Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Medication Side-effect?
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Medication Side-effect?
by Carolina03, May 19, 2005 12:00AM
Hi, thanks again for your excellent service to this site.
To recap, I started taking 50mg of Eplerenone, 40mg of Pravachol and 20mg of Lisinopril for endothelial dysfunction in March. Happily, I'm feeling less symptomatic, (fewer episodes of chest discomfort, SOB and fatigue). However, for the past few weeks I've experienced "fasciculations" in the chestwall underneath my left breast.
1) Could the fasciculations or spasms be a side-effect of one of the medications or somehow related to the endothelial dysfunction? I've never felt strong, repetitive spasms anywhere in my body, and their location seem more than coincidental. They don't hurt and seem benign, but I am curious and wonder if I should have them checked out.
2) Can diuretics hurt kidney function? (I'm new to heart medications and wonder about the long-term side-effects). Do you tell your patients who take diuretics to lay-off coffee and alcohol? (I enjoy a cup of joe and glass of wine).
3) When pressing down on my aorta during my three-month check-up, it felt very sore and triggered excruciating left-sided chest pain. My doc ordered an aortic ultrasound and abdominal CT scan, (not an aortic CT scan) both of which revealed "no major anomolies." I was told that "only an autopsy reveals how scleroric an aorta is." (!) Should I be satisfied with not having had an aortic CT and feel reassured? (If you recall from my last post, I have aortic valve sclerosis with moderate regurg.).
4) Am I going nuts?
Thanks in advance.
Carolina
To recap, I started taking 50mg of Eplerenone, 40mg of Pravachol and 20mg of Lisinopril for endothelial dysfunction in March. Happily, I'm feeling less symptomatic, (fewer episodes of chest discomfort, SOB and fatigue). However, for the past few weeks I've experienced "fasciculations" in the chestwall underneath my left breast.
1) Could the fasciculations or spasms be a side-effect of one of the medications or somehow related to the endothelial dysfunction? I've never felt strong, repetitive spasms anywhere in my body, and their location seem more than coincidental. They don't hurt and seem benign, but I am curious and wonder if I should have them checked out.
2) Can diuretics hurt kidney function? (I'm new to heart medications and wonder about the long-term side-effects). Do you tell your patients who take diuretics to lay-off coffee and alcohol? (I enjoy a cup of joe and glass of wine).
3) When pressing down on my aorta during my three-month check-up, it felt very sore and triggered excruciating left-sided chest pain. My doc ordered an aortic ultrasound and abdominal CT scan, (not an aortic CT scan) both of which revealed "no major anomolies." I was told that "only an autopsy reveals how scleroric an aorta is." (!) Should I be satisfied with not having had an aortic CT and feel reassured? (If you recall from my last post, I have aortic valve sclerosis with moderate regurg.).
4) Am I going nuts?
Thanks in advance.
Carolina
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-MJM, May 20, 2005 12:00AM
Hi Carolina,
1) Could the fasciculations or spasms be a side-effect of one of the medications or somehow related to the endothelial dysfunction?
It is very unlikely that the spasms are related to your medications and the locations is probably coincidental. Fasciculations tend to be periodic, coming and going with seemingly no reason. I can tell you from personal exerience that the times I have the most muscle spasms and fasciculations is when I am under more stress -- usually during finals week during college and medical schoool.
2) Can diuretics hurt kidney function? (I'm new to heart medications and wonder about the long-term side-effects). Do you tell your patients who take diuretics to lay-off coffee and alcohol? (I enjoy a cup of joe and glass of wine).
Caution must be used with diuretics in people with pre-existing kindey problems and if the wrong dosage of diuretic is chosen. Too much diuretic or dehydration can harm the kindeys, but in general this is rare. I do not specifically encourage patients to avoid coffee or alcohol.
3) Should I be satisfied with not having had an aortic CT and feel reassured? (If you recall from my last post, I have aortic valve sclerosis with moderate regurg.).
Just because he said abdominal CT does not mean that the radiologist did not do an aortic CT protocol. An abdominal CT is fine for looking for aortic aneurysms.
Without meeting you and talking to you, it is tough to decide if you are going nuts -- everybody is a little nuts when it comes to their health. My guess is you are worrying probably a little more than you should, but again, without meeting you and knowing your case that well, it is tough to sign in this forum.
I hope this helps. Good luck.
1) Could the fasciculations or spasms be a side-effect of one of the medications or somehow related to the endothelial dysfunction?
It is very unlikely that the spasms are related to your medications and the locations is probably coincidental. Fasciculations tend to be periodic, coming and going with seemingly no reason. I can tell you from personal exerience that the times I have the most muscle spasms and fasciculations is when I am under more stress -- usually during finals week during college and medical schoool.
2) Can diuretics hurt kidney function? (I'm new to heart medications and wonder about the long-term side-effects). Do you tell your patients who take diuretics to lay-off coffee and alcohol? (I enjoy a cup of joe and glass of wine).
Caution must be used with diuretics in people with pre-existing kindey problems and if the wrong dosage of diuretic is chosen. Too much diuretic or dehydration can harm the kindeys, but in general this is rare. I do not specifically encourage patients to avoid coffee or alcohol.
3) Should I be satisfied with not having had an aortic CT and feel reassured? (If you recall from my last post, I have aortic valve sclerosis with moderate regurg.).
Just because he said abdominal CT does not mean that the radiologist did not do an aortic CT protocol. An abdominal CT is fine for looking for aortic aneurysms.
Without meeting you and talking to you, it is tough to decide if you are going nuts -- everybody is a little nuts when it comes to their health. My guess is you are worrying probably a little more than you should, but again, without meeting you and knowing your case that well, it is tough to sign in this forum.
I hope this helps. Good luck.
Good luck with your endothelial dysfunction. Do you have any tips on getting a question posted? Every time I try, it says, "check back later".
Thanks
Try posting between 10-11am EST.
I've checked this forum on and off for a year with no opportunity to ask a question until this month. The timing was perfect in terms of my new diagnosis, medications, etc.
I'll now honor the forum guidelines to not post a question more than twice in six months. I hope I won't need to!
Thanks for the best wishes --
Carolina
If you got through, with the perfect timing like that, I'm sure your question was "meant" to be asked and answered. Thanks for the posting tips.
Sunny