Ozempic for heart failure : Hi My... - British Heart Fou...

British Heart Foundation

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Ozempic for heart failure

Stevo5 profile image
37 Replies

Hi

My husband has was diagnosed with Heart failure in February. We were devastated when we were told They have increased his beta blocker and are trying him on a new tablet.

I heard yesterday on the news that Ozempic is the biggest breakthrough for Heart conditions in 20 years and can actually Prevent the deterioration of Heart Failure Has any one been offered this ? As we believe this could be very beneficial to my husband’s quality of life and life expectancy

Thank you

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Stevo5 profile image
Stevo5
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37 Replies
10gingercats profile image
10gingercats

This drug may be offered to my husband by his GP for type 2 diabetes and it can also be used to lose weight. Not heard about the heart failure connection.Ask your GP for advice.

Lezzers profile image
Lezzers in reply to10gingercats

I did a quick Google and apparently it helps those with preserved EF heart failure who have weight issues.

Stevo5 profile image
Stevo5 in reply to10gingercats

Thank you We seeing his consultant in a few weeks so will ask him. Just wondered if anyone else had heard anything about it. As I heard a scientist talking on the news this week about it

Goldfish7 profile image
Goldfish7 in reply to10gingercats

I think its just about weight loss being benificial to many people with heart problems - beta blockers often prescribed for heart conditions can lead to people piling on the weight.

bellete profile image
bellete in reply to10gingercats

This med Rybelsus is awesome. It has helped me bring my A1C down to 5.1 from a high of 9.7. I first started with the 3mg and am now on the 14mg. Been on this med since March and while I did experience some nausea and mild upset stomach it went away after about a week. It has also helped me lose 50lbs as well. I also take with metformin. I should be the poster child for this drug...even though I'm 50 - onlinecheappills.com/semagl...

Lezzers profile image
Lezzers

My understanding was that it reduces the risk of a heart attack or heart failure due to obesity or being overweight, which makes sense as being overweight increases health risks, but I'm happy to be told I'm wrong. A lot of people with HF/heart disease put on weight due to their meds or because they're unable to exercise, limited mobility, etc.

My husband has had heart failure since at least 2012, can I ask what's the new tablet they're trying him on?

Stevo5 profile image
Stevo5 in reply toLezzers

this This is a list of his medications. They have doubled his Bisoprosol The bottom tablets are he new ones they have given him to try

This is a list of his meds. They have doubled his beta blockers
Lezzers profile image
Lezzers in reply toStevo5

My husband also takes atorvastatin.(Statin) bisoprolol (beta blocker) & amiodarone (antiarrhythmic medication) the statin helps to reduce cholesterol & stabilise plaque to reduce a heart attack risk. The bisoprolol reduces the strain on his heart & the amiodarone helps control abnormal heart rhythms.

The edoxaban is an anti coagulant med, it helps stop his blood from clotting, I believe. My husband doesn't take any coagulants so my knowledge of this is quite sketchy.

Does your husband have reduced EF heart failure or preserved EF heart failure? Do you know what his EF is? Do you have access to a HF nurse?

I totally understand why you would feel devastated by his diagnosis, I know myself & my husband were too. It's early days for you at the moment, medication for HF has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years & life expectancy & quality of life has improved massively. There's still more meds out there that could help your husband, dapagliflozin, spirolactone Entresto, to name 3! But it can & does take time to get the meds right & to get the doses right. Please don't despair, I know of people who were diagnosed & hospitalised with severe HF and who are now running marathons!

Stevo5 profile image
Stevo5 in reply toLezzers

Thank you for your reassuring words. This means a lot. I believe he has reduced EF HF. The HF nurses still haven’t contacted him yet even though the consultant rang them whilst we were with him. We are going to see the consultant soon Im glad I asked this question and clearly we have so much to learn about HF. I’m so grateful for your reply. You have made me feel much better about our future.

Thank you so much 🥰

Lezzers profile image
Lezzers in reply toStevo5

Unfortunately the nurses are very busy, too few nurses and too many patients!! You could phone the nurses yourself, your surgery or hospital will be able to give you the number. They might be able to say when they'll be able to give your husband an appt.

My husband has reduced EF HF too, he also had an ICD. In the 12 years he's had HF his condition has gone from severe to mild to moderate too severe again. In that time he's gone to the gym 3/4 times a week, gone through cancer treatment, various operations & procedures, several house moves, many holidays abroad, concerts, music festivals etc. There is still a good life to get had, you may just need to make some adjustments to enjoy it to the full.

Stevo5 profile image
Stevo5 in reply toLezzers

Thank you so much. You have made us feel so much more positive. Your husband sounds like a real fighter and you sound like an amazing lady. I hope you have many more happy years together. Thank you x

Happyrosie profile image
Happyrosie

I read in the paper that this was an early “survey” of this drug, there’s quite a bit more work to do before it can be prescribed generally I think.

Stevo5 profile image
Stevo5 in reply toHappyrosie

It was a scientist that said it on the news

Happyrosie profile image
Happyrosie in reply toHappyrosie

Yes I heard it - very good news - but they need more trials before it’s on general release

Hanibil profile image
Hanibil

I think probably the best drug is Entresto

fairgo45 profile image
fairgo45

For HFpEF I take Jardiance and it's helped a lot

iwannabeabear profile image
iwannabeabear

I haven't specifically for heart failure, but I'm on it for my t1 diabetes. Very interested to see if it has helped my heart in any way

abc1_2-3 profile image
abc1_2-3

I was asked if I wanted to take part in a drug trial for this after my MI about 3 years ago. When I went for the assessment I was told it was an existing drug used on diabetic patients with weight problems as it is an appetite suppressant.Anyway I had lost sufficient weight that I was outside the scope for the trial

Fullofheart profile image
Fullofheart

Entresto is usually the drug of choice for heart failure.What is your husbands ejection fraction?

