Hi everyone. OK I'm after some advice please. I'm 53 and have recently been diagnosed with Hypertension, I'm on ramipril 2.5mg daily. So for the last two days I've been woken by a pounding feeling in my chest it lasts for a few seconds then comes and goes. I have associated sweating and breathlessness with it. Today as I've got up my heartrate doesn't feel right to me and i feel shaky and lightheaded, I currently have pins and needles in my arms too. The reason for my concern is our family history is quite strong with heart problems. My father had two heart attacks at 40, now has angina. My mother had both Hypertension and AF in her fifties, my sister also has AF. My paternal grandfather died of a HA too. Any advice appreciated please. Btw I'm trying to remain calm so don't say it's anxiety.
Concerned.😨: Hi everyone. OK I'm after... - British Heart Fou...
Concerned.😨
hello I was on ramipril 8 yrs ago gave me leg spasms really bad , and other meds make you tired , depends on the person, took a year for leg spasms to clear , now on lisinopril for 7 plus years with no problems . Important everyone’s body is different to medication, so listen to what your body is saying to you about any medication , not what other people think or tell you.
Badger
Hi Badger1966, thank you for your reply. Yes I guess I will need to try and get a GP appointment if it continues. I'm unsure whether it's menopause related though as I'm of that age. Just concerned that the palpitations have been waking me at night. Hoping it's nothing to be concerned about.
Or you could try your luck with 111.
Hi all, yes I've just done a 111 online which has told me go to A and E. So I will follow their advice. Hate having to go to A and E as I feel I might be wasting their time.
If you have been advised to go to A&E and/or you genuinely feel you are in need of the type of support they offer you should not feel you are wasting their time. That's is what A&E is there for. However, if my observations are correct from visits to A&E in recent years, there are many there who are probably wasting their time, although there might be others who do need some sort of assessment and treatment because they are unable to get that due to the deterioration in the service GPs offer, especially since COVID which caused a reset in how things are done.
along with what’s been said. You may find some help from the charity Blood Pressure UK and indeed their helpline.
Pins and needles in arms often comes from upper spine/neck problems especially if you are tense (as I expect you are!) so this symptom may be unrelated.
And on the BPUK website is useful diet and exercise advice too, in case you need it.
Hello. Sorry to hear that you’re not feeling great at the moment. I was in a similar situation to you last year and prescribed ramipril after another type of BP medication. Neither made me feel well. I felt anxious and woke up with a feeling of dread. Some of this, I thin was menopause and anxiety about the situation. After not getting anywhere with my GP I paid privately to see a cardiologist and he switched my medication to Valsartan and the symptoms of panic subsided.
I continue to use Valsartan with no issues. When you are first diagnosed with high BP there are first line medications that are frequently given but there are others that work differently in your body it could be a change of meds might help. However, I do remember when I was first diagnosed I was very stressed and anxious and that sometimes did manifest in how I feel when I was sleeping and waking up.
I hope you feel better soon.
I've had hypertension for over 40 years and am still here at 80, having worked till 73! There is now a wide variety of medications for hypertension, in 8 different "classes": diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors, or ACE-I); angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs); calcium channel blockers (CCBs); beta-blockers (BBs); alpha-1 blockers; central agents and alpha-2 agonists; direct vasodilators - each of which has several different names and will have slight differences in effects. I've been through most of them, and accept that they need to be changed from time to time as they become ineffective, or have unacceptable side effects. Read up on them and try to become familiar with their effectiveness and drawbacks - there's lots of research-backed info on the Internet.
I was on Rampiril for a few days about 12 years ago. I ened up in A&E as I thought I was having a HA. My heart was pounding and very fast. I was so agitated my hubby whisked me off to hospital. I had a reaction to it. I also went throught the gamut of many many BP meds until I found one I could tolerate. Get in touch with your Doc and tell him, there are SO MANY others out there you can try it does not have to be that one. PHONE YOUR DOC...
I was on Ramapril last year and had the same symptoms. My shortness of breathe got so bad that I stopped taking it and they decreased significantly over the next few days. I told my doctor and he agreed that I should stop it and he told me to take my Metoprolol Tartrate twice a day instead and I have been on that ever since with no problem from the meds. Sadly the Ramipril masked the aortic valve malfunction I had started having and a few months after I quit the Ramipril the symptoms were back and worse than ever. I had to go to the ER and was admitted for tests where they found my aortic stenosis was so bad they couldn't figure how I had still been on my feet. They got the symptoms under control and set me up for a TAVR. That was a real relief to have done. I know a few others who have had similar problems with Ramipril
Hi Tlyna, thank you for replying. That is very interesting regarding the ramipril complications. I was checked in A and E, my ECG was fine but BP raised and bloods showed an increase in my TSH thyroid levels, I'm on medication already for hypothyroidism. Doctor there discharged me with view to return to GP for medication update/change of prescribed dose. He says not heart related but could be anxiety or menopausal symptoms. I feel a bit fobbed off tbh, and still feel as though it is heart related. It took years for docs to pick up my mothers AF and angina so am wondering am I gonna suffer same fate.
