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Is My Doctor Right?

S

SheLo

Member
Messages
9
I have angina and had three stents inserted about 2 years ago now. As a consequence I have been on atrovastatin 40mg x 2 a day to reduce cholesterol, nicorandil 10mg x 2 a day for angina and to reduce blood pressure, and 75mg aspirin x 1 a day. Am also an asthmatic, and take puffers for that. I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes a few months ago. My GP put me on Metformin and I take 500mg x 4 a day. I have the finger pricking device but at the moment am too much of a chicken to use it.
Any way the issue I have that I would like some advice with please is that I was asked to take urine samples in twice over the course of 6 weeks, which I did. The result being that the GP said my kidneys are damaged because of my diabetes and my blood pressure reading was way too high, cant remember exactly what it was but something like 144 over 94. So he told me that I would have to take another tablet along with all the rest I take (as above) called RAMIPRIL, he said to start the first week with the 2,5mg strength once a day, then the 5mg, then the 10mg. He said to go back and see him in one month time.
I got home and checked through the instructions like you do, reading side effects etc.
It says side effects include tiredness, vomiting blah blah. How the hell am I supposed to keep working. I am already having major problems with the metformin making my stomach feel terrible. Also I have noticed it says don't take with aspirin. Also he said the Ramipril was for my kidneys but its a blood pressure tablet and I thought the nicorandil that I am already taking was for my blood pressure. Why do I need to take both? Should i be taking both? Is my doctor giving me the right medication? I haven't started taking the Ramipril yet cos I'm scared he has got it wrong. Has he got it wrong?
 
This is one you really need to discuss with your doctor if you have concerns about taking the medication. We cannot advise on this only a doctor or pharmacist can do this.
 
Okay thanks for coming back to me. I will ring and have a chat with the receptionist Monday morning and ask if I should make another appointment to discuss. Until then I am not going to start taking them, just in case.
Thank you
 
As Sue says you need to talk to your doctor or pharamcist about interractions between medications and any fears about taking them..
Ramipril is an ACE inhibitor, these are often given to people with diabetes to 'protect the kidneys,'(in low doses even when the person doesn't have hypertension or )
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/55861.php
 
I was on two types of tablet for blood pressure and my last cardiac consultant who knows his stuff swapped one of them to Ramapril as it will "help lower my blood pressure and help protect my kidneys against the ravage of diabetes" his words.


Sadly he has know emigrated to Australia, our loss and Ausies gain....
 
If your doctor doesn't use it, the Pharmacist has software, which will check out any interactions in all your medications.
 
You are right to ensure your prescribed drugs are ok. However, if it's any help I'm type 1but also take Aspirin, Atorvastatin 10mg x 1 daily and Rampiril among others (Angina). No problems so far. You mention checking for side effects, these are not mandatory only possible. I don't think I've had one to any drug, ever.
 
I have CKD stage 3. This was caused by High blood pressure. High blood pressure is a silent killer because sometimes we have no symptoms at all or none that we notice. In my case I got lucky (Not sure if that is the right word LOL) and was very sick one week and the doctor was very worried about my condition and did some tests. Next thing I have CKD and am on ramopril. Side effect gave me a cough so was changed to candestartin. The tablets worked because 11 months later my CKD reading are back to normal and so is my BP as long as I take my tablet. Still have CKD stage 3 and all the lovely feelings that go with it but it will not get any worse I hope. Any way BP tablets work for me. I also take simvastating, imipramine for my leg pain and lansoprazole for reflux disease. Not on meds for diabetes yet.

So I got CKD because of high BP The CKD made me diabetic which gave me reflux disease and on it goes lol.

I think I would rather put up with the side effects of the tablets that don't mix well than be dead.
 
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