and although it should have been given last night it is tonight that I've actually been given it. Am presently sat here with it and too anxious to take it as it can cause Pancreatitis albeit a rare side effect. You see a few weeks ago my other half eas taking azathioprine for a combination drug to treat Crohns disease and it gave him acute Pancreatitis, it was awful and so hard to get pain relief and treatment in the surgical ward they discharge him and it was not under control and he was taken back in. I never want to experience that again. Also I take 80mg Atorvastatin and am having bad cramp and calf pain but strongly advised to put up with it as prolonging my life. Ranazalone increases that side effect. I'm just wondering how other people have felt with this particular drug combination.Thanks in advance for any reply.
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Did the doctor say what type of angina you are suspected to have?
Women can experience angina symptoms differently to men. I feel it in my upper back, shoulder blades, in my arms, and jaw sometimes. It is also often right sided for me which is another way women may experience angina differently to men.
Ranolazine is used to treat angina pain. I was prescribed it in Oct 2022 when a cardiologist suspected microvascular angina (MVA). I have not heard of vasovagul spasms before however, Ranolazine can treat spasms in the smaller blood vessels. I did not do too well on it as I felt like my heart was pounding/thumping, even after halving the tablet from 375mg. Although I have a diagnosis of MVA (I won’t bore you with it as I’m sure you’ve read on my heart history on a post somewhere on here 😂), I will not go back on Ranolazine because I cannot tolerate it. I do tend to have a sensitivity to cardiac meds however. I took it in combination with a calcium channel blocker, Verapamil at the time. I am not on any of the other meds which you have listed.
I understand the anxiety and wanting to be cautious when starting new meds. I would speak to a pharmacist on Monday if you don’t have access to one over the weekend to speak about the interactions between your meds and the newly added Ranolazine.
Hopefully others on a similar medication regime and experience will leave some useful tips for you.
Thanks for replying Tos92. They haven't said which type it's my shoulders and upper back usually same as whichever arm I get it in. GTN works for right side, on the left only when really deep severe so Im learning as my gp said. They said they won't know until they do the perfusion scan. But possible cardiac pain not heart he said. It's a bit all over the place. Vasovagal I had to unfortunately Google basically veins constricting causing pain and dizziness. I'm not explaining it very well, I do apologise. atleast I know syncope is basically fainting /bad dizziness, I think. He not sure if I have PAD either as hands and wrists aren't as bad as I thought even though have Raynauds (lupus anticoagulant mixed in toob he said scan will tell us more.
That makes sense what you are saying about the vasovagul spasms. I really hope the scan rules out any problems with the heart and the wait isn’t too long. I know the symptoms of PAD can sometimes develop slowly. It would probably be wise to monitor your symptoms to see if they are getting worse, staying the same, or getting better. In the meantime, if you’re feeling unwell, please go back to the hospital.
I'm still in hospital at the moment that's why it's took me aback, to do so. Just found out consultant again in the morning (on Sunday?) so told nurse too scared to take it. She understands now and will leave note to say too nervous to take willing to try come that doesn't interact with Atorvastatin and will ask him to discuss the drug it's effects etc to give me choice. Thought that was nice. Now I've decided I'm sleepy too, thank you and night night
Yeah not bad finally realised it's an allergy that I have don't know what it's from, most like dust and mold I would of thought x so I got some antihistamine tablets seem to off done the trick but I wake up and my nose is ridiculously blocked and it's bleeding so like I said definitely an allergy to something, well fed up xx ❤️ hope you feel better soon x
Hi👋oddly enough my nose is kind of blocked in the morning too and had a couple of nose bleeds, I thought it was aspirin, never thought of allergies. I am glad taking antihistamines is helping you gain some relief, you've been through a lot. There's different antihistamine out there, I've seen them help with nausea and dizziness too. I'm sorry to see you're still having a tough time. Stay strong Yumz199725, you're a star 🫶
Ahh thanks hun x antihistamine isn't helping me today not been a good day for me I had migraine and it was affecting my vision which hasn't happend in a while so wasn't great and the bone on my ear has hurting so much I had paracetamol x hope your feeling better soon ❤️
I've been so many times this past few months x I have to put ear drops in my ear for 10 days and then if it still sore then I'm gona go back so another week of this hell 💔x
I'm have MVA and my cardiologist put meon Ranolazone along with isosobide mononitrate and I'm OK on it and it does help alot. Hope you get yours sorted soon
Hi Weetabixie, I am on Ranilazone and it helps to stop my chest pain. I may have had some side effects when I first started taking it but they went away as I am fine with it.
