Re: Medications

Posted By Conrado San Juan on May 09, 1999 at 23:25:47
I was 54 when diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and CHF in 1994. My blood pressure runs about 90/70. Medications I am taking as prescribed by my doctor are: Lanoxin (.25 mg/day), zestril (10mg/day), coreg (3.125mg in AM and 6.25 in PM), Spironolactone(25mg/day) zaroxolin (25mg/day), warfarin (5mg/day), furosomide (40mg/day)and K-Dur tablets (20 meq/day). In addition, I have been taking CoQ10 (100 mg/day), L-carnitine (500 mg/day), E,C,Beta Carotene, cod liver oil, and a mineral tablet per day. I have been taking the prescribed medications since my initial diagnosis, except the coreg, spironolactone and zaroxolin which were introduced within the last month. All the vitamins and minerals I have been taking within the the last 5 years.
My questions are: 1)In your opinion, am I taking too many prescribed medications? 2)Which one of the prescribed medications would cause me to be dizzy and what should I do? 3)What is your recommendation on my taking the vitamins and supplements? 4)Does any of these meds cause erectile dysfuntions? Please help.   Conrado San Juan

[CCF CARDIO MD APS]

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD-APS on May 12, 1999 at 15:45:39
Dear Conrado,
No you are certainly not on too many medications.  As a matter of fact you are taking all the very important drugs that all cardiomyopathy patients should be on.  Possible adjustments are increasing the coreg to get rid of the zestril, and maybe going to just the lasix as a diuretic.  The dizziness could be that your pressure (90/60) is simply too low for your body in which case some of the vasodilating drugs can be reduced or taken away so as to see how you feel with a pressure in the range of 98 to 105 systolic (upper number).  
I am not sure which or if any of the drugs is causing erectile dysfunction. It could be a combination of two drugs, not the drugs at all rather just the disease process itself.
If your ejection fraction improves on coreg, then it is possible in the future that you could come off some of the diuretics and feel better.
There really is no medical data or opinion on vitamin and mineral supplements in heart failure, however there is no evidence that they do any harm so in general patients are told it is ok to take them.  Consider whether or not your erectile dysfunction began to be a problem with the initiation of any of these supplements, and if so, stop that particular supplement.  Also discuss this with your doctor at your next visit.  Remember, that should it be the coreg that is contributing to the erectile dysfunction, this is a VERY important drug for a cardiomyopathy patient and this fact should be taken in to consideration before you decide on whether or not to take the drug.
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general
purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free
to
write back with additional questions. Good luck.  










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