I had similar problems. I've had pulmonary edema twice years ago and went to a well respected hospital both times and all they did was some blood work and sent me home on Lasix and Potassium both times. They did tell me I had a heart murmur but that it wasn't serious.
Ten years ago I moved across the country and when all this happened I went to a small hospital in town which my dad had told me years before wasn't that good. Well they took blood work, ECG and x-rays immediately then admitted me for more testing while putting me on IV Lasix to get rid of the fluid build up. With all the testing they found the heart problem the Ramipril had masked and then did more tests to see if I qualified for TAVR or had to go with open heart. This little not so respected hospital did a great job on diagnosing and taking care of me
Some years back I had been diagnosed with moderate plaque buildup in the heart then found a study on pomegranate juice saying it helped prevent plaque build up but weren't sure yet if it would cut it down. Well I have been drinking 12 ounces a day for 8 1/2 years now and in the hospital they said my arteries were clear so I could go by TAVR instead of open heart like both my parents had to have it done. Guess it worked so I am keeping on drinking it.
A couple of years back I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and put on Levothyroxine. I kept forgetting to take it when I first got up in the morning so started skipping it. With having a low Iodine level I bought nascent iodine drops from Amazon and started taking it daily while skipping the medication The next time I had blood work done my TSH was normal. I told the doctor what I had done and he didn't think it should have worked but discontinued the Levothyroxine. My levels have stayed normal ever since. I still take the drops but not every day as I don't want the Iodine levels going too high either.
I've been a physical wreck for years now with 20 surgeries since 1996. I think I am finally in half way decent shape finally. hope it stays that way. It took me traveling 1300 miles before I finally got the right diagnosis and surgery for my heart condition. You may need to try to hunt for a different doctor, maybe more than once to get the proper care. Don't let them fob you off.
You are right, it is not anxiety. Let your GP know what is happening, surgery will have our history and should be able to help. In your position that is what I would do.
Thanks another newbie as I'm still concerned as my heart rate still doesn't feel right this morning and I've had hest tightness and upper back and arm pain. It really ANNOYS me when Doctors assume it is anxiety related especially if you have anxiety related issues on your notes previously. I am calm and am convinced this is not a problem due to anxiety. I guess I will just have to struggle on.
No. Don't carry on. Ring 111 and if they advise A&E then go.
try to relax and keep calm it really helps if you can but then get yourself to A&E to get checked out - You’re not wasting anyone’s time so please stop worrying about that and it’s honestly the right thing to do especially if you have your family history - hope alls well but finding out that it is will also help calm the anxiety you’re feeling which is completely understandable
Thanks MWIC, I had trip to A and E yesterday which resulted in umpteen tests and a very long seven and a half hour stay. My ECG didn't show any heart issues but my bloods were raised in my thyroid. SHO discharged with advice to go to GP for medication review.
Sounds like good news which is great - good luck with finding what’s causing the blood test results and you get that sorted
Thyroid, not anxiety, could explain it. Thyroid problems, high or low results, can cause a great deal of symptoms. Tell your GP.
Hi ... it's scary isn't it! I too have recently started taking Rampril (2 weeks) and experiencing similar symptoms that you describe. I do suffer with anxiety so have been putting my symptoms down to that. I wanted to thank you for your post, that I saw this morning, as it has just prompted me to contact my GP ... thank you so so much as I probably would have just try and ignored things! I really hope things settle down for you and you get on the right meds ... trying to stay calm is easier said than done hey? Good luck and very best wishes x
Hi Festivalvibes, thanks for your reply. I do hope you get some answers too and hopefully start to feel better. Yes it was quite worrying especially as my family history is strong for heart issues, thankfully my ECG was clear and they think it was due to fact my thyroid levels had increased so they upped my dose of levothyroxine. I am feeling much improved now and I'll know what to look out for next time. Good luck.
… seeing my GP later this morning … but trying not to worry that I was fast tracked with an appointment!! Pleased you are feeling better now … take care of you x
Good luck with the docs, let us all know how you get on.
AF and Troponin Level 5
Bisoprolol withdrawal 
New and looking for advice
Concerned
Struggling to accept. 
