unsure about medication

[Wanheda1]

Hi I’m just wondering if anyone on here is taking bisoprolol ramipril and aspirin? And why are you taking it. That’s what I take but I don’t know why. I struggle to pay attention when my cardiologist talks to me and I know very little about my own heart condition

[BeKind28-]

Hello

I take Bisoprolol and Aspirin but not ramipril which is a blood pressure tablet but I take a different blood pressure tablet instead

I did have 3 heart attacks and at the time was not on any of these meds since the heart attacks and triple Bypass I am now on a cocktail of meds all of which helps to protect your heart

Bisoprolol helps to keep your heart for a better word calmer so it does not have to work as hard and helps preventing having a heart attack a very good medication if can be tolerated which Consultants use a lot

Ramipril helps to keep your blood pressure stable which again having a good Blood pressure reading is better for your heart and Aspirin is used to keep your blood thinner so it can move around the heart and prevent heart attacks

This is what I have been told they are needed for others might come along and be able to give you a better explanation when they see your post

If you can take someone with you on your next appointment I always do as I forget to as I get anxious what they have said but then I ask who I have taken with me and they remind me which I find helps x

[Wanheda1 in reply to BeKind28-]

Hi I always have my mum with me but I think that’s part of the problem lol growing up she always told me I just had a hole in my heart but I requested some medical forms and it says I was born with pulmonary atresia with VSD and right aortic arch. Still no idea what that means

[BeKind28- in reply to Wanheda1]

Hello

I think it does mean that there is a hole between the two pumping chambers of the heart but it can all start to sound so complex so maybe your Mum kept it simple by saying you were born with a hole in your heart rather than going into all the technical part of it

We have some very knowledgeable members who might when they see your post be able to explain it to you in more detail x

[scentedgardener in reply to Wanheda1]

You can ring the BHF cardiac nurses on 0300 330 3311 and ask them to translate the medical terms for you.The meds you mention are what my GP called a standard cardiac prescription, which is aimed at lessening the risk factors with heart issues while they determine the best course of action for you.

[BaronFrankenstein in reply to Wanheda1]

Try this pdf doc to understand your condition

mft.nhs.uk/app/uploads/site...

[Coffeelover2]

Hi, I take them for secondary prevention as I had a heart attack but they could be taken if you are at risk. Strangely I have never had high blood pressure when I had my heart attack but they say these meds can help prevent further damage by keeping the rates even lower. Ramipril lowers blood pressure and bisoprolol lowers your heart rate.

Aspirin is to thin the blood as pretty much every heart attack or stroke is caused by a blood clot.

[Mentdent]

I take all three. Bisoprolol and aspirin as preventatives post heart attack and ramipril for high blood pressure. No problems with them at all.

[Survivor1952]

I’m on Bisoprolol, Aspirin and Losartan.

Bisoprolol slows and steadies the heart so that it doesn’t have to work so hard.

Aspirin is a blood thinner, again it helps reduce the load on the heart. It also acts as an anti-coagulant to prevent blood clots.

Ramipril, which I was on but don’t tolerate, is used to help control blood pressure by dilating blood vessels and, again, reducing the load on the heart. In my case Losartan has the same effect.

[Traveldreams]

I also take all 3 plus omeprazole with the aspirin. I was put on Bisoprolol to protect my heart while waiting for mitral valve surgery and it was suggested that if the surgery worked I would eventually come off it. Only 9 weeks post surgery and still on it but no post op yet so unsure if that will change. Aspirin was told will stay on for life. Ramipril is blood pressure dependent. One of them (I think Bisoprolol) does give me an upset stomach. Definitely not the aspirin as I’ve only been taking that for 9 weeks and I’ve had the stomach issues since I started the other two over a year ago.

[4sibbs]

My husband takes Bisoprolol, Aspirin and Losartin he was initially on Ramipril but it was changed due to him developing a cough. These are the usual combination of meds for heart problems my husband had a major heart attack in 2018 and will be on these for life, as others have said they are essential preventative meds that protect your heart.

[fishonabike]

i think it would be a good idea for you to follow the advice from scentedgardener and ring the BHS helpline, during office hours - the staff there should be able to help you understand more about your medical notes and why you are expected to take these medications

they might also be able to suggest other people who can help you with this

[Qualipop]

Those are what I was given after my heart attack along with a statin, a GTN spray and something to protect my stomach from the aspirin. I'm sure others will explain better than me what each one is for.

[Qualipop]

Take someone with you to your next appointment so they can take notes of what the consultant says and ask him to explain it in simple language. It's much easier to understand if you can read it several times. YOu do need to l earn about your condition so that you can make lifestyle changes that will help you. Your GP should have a letter from teh cardiologist explaining it all so maybe ask your GP to explain it to you. My GP was great because I didn't understand a word of my discharge letter.

[Wanheda1]

thanks everyone it must just be prevention cause I haven’t had a heart attack and as far as I’m aware my blood pressure has always been fine

[Jem64]

I stopped taking the aspirin in agreement with the stroke Team as I'm on Clopidogel which is doing the job.The Rampiril and Bisoprolol are keeping my BP under control in addition to other health changes I've made myself.

[Gosportinfo]

I was given bisoprolol ramipril plus a couple of diabetics when in hospital 10 years ago. Good to hear someone else who had problems keeping up with what was said. For high blood pressure and heart failure. A few week later GP added aspirin and simvastatin as cholesterol was high and my Mum died of heart failure when she was 40. I was 54 now 64. Though I suggest you don't get caught out by gout as I did. Had horrible foot pain but didn't know what it was so left it 6 plus months before going to the Dr. Allopurinol pretty much sorted it out.

[carole99 in reply to Gosportinfo]

Could I ask if you got gout through taking medication. I am in terrible pain since starting some of the medications mentioned on here.

[ianrjeffery in reply to carole99]

I believe so. Four of my tablets according to the leaflets can cause it. High uric acid levels were not in the blood for my earlier blood test and I only partial found out had been showing for two to three years before the gout when whent to my annual review, that time with a nurse, and she looked back at the results and read sort of to herself, 'it's high the previous year and the previous year'. She then closed it down and went on to something else.

[carole99 in reply to ianrjeffery]

Thank you for your reply

[Beanlover]

I take all three. My preopp assessment for a minor opp came up with an issue with the electrical rhythms in my heart. Had the opp and an echocardiogram, and was referred to a cardiologist. Appt 4mths later and cardiologist said I had a heart problem, but they were obviously not clear what. He put me on Ramipril and Bisoprolol, and a Statin while waiting for an MRI, and CT scan. It seemed to be the all purpose medication they put you on if they knew there was a problem. Tests revealed a mild lefy ventricular systolic dysfunction, which my GP said I was on the right medication for. The CT scan revealed an artery less than 50% blocked and they added an aspirin to the list.They seem to be regularly prescribed

[Kwakkers]

First of all get some reading done on the heart; plenty of handouts around at hospitals. Go back to school. After 5 heart attacks, a cardiac arrest and aortic aneurysm I`m on six tabs including yours.

They are there to keep the arteries supple, stop `nasty` things being made by your body and back-up systems should anyone of them fail to do their job. Ace Inhibitors they`re called. Kept me going for 13 years. Mind you, You`ve got to exercise as well you know. I wear a defibrillator and when I go to Clinic the staff tell me when I`ve been swimming and for how long. (Swimming is the BEST thing you can do, by the way).

Keep going.......and READ about your heart/ticker. NB. There IS a club called Ticker Club for those of us dodgy hearts. Look `em up.

Ta-ra.