No improvements so far with Entresto / Dapagliflozin

[jacksonfan]

Maybe I'm expecting far too much after 2 weeks / 1 week respectively, but I actually feel worse, with more breathing difficulties and chronic fatigue so bad I can only function about 2 hours a day, and spend the rest of the day in bed (NOT asleep - insomnia!) or slumped in front of the TV. My EF was 22% a month ago, but I feel I need another Echo. Are they easy to come by? it's so difficult getting hold of a medic who can actually DO something. I had a number of tests before the Echo, but it seemed to me that was the obvious test, and a fairly simple one. Again, I would now like an angiogram rather than medication, as I don't think the stenting of 10/23 worked well at all. It looks like, even if the meds don't work, I will have to wait til at least July, when they are going to "fix" my ICD, and maybe put in an extra lead (which seems a counterintuitive solution to a plumbing problem).

[dg2024]

I'm on entresto. I started 5 weeks ago. The absolute earliest an improvement might be seen with entresto is 3 months. I'm planning on getting an echo after 3 months. I'm not in nhs system since I don't live in UK. It is relatively easy to appointments with cardiologists where I live.

[Blackknight57]

give it time 6 month average.

[iwannabeabear]

I was the exact same. The first few weeks were tough in terms of side effects, however 6 months after being put on entresto my EF had improved from 34% to 65%. Give it around 6 months ish, there should be improvement after around 3 months but if you give it 6 you'll be able to see more benefit. All the best

[Penoir53]

sending love. It takes q a bit of time to get used to these strong strong drugs as I found my bp was q low which makes you think you are dragging yourself everywhere (not just light headed but q unwell). If you can persevere then hopefully there will be results. My echo is improved now. You have a lot going on and I think these drugs are not like vitamin pills. They have a lot of effects. But if you can tolerate they are gold standard. I’m a 16 year heart damage veteran but at 55 want and long for reliable stamina. Definitely a bit better two years on and some of that is diuretic reduction after these two drugs. Always striving and questioning though. Big hugs xx

[Twosumsmum]

every time I told my cardiologist the entresto was making me feel worse he would say it needs 6 months , at 6 months he said let’s try a higher dose , at 6 months and 2 weeks my GP and I agreed to stop taking it and go back to candesartan . It appears to be a wonder drug for many but not for me .

[Shabana1974]

Hi. I was diagnosed with 20% EF in September 2023, I felt like I got worse before improving after 3 months echo showed 32% EF so even though I didn't feel better. My EF had improved fast forward to today I will never be 100% better but I can function. In comparison to the same time last year. It takes time for the medication to take effect I they will probably add more medication at the 1 month stage as they optimise your medication. The will also increase the Entresto dose. I am now on 103/97.

2 weeks is honestly too early to see the benefits

Types of meds

[jacksonfan]

Thanks everyone who replied - I've "liked" them all, because all useful. Trouble is, I don't think I'll last long enogh for those timescales. At 74, with other morbidites, no excercise, I'm not going to be in any state that makes life worth living. Today I've spent most of the day in bed: I feel like my EF is still dropping, and I wonder how low it can go before it results in death. I STILL think my angioplasty went wrong, and would dearly love the chance of a re-run. Am I wrong in thinking blocked arteries could result in this low EF?

[Supergranny123]

Echos are a long wait ,if you can afford it a private one is approx £250 I was on a list and told it was a minimum 40 weeks so decided the private route which picked up the problems and got me sorted on correct meds hope yiu get sorted soon the stress of not knowing isn't helping your BP

[jacksonfan in reply to Supergranny123]

Thanks for that. I'll look into it.