Heart Medication

gloriajean · ‎03-10-2010

My husband MyCharted his doctor about the severe leg cramps from his heart med, and in the morning he will pick up a new one, no cramps are on the side effects but a lot of other stuff. The new medicine he will be on is called Micardis. Anyone know anything about this one? He was reading some of the side effects on line, and some are scary, like lightheadedness and fainting. We hope and pray he won't have any bad side effects this time.

hckynutjohn · ‎06-15-2015

@gloriajean

I think the Prescription Med you mention is not specifically a Heart medication. It is listed more as a High Blood Pressure medication. High Blood pressure is certainly a factor for anyone diagnosed with Coronary Artery Disease(CAD).

There are very few prescription medications that do not have a long list of side effects. I have never had high blood pressure, but after my 2nd heart attack! My Cardiologist wanted me to take a Beta Blocker blood pressure med.

He told me he wanted my BP as low as I could get it, without it interfering with my way of life. He changed the dosage 3 different times because my Diastolic number was too low. It effected me with being light headed if I stood up too quickly from a sitting position. I don't consider that as a scary high risk event.

Other than that, I had zero side effects. I took that same prescription for over 10 years. The only reason I stopped is because I wanted to do Complete Inversion with a Teeter Inversion Table. He agreed to let me quit taking it, as long as I had a nurse in his office check my BP every week, for 1 month. I did and my BP stayed just fine. Haven't taken it since.

I have my own theory when patients, especially men, get what I see, as overly worried about side effects. Some do it while at the same time forgetting the seriousness of why their doctor prescribed it.

I sometimes see this as being Psychosomatic, if one thinks it will cause something, they will probably believe it is happening, even if it is not. The mind is a strange thing. Worry chronically about certain things long enough, you can make yourself believe it is.

hckynut 🇺🇸

hckynut(john)

Pook · ‎03-20-2010

@gloriajean My SO's cardiologist prescribed potassium and magnesium supplements to prevent severe leg cramps from the med he is taking after getting the leg cramps.

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

@Pook wrote:
@gloriajean My SO's cardiologist prescribed potassium and magnesium supplements to prevent severe leg cramps from the med he is taking after getting the leg cramps.

@gloriajean @Pook Or he could eat a banana or orange daily to get the potassium he needs.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

Pook · ‎03-20-2010

@Kachina624 wrote:

@Pook wrote:
@gloriajean My SO's cardiologist prescribed potassium and magnesium supplements to prevent severe leg cramps from the med he is taking after getting the leg cramps.
@gloriajean @Pook Or he could eat a banana or orange daily to get the potassium he needs.

These supplements were prescription strength and not just over the counter. Eating a bananna daily would have done zilch!

hckynutjohn · ‎06-15-2015

@Pook wrote:
@gloriajean My SO's cardiologist prescribed potassium and magnesium supplements to prevent severe leg cramps from the med he is taking after getting the leg cramps.

@Pook

Happy to hear that your SO Fort relief from adding these minerals. Unless an individual is deficient in them, none of my doctors, Cardiologist included, prescribe higher dosages of any minerals to their patients.

Most of the CAD patients I met during my many weeks on the Heart Floor of the hospital were not there from dehydration or mineral deficiencies. They all had some type of Cardiac Event, not caused by either dehydration or mineral deficiencies.

There were very few during those hospital stays, or in my 72 Cardiac Rehab Classes, that were not on some type of Statin. A high percentage of them had these leg cramps described by @gloriajean for her husband.

Many of those patients were either prescribed a different Statin, or their dosages were decreased. Those types of cramps seem to be the major side effect of those I met that were on a Statin prescription.

I was, and am currently, still taking the Generic for Lipitor, every night. I will say I have had spend a little more time stretching my upper and lower rear side leg muscles, but it is very rare for me to have any of them go into a spasm. When I do have them, it has never been during my sleep. It has more to do with my physical workouts that day, and then sitting to soon, and for too long.

Glad to see you post and offer what seems to be working for your SO. Wish the same things worked for everyone, wouldn't that be great!

hckynut 🇺🇸

hckynut(john)

hckynutjohn · ‎06-15-2015

@Kachina624 wrote:

@Pook wrote:
@gloriajean My SO's cardiologist prescribed potassium and magnesium supplements to prevent severe leg cramps from the med he is taking after getting the leg cramps.
@gloriajean @Pook Or he could eat a banana or orange daily to get the potassium he needs.

@Kachina624

Now that would be dependent on his amount of deficiency. Could also throw in Avocado/Spinach or Sweet Potato. If only one very deficient could get by with eating a banana or 2, or a big helping of spinach. That would be great!

hckynut 🇺🇸

hckynut(john)

PamfromCT · ‎05-22-2014

@gloriajean, I am so hoping for relief for your DH.

My DH experienced bad muscular side effects from the statin drug he was prescribed. It was several years ago, when many docs were not expecting potential problems with these drugs in some patients.

My DH’s PCP (internal medicine board certified) offered a potential solution for trial. I offer this saying a cardiologist should be supervising such a trial.

There is an over-the-counter medication, “Nature Made Cholestoff Complete,” using plant sterols, that he recommended. Under his cardiologist’s supervision, My DH tried, and blood tests confirmed, that this was working for him.

Caveats:

1. Must be the “Complete” version.

2. The trial should be supervised by your doctor.

Every drug has consequences, even a “baby aspirin.” When trying a drug new to you, one never knows.

Cakers3 · ‎06-17-2015

@Pook wrote:
@Kachina624 wrote:

@Pook wrote:
@gloriajean My SO's cardiologist prescribed potassium and magnesium supplements to prevent severe leg cramps from the med he is taking after getting the leg cramps.
@gloriajean @Pook Or he could eat a banana or orange daily to get the potassium he needs.
These supplements were prescription strength and not just over the counter. Eating a bananna daily would have done zilch!

@Pook It may not work for some and it may work for others.

Yet I can tell you I had a friend who could not eat bananas because of the potassium content affecting her heart. Diagnosed by her doctor and recommendation was made.

No need to get ruffled.

"" Compassion is a verb."-Thich Nhat Hanh

gloriajean · ‎03-10-2010

Thanks for your responses and John for all your advice and sharing your experiences. He started his new medicine this morning, and so far, no side effects. Hopefully he'll get a good night's sleep!