medication side effects

[Forgetful]

My cardiologist has recently put me on two types of diuretic Furosemide 20mg and Spironolactone 25mg

She has also got rid of Wafarin which I have been taking for 10 years and put me on Apexiban

and changed simvistatin to Lipitor 40mg

I also take Adizem and Ramipril

Whilst these seem to have deal with my breathlessness which is positive- I am having bouts of feeling faint and light headed. Any advice would be gratefully received as I seem to have cured one problem and inherited another.

I am not sure which, if any of these new drugs could be the culprit.

Many thanks

[cotonh]

My husband, 74, takes 4 to 6 weeks to settle with new drugs. He too had light headedness and did faint on 2 occasions because the new medications were dropping his blood pressure so low. Now his blood pressure is back to within normal range and he is feeling perky and getting out for short walks on his own which he had lost confidence in doing because of the light headedness and fear of passing out. Always hard to decide which medication is the culprit or whether it is the combination is the problem.

[Forgetful in reply to cotonh]

Thank you - I started taking the meds around beginning of June so I guess I should see how it goes until end of month or into July - got some results of tests coming as well which doesn't help with the stress element.

[cotonh in reply to Forgetful]

Yes, it is stressful and that does not help. My husband had an echocardiogram on Thursday the result of which could lead to him getting a date for a by-pass operation, something which we both want and don't want!

[Happyrosie]

you might be able to get a telephone appointment with the pharmacist employed at your doc’s group of surgeries.

[DodgyTickerMum]

My Dad also takes Spiro and Furosemide - both of which lower blood pressure, as will Ramipril. Perhaps speak to your Cardiologist and ask if you can take the Ramilpril at bedtime, so that if you feel light headed - at least you’re already laying down.

I take 2 of my meds specifically at night, for that reason. Seems to help.

Hope you get it sorted.

[bluemoon572]

I assume you're not anemic. Do you check your blood pressure sitting&standing ? Do you check your heart rate ? Both a low blood pressure and too slow a heart rate can cause those symptoms. Your meds can lower the BP too much and Adizem can decrease the heart rate as well. Also it's important to periodically check your electrolytes and kidney function which are affected by diuretics and ramipril.

[Forgetful in reply to bluemoon572]

Thank you- yes I do check my heart rate and blood pressure. Haven't tried taking blood pressure when standing up. I do take Ramipril at night. As I have been on Ramipril and (Adizem for atrial fibrillation) for many years- I can only think the culprits must be the diuretics and or a higher dose of Statins. Or heaven forbid, something else going wrong. It all seems to be worse in the mornings, so perhaps low blood sugar added to the mix. Thank you for your observations, will check with my cardiologist if things don't improve.

[Penoir53]

hi there. It takes a while maybe two months to settle completely and from my own experience diuretics do lower bp to get the symptoms you record and also the fluid change takes a bit of getting used to as well. You defo feel better but also rubbish too as new side effects but they defo settle. I’m practically powered by furosemide. A handy hint is to weigh yourself daily and maybe record incoming fluids. Keeps an eye on sudden weight gain which could be fluid and in these hot months how much simple fluids we are drinking. I’m obviously not a doc but 20mg is a light dose of furosemide and that’s good. There were a number of changes there so no wonder your body is protesting. When there’s a drug change or dose change I keep a 1 liner in a notebook per day to record how I’m feeling. And in the early days I was v careful how I stood up because of low bp. I’m a pro 15 years on. 🤪😂 x