Cardia Time Release

[JanVan]

Two weeks ago, my cardiologist changed my blood pressure medication from Lisinopril to Cardia 240. After a week, I started getting what felt like skipped heart beats every evening. I was taking this time release med around 6pm each day. I felt like I was getting worse as each day progressed, so I called the doctor who aranged for a 24 hr. heart monitor, ECG and check my blood pressure. Of course i was not having the skipped beats at the time so the ECG showed nothing but my blood pressure was 145/95. Yesterday he had me go back on the Lisinopril and almost immediately I felt better. I did have a short period of the skipped heart beats yesterday, but today I feel much better. I should get the Holter Monitor Results today.

I did not see any side affects like this on line, but I do feel much better now. I have an appointment with Dr. Asher in Weston on the 30th. Hopefully, he can make sense of this.

[LindaSo]

Jan,

One of the things that I have learned is that the local cardiologist needs to work with your HCM specialist. I too have seen Dr. Asher and I have asked that that he manage me. However, I have and need a local guy should I have any problems, or am unable to make the trip down there. I don't think my local guy understands that yet. At my last local appt, I was given a Rx for Nitro Patches. I never thought to have him run it by Dr. Asher first(CCF-Florida) since it was a recommendation out of Cleveland in the fall. I called Dr. Asher myself and he said he was not in agreement with the plan and could be down right dangerous. Oh brother, I love to be in the middle. What I know is this - Dr. Asher has much, much more experience with HCM patients (he is on the advisory board this association) than my local guy and has seen me more recently than Dr. T. in Cleveland. From here on out, I will be only be taking meds prescribed by my HCM expert and managing cardiologist.

If you haven't already, you need to decide who is going to be doing your ongoing management. For me, since Weston isn't that far, it will be CCF.

[JanVan]

Linda,

Thanks for the note. I guess I am stuck in time waiting to see Dr. Asher. I will stay where I am with the meds until then. I just got the results back from my Holter Monitor and I had a lot of PVC's and APC's, most in the evenings after laying down.

I will pick up the tapes and take it to Dr. Asher at the end of the month when I have the appointment in Weston.

Thanks again.

[sunnylady24]

Hi!
I was diagnosed with HCM with obstruction 10/07 during my treatments for breast cancer (all is well) looks like I'm a survivor!! Anyhow, my BP was very high and the palpitations were unbelievable. 1st Dr. had me on 240 mg Cardizem, things got worse, up the cardizem to 240 twice per day...no dice. Change Dr,he prescribe Cardizem 240 1/pd and Metoprolol 100mg 1/pd. We played with the timing of each until I found that the Metropolol worked better in the am with food and the Cardizem in the pm. I also take my calcium w/ D after dinner and the palpitations are better. Since then I changed Dr again!! now I see Dr Asher in Weston, the blood pressure was up and I asked Dr A if different generic drugs could be different (we had changed drugstores and different drugstores have different suppliers) he confirmed what I had suspected, there is a difference between dialtezem/cartia/toprol/metoprolol and from different manufactors. We also agreed for me to see Dr Miller at Cleveland West Palm office. So, be aware not all drugs are equal!