Calcium Channel Blockeer (Procardia)

[Creed3]

Hi! I am new on this forum and was just wondering if anyone here ever had a bad reaction to Procardia or other calcium channel blockers? I have recently been diagnosed with AI. Before my diagnosis my family doc had me on atenalol. Once my echo came back with the diag the cardiologist I saw put me on Procardia and told me to stop the atenalol. The first day on Procardia I could feel my heart racing (110 at rest). My cardiologist did nothing. Said that that is how the med works and to call back if it continues to bother me. Called again on third day of taking medicine and heart racing faster and my head felt full of pressure. The cardiologist said he didn't want to change the med without talking to the original cardiologist who put me on it (out of town). I went to work that night and my heart was beating fast and hard. My head felt funny and my legs turned blood red. I went to the ER (I work at a hospital) and they tried another calcium channel blocker to lower my heart rate (it was up to 137). The new med only took it down to 114. They finally tried putting me back on atenalol and my heart rate went back to normal and my head felt better. They told me I just can't take calcium channel blockers. My family doc then told me he thought maybe it was a combination of taking the atenalol and then abruptly stopping that med and taking Procardia. He thinks I should try Procardia again, but that will be up to my new cardiologist. I am affraid to try that med again. I am changing cardiologists because I was not pleased with the no help I received from them. My pharmacist thinks that I had an allergic reaction to Procardia. Has anyone else ever had anything similar happen?

Thanks!
Creed3

 

[srwieland]

Hi Creed,

I took Procardia for many years without problems before my surgery in May of 2001.

Then, last February when my new valve started leaking, my cardiologist put me on Procardia again. That evening I almost passed out in public and had to be rushed to the ER by ambulance. My cardiologist tried to keep me on it for another month or so, but I kept fainting and then experiencing high pulse rate and pressure as a reaction to the fainting. I landed in the ER several more times before he switched me to an ACE inhibitor, Accupril with which I have done much better except it causes me the most awful tickle in my throat.

It seems different people respond differently to different meds. But, only we truly know what is happening to us and if a cardiologist is insensitive to our reports of adverse reactions, best to move on and find someone more flexible. There are usually a variety of choices for most things these days and so, if something doesn't work, better try an alternative.

Good luck.

 

[ALCapshaw]

Creed:

I seem to recall taking Procardia before my surgery (years ago) with no problems. I also seem to recall that when going off some medicines and starting another that is sometimes recommended to wait a week or two after stopping one to begin the other. Your reaction seems pretty strong so I'd be careful whatever course you choose. This is one area where your pharmacist may be more knowledgable than your physician(s).

Steve:

Many ACE Inhibitors cause a cough or 'tickle'. I developed a cough after a few months on ZESTRIL so my cardiologist switched me to COZAAR which I was able to tolerate better.

'AL'

 

[NancyMVP]

Hi Creed3,
I see you found your way here for heartcenteronline.

Steve, I've been taking Accupril for 2 years. No tickle in throat as yet. How many mg do you takea day? They started me on 10mg 1 x now i'm taking 20mg. My doctor makes like its a wonder drug.

 

[srwieland]

Hi Nancy,

I'm taking 20 mg in the am and 40 mg in the pm, so maybe the tickle comes with the higher dose.

My cardiologist is real 'high' on it too! He's talking about doing research to find out how to get rid of its tickle because he gets so many complaints from his patients despite very good results otherwise.

Al: I took Zestril for a short while last year just before my surgery and don't remember the tickle from it, although so much else was going on then it would have been very minor in comparison. During my last visit with the cardiologist, I strongly complained about the tickle but he practically begged me to tolerate it because he finally had a med management regimen that wasn't causing me to black out!

I'll see him again in a couple of weeks and ask him about other alternatives, such as the one you suggested.

Thanks everyone.

 

[hhardt]

Beta Blockers

Beta Blockers

Atenolol is a beta blocker and there are warnings on all the accompaning paperwork to never just stop even if you are switching to a channel blocker. I'll bet the channel blocker also warns against just stopping the beta type when switching. There is a slowing down process that should prevent what happened to you from happening. I take both and still have a pacemaker to keep from going too slow.