I used to be on Atorvastatin which my body could not tolerate, so much muscle pain ! I was switched to Rosuvastatin which is much better by far.
Thanks Vancouver2023, they've all said stick with Atorvastatin as it's the best, it really is giving side effects. Hoping to have chat with the doctor about both of the drugs
Thank you to everyone for your replies. A lovely nurse has just gone through it with me and kind of said you need it, try it atleast this morning as I'm still in hospital will be well worked through system by tonight, if not happy or find can't tolerate it they'll find alternatives then. I can't fault that reasoning. Wish me luck
I took Ranexa for a while for microvascular angina but found I couldn't tolerate it. But I know some people get a lot of benefit from it. I think your lovely nurse is right and it's a question of suck it and see. Being in hospital is a good place to monitor how things develop.
No experience of Ranazalone, Weetabixie, but Atorvastatin gave me severe side-effects. Some people tolerate this statin well, though, so consider it on the understanding that there are alternatives. I hope your med's and concerns are soon sorted.
Thank you so much WeeHoolet, if it doesn't ease off over the next week I'll go see my gp. I had not much problems until this past week. I think I just simply resigned myself to the idea that's that how it's going to be, but thanks to finding this forum I've learnt so much and am so much more informed than what they like to tell you and can question what I'm being told x
I am on both those meds( plus a lot more) I take 500mg ranolozine twice a day. I was started on it after still having chest discomfort on exertion after stent insertion. Cardiologist thinks I have micro vascular angina. It has definitely helped and caused no obvious side effects. Xx
Thanks thekeys46. I've not got a definitive diagnosis but they think it's the veins possibly causing the problems and are going to do a perfusion scan. Hopefully sooner than later. I took the Ranolazine this morning 🤞hoping it works for me too
I was given it just before my stent was fitted , but never took it as list of side effects sounded horrendous . Doubt I need it now anyway . Hope everything goes ok for you
Sorry you and your husband are having an awful time at the moment.
I hope I can help, I have Chronic Pancreatis which started in 2020 and more recently, Coronary Artery Disease. I too take 80 mg Atorvastatin plus 500mg Ranolazine twice a day. I’m also taking Ivabradine, Felodipine and Monomil for my heart and pain meds and Methotrexate for my other conditions. To date, I haven’t had any out of the ordinary pancreatic flares. However my heart meds have made a huge difference to how well I feel.
Obviously, there are no guarantees with any meds but I’m sure you’ll be closely monitored.
Thank you for your reply suwinter, you have a lot going on, imflammatory disease is so complicated. I'm sorry to hear you have chronic Pancreatitis on top of everything, may I ask if it was caused from a treatment rheumatology? I recognise the methotrexate from the leaflets when I was sat in rheumatology dept to see if I had a lupus flare.You have helped make my decision easier to take my second ranalozine. I do need to take it as everyday I'm second guessing as to whether take my GTN or not and this tablet is supposed to help. It was azathioprine that caused my Andy's acute Pancreatitis. Thankfully after 2 admission the first being treated in what I can only describe as negligently, he has healed with no damage 🤞.
I wish you all the best with your treatments. Take care please x
Following a heart attack and cardiac arrest in 2017 I have been suffering with Angina since 2020. I had numerous tests at my local hospital culminating with a botched angiogram and then nuclear perfusion scan in 2021. After the scan the cardiologist told me they could find nothing wrong. During that time the cardiologists have added isosorbide mononitrate and Nicorandil to my medication which have alleviated the angina to some extent. They also adjusted my Atorvastatin and Ramipril dose to see if it made any difference. One cardiologist implied that the pains were in my head rather than real, which did not make any sense given that the angina medication was alleviating the pains. I Last summer I asked for a 2nd opinion from a London based specialist which has led to me having a further angiogram in which both Vasospastic and Microvascular Angina were diagnosed. I am now back on 80 mg Atorvastatin and 750 mg Ranolazine has been added to my meds. I am fortunate that (so far) I tolerate both without any issues. The angina is controlled well now and my quality of life is greatly improved.
Taking medication is a personal choice which involves balancing the benefits and risks, my advice would be that if you need relief from angina to take the Ranolazine and see how you get on. 375 mg is the starter dose which is less likely to give side effects (and benefit). After a couple of weeks the cardio will probably want to increase to 500 mg.
Thanks for your reply Gibson01Best decision to have got that second opinion, I don't know how differing outcomes /results happen with same tests but different specialist interpretation. I'm glad things have been done properly second time round for you. Hope you are as ok as can be now 🤞
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he said scan will tell us more. 
What does unstable angina feel like?
Upper back ache
A&E visit question 
To take Ramipril - or not - that is the question? 
