Questions posted in the Heart Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Question Title: Conflicts with Coumadin

Forum: The Heart Forum
Topic: Pacemaker


After A Fib, AVNode ablation, and insertion on varible pacemaker, I have been on 5mg. of Coumadin daily, and 2.5mg of Vasotec daily. It appears that the Vasotec has caused a dry cough that occurs often, night and day. The cough is often and severe enough to have caused sore chest muscles and irritatiopn ato all around me. My Pulmonary physician has suggested discontinuing the Vasotec and instead using Cozaar for the same heart effect. He suggests 1/2 of a 25mg. Cozaar daily. Is the Cozaar "agreeable" with Coumadin, and will it be as efective for heart failure as the Vasotec? thank you for an early response. EDB

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Dear EDB,
Although coumadin has many drug-drug interactions, I know of no warning guarding against the use of concomitant 'cozaar', and the majority of interactions as such have to do with effecting the PT/INR that you achieve with the coumadin and not with life threatening allergic reactions and such. Of course cozaar is a fairly new drug and not all patients are the same, so you should continue to have your regular follow-up and even more frequent checks of your bleeding time (PT/INR) whenever you start a new drug. Mind you there are quite a number of heart patients on both of these drugs. It is pertinent that you discuss any issues, concerns, and especially any new symptoms with your physician that provides you regular care.
I hope this information is useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for
general purposes only. Only your physician can provided specific diagnoses and therapies.
Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck!

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