Anagrelide and heart issues

Three or four months into taking Anagrelide I developed heart failure symptoms. Has anyone else experienced or heard of this and should the symptoms be reversible?

[LucyGeering]

Hi Jean,

I’m so sorry to hear this. It is one of the potential side-effects of anagrelide. Kidney function can also be impaired by it, so please make sure that’s being monitored.

The good news is that the heart is one of the organs which can repair itself, so the function can improve. Please keep us posted on how you are and what your treatment is now.

🧡 Lucy

[fee13]

Yes it is known to cause heart problems. You should speak with someone & consider changing meds.

[Wyebird]

Before I was put on anagrelide I had an ecg and x Ray. You should be monitored closely. I’d contact your consultant ASAP if you are worried. Good luck

[SuekJ]

I already had heart problems before I started Anagrelide but my cardiologist okayed it. I’ve been on it for 5 months with no obvious side affects (1grm am / 1grm pm)

[Hidden]

Thanks, all. I’m off the tablets now, but took my condition getting really bad until that happened (I wanted to come off them weeks ago). Have been referred to a cardiologist, so am now having scans and am on diuretics to try to sort out the immense swelling. Just wondered if anyone else had had a bad cardio response and whether they made a full recovery and how long it took?

[Belgobrit72]

I was on anagrelide for over 6 months when I started getting heart palpitations at night, completely freaked me out. After first reducing the dose I was taken off anagrelide and they stopped immediately. I had a few months on aspirin only but platelets were creeping up, so I ended up on hydroxy just under 2 years ago. Platelets are in normal range now and no heart issue to report. All the best

[Anag]

Hi Jean! What exact symptom? Heart failure sounds very strong. I always felt heavy heart thumping and weakness when taking 1mg am and 1mg pm. Getting up to six, my heart was pounding out of my chest, even when I speed them out over the day over 16hours. I could hardly keep up with my breathing. I still have some heart weakness (heart variability is down) at 0,5mg 4x/day spread throughout the day. I was also having some pain coming and going in the back left part of my heart. CoQ10 definitely helped. EKG showed nothing. I collapsed 3 minutes into the heart stress test. I then had a CT with contrast liquid. My heart looked absolutely perfect, said the cardiologist with a big smile. I just stared at him. I know it’s not. I can’t take Interferon, since I have autoimmune Hashimoto and I can’t take Hydroxyurea, because I have an inborn Mediterranean anaemia. My red blood cells are at 10,0. I have to keep on with Anagrelid. I’m at a new doctor who really listen and actually looks at detail and discusses in depth. She took 14 ampules of blood and send it out to 3 different labs to get special testing. I’m curious what will come back and how my case will develop. Would also like to know which solutions you are looking at. Stay well.

[Osteomyelio]

I take anagrelide and it does cause my heart to pound and throb. However, I recently started taking Chelated Magnesium and Magnesium Malate after taking the anagrelide and it seems to minimized the heart symptoms. I have no idea if this is a good idea or bad one- I just happened to notice it. Also, I have hyponatremia and take Thermotabs to help keep my sodium levels up- again, I have no idea if this is good or not.

[Snikenj]

I was Rx anagrelide last Thursday. The Hydroxyurea do not work for me. It was compromising my immune system and risk of bacteria infection. I am a little nervous.

[hunter5582]

Hopefully the anagrelide will work better for you. Some people do find it easier to tolerate. Sometimes it takes trial and error to find the right med. The good news is that there are still more options like PEGylated Interferon and ruxolitinib. There are also some new meds in clinical trials.

All the best.