Anyone else experiencing allergic reactions to heart medications?

@deniseheart
The best heart failure medications that my EP and heart failure doctors recommended to me were, Entresto, Coreg (Carvididol), Eplerenone, Mexiletine, Atorvastin. And supplements, Fish oil and magnesium.

The only medication I had that caused allergic reactions was a type of medication Elerenone (it started with an S) is and it caused back pain, nipple and breast pain. Immediately took off and put on the Elerenone and I was able to tolerate it but one of side affects is breat enlargement. Already a overweight guy and did not need this but recent blood tests show a reduction of irritation in my heart.

I know you probably have read this or are going to but who are you seeing? You need to be seeing a heart failure specialist. They go through additional training above a cardiologist and then specifically treating heart failure. My heart failure specialist is the Director of heart failure at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville. Have been seeing him since 2006.

Do you live anywhere close to a Mayo Clinic or a Cleveland Clinic. I would try to go there for second opinions and or care. What I did when I first got heart failure I did not live close to Mayo Clinic Jacksonville (3 hours away). But my major treatment was still at Mayo Clinic. What Mayo asked me to do was have a local cardiologists who would agree to work with Mayo and see me on a local basis and ongoing as well as my visits to Mayo Clinic.

This worked out great and both specialist coordinated my treatments and testings. I moved to Jacksonville area in 2015 and then had just my heart failure specialist at Mayo. I also see a EP at Mayo (Director of electrophysiology at Mayo Jacksonville) since 2006 also. Both my EP and HF worked together as a team to make sure getting best medications and ensure each concurs with the medications, tests and treatments.

I know that is a lot but if you can get a very large experienced heart failure institute to be your major provider and set up your mediations and treatment program and worked with a local cardiologist as a team.

Very good advice. Thank you very much for taking the time to write your comment. Unfortunately I am in CT so I am not near a Mayo or Cleveland Clinic. I will travel if I must, so this may be in my future.

Try enalapril instead of beta blockers. It is an old medicine approved by FDA in 1992 for heart failure and other heart disease. It is a vasodilator so you don't need a blood pressure medicine with it in most cases. I have to take 1/2 of the lowest dose allowed because like many women I only need 1/4 the dose a man needs as women often absorb chemicals more effectively and easily than men at the same size and medical condition.

Every study I looked up showed that beta blockers would prove they were like 2% better than enalapril. Therefore I went to enalapril and had to find the right pharmacy code that doesn't have the fillers I am allergic to. Cost is 11.00 for 90 day supply. I have one slight side effect which is occasional diarrhea.

Thank you very much. Enalapril is one medication that I have not tried. I will bring it to my doctors attention.

Do you know why atorvastatin specifically?

@jlharsh
If you are asking why statins: When you have high cholestrol (the LDL type), triglycrides (spell), can be a factor in developing plague in your arteries. This can cause high blood pressure and the plaque can lead to clotting and reducing flow of blow to heart leading to a heart attack AND heart failure.

Statin drugs lower the ability of liver to make cholestrol (which is does normally) which lowers your cholestrol.

If you are asking why Atorvastatin specifically it is just the generic form of brand name statins and much much cheaper. I have Federal BCBS prescription coverage and I get my 90 days supply free (meaning I do not have the normal co-pay at CVS).

My heart failure doctor also asked me to take Fish Oil saying it would lower my tryglecerides and it did. The fish oil is OTC.

I initially asked wondering if there is a reason for the specific statin you are taking, understanding there are several but they all are a bit different. I just switched from rosuvastatin to atorvastatin so your comment peaked my curiosity. My LDL is elevated but triglycerides are fine. My cardiologist has been concerned about heart failure. I have been focused on diet, exercise and reducing stress. I am at a more stable place now and we are trying to get my pesky LDL down.

Thank you for your explanations. I hadn’t connected plaque as a cause of high blood pressure. I have been focused on thinking my blood pressure is a metric I can watch to see how well I am reducing my stress, short-sighted now I see. I assume this refers to stable plaque stiffening the walls and not the unstable type getting moved around? Or maybe both?

I am learning my liver functions atypically and also have not appreciated its role. All of this (with maybe more) presents in a systemic way so it does not feel straight-forward to me. I am ultimately trying to find a comfort level with what I understand to be able to be confident in my priorities and best communicate with the people around me. Thanks for your nuggets of information and sharing your positive approach.