I'm sure others have said, and will say, heart failure is a broad term and not always very helpful language. It is worth reading up on this and also talking with folk like the BHF nurses and/ or your husband's own cardiology team.

I was diagnosed with heart failure a couple of years back in my late 40s. Following successful treatment for AF I am now out of that category. But it was a very concerning time. So, I understand the worry.

As I understand it the new evidence for ozempic, linked to cardiac treatment, is creating excitement in some circles, but is early days. The results that were quoted on the media were from trials funded by the drug company and suggested that those who took the drug (whether they lost weight or not) had reduced burden on the heart which could translate as being useful in heart failure cases and in possibly other heart conditions. I haven't, yet, read any research on it so this is just a perspective based on an understanding of the info that was put out there this week. It could be a significant development. But its early days. My understanding is it will continue to be prescribed for weight loss/ obesity. It might take a while before there are wider prescribing parameters. Others might have more detailed information to offer you. This was just what I picked up on mainstream media.

But, as others have said, there are other drugs widely used for heart failure that have good evidence. It's worth looking into those.

Stevo5 profile image
Stevo5 in reply toFullofheart

Thank you. We clearly have so much to learn about HF and so many questions to ask

Thank you

Fullofheart profile image
Fullofheart in reply toStevo5

There is A charity called pumping marvellous who may be useful. I've never made use of that but I've heard good things about them. I note that they prefer the language of heart inefficiency rather than heart failure. I think that's helpful. Heart failure need not be as devastating as the language suggests. That's not to undermine the legitimate worry you have.The BHF helpline is really very helpful also. They might be able to answer some of those questions.

K9ndo profile image
K9ndo

My wife needs this to manage her type 2 diabetes but unfortunately it’s in such short supply that she’s being moved off ozempic due to lack of supply. This situation has being going on for some time since it was promoted as a weight loss solution. What ever the benefits for us with heart issues, it’s not any easy drug to live with and it is not going to be available anytime soon. Our pharmacy is suggesting lack of supply issues for the next few years.

Stevo5 profile image
Stevo5 in reply toK9ndo

So sorry to hear your wife can’t get the medication she needs. It’s crazy.

YorkiesForlife profile image
YorkiesForlife

the problem is where are they getting this drug, both Ozempic and Trulicity can't be had due to people buying it for weight loss who are not diabetic.

Eric_ profile image
Eric_ in reply toYorkiesForlife

Yes, but with heart issues, it is prescibed to help reduce the weight to normal levels to assist the longevity of the patients life, like in diabetis.🙂

YorkiesForlife profile image
YorkiesForlife in reply toEric_

Eric yes I understand but there is a world shortage and possible shortage will continue until December 2024, so where are pharmacists able to obtain it, that's my real question?

Lowerfield_no_more profile image
Lowerfield_no_more

All diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions in the UK undertaken by the NHS is based on NICE guidance. This includes approval and use of medication. There is NICE guidance coverning acute and chronic heart failure. If you go to the NICE site and search for heart failure you will find guidance which is intended for use by people who have recently been diagnosed as well as health care professionals.

nice.org.uk/

Stevo5 profile image
Stevo5 in reply toLowerfield_no_more

Thank you I will look at that

jerry12953 profile image
jerry12953

There were news items very recently to the effect that Ozempic could be a game changer for those with heart conditions in the same way that statins are believed to be. It sounded like early days yet though.

Saladay profile image
Saladay

I suspect Heart Failure would be off label usage at this point (I doubt if it has regulatory approval for that - and that could be years away). However, it's probably still possible for that to happen. However, it would be very cutting edge and would probably need your cardiologist to believe in the medical rationale.

Goldfish7 profile image
Goldfish7 in reply toSaladay

its not 'off label' use for heart conditions its only to help heart patients or anyone else lose weight. Its benificial effects for heart patients is weight loss pure and simple. Obesity is a major factor in heart problems and is often increased by heart patients being less able to exercise and heart meds, particularly beta blockers tending to increase weight gain and strain on the heart.

David_A profile image
David_A

The findings are new and the NHS operates slowly, and there are supply issues with the drug so it will be awhile before this begins to be offered as a treatment - if it does as at all.

Velda1 profile image
Velda1

it’s hasn’t passed all the protocols for this yet I believe. Fingers crossed that it will be soon but as with every med there are side effects unfortunately

Tut7iFru7i profile image
Tut7iFru7i

has your husband had a pacemaker fitted xxxx

Stevo5 profile image
Stevo5

No he had a Defibrillator fitted 4 years ago.

Breesha profile image
Breesha

I have had heart failure for 15 years , I have a cardio resych devic fitted and was recently started on dapagliflozin, the diabetic drug , now hailed for heart failure.

My meds include 12 mg Bisopropol,( for 12 years ) digoxin etc…, I lead a full and active life , as a fundraiser .

Stevo5 profile image
Stevo5 in reply toBreesha

That is so wonderful to hear you live a full and active life. These messages have filled us both with so much hope for a long life together. Thank you

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