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Diastolic Heart Failure Maintenance
A friend’s husband was recently diagnosed with diastolic heart failure. He is 51. on a variety of medication. I have a list of medication he is taking, and planning get him to Mayo for a 2nd opinion on the interaction of the meds.
Does anyone have experience with these medications for the heart and how they interact, will they make someone feel better or worse?
Gabapentin for neuropathy
Carvedilol and spironolactone are for heart failure.
Ritalin for ADHD
Lexapro for anxiety/depression
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@asolidrock
I don't see where you misquoted me. If it was about Jardiance just trying to say why I take it. It is a diabetic medication but has been found to be beneficial (remodel heart) for those with heart failure.
When I make posts like this, it is not my opinion but the information I get from my heart failure specialist I see at Mayo Jacksonville.
Nothing to apologize for @asolidrock
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1 Reaction@malebreastcancer47
Here is the ones I have been taking and have experience with.
Carvedilol (Coreg) been taking since 2006. Took some time to get used to the strength as really lowers BP and pulse rate (for me). But worked.
Spironolactone: Was original prescribed this by my heart failure doctor as was he said research was showing promise of remodeling heart. It is also a mild diuretic. However I was allergic to it and was changed to similar medication that different name and starts with pir not Spi.
Lexapro (Escitalopram) have been taking since 2015. Developed PTSD after 5 shocks in 24 hours. Was put on it by Psychiatric Department for depression. It worked.
Can do any better than getting second opinion at Mayo. Been a patient there since 2006. They have a specific heart failure and heart transplant division.
You mentioned your friend has heart failure and is 51. What is his ejection fraction (EF). The norm is 50-70. I am all the way down to 20-25. But has been stable at that fraction for over 10 years. I also take a heart failure medications called Enstresto. Ask your friend to mention this mediation to his doctors. It is the state of art (per my HF doctor) for treating heart failure so he should asked about it.
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2 Reactions@jc76 I very much appreciate your detailed response. At the moment, I screen shotting replies and sending to my friend.
I have a cousin and husband at Mayo in Rochester, in cardiology. And I am a cancer patient, visit Mayo twice a year for checkups. It was my cousin that suggested Jardiance for my diabetes, not my Northwestern Medicine endo.
Her husband has a cardiologist he likes who is nearby but want to give him a Mayo experience. I am biased. 🙂
I will try to get more information on his case.
I have diastolic dysfunction, HFpEF, pulmonary hypertension(mild), CAD(mild), plus two regurgitating valves that appear to be stable. I presented with fatigue and dyspnea. I was already on Metoprolol for palpitations but I had an ablation which helped the palpitations but didn't eradicate them. I also have PVC's which the ablation didn't seem to help.
In January, I started getting blood pressure spikes and was switched from Metoprolol to Carvedilol, which is supposed to help HFpEF. I had a terrible time with it. I was on it for 2 months and couldn't stand it anymore. My cardiologist switched me to Jardiance. Even though I feel better than I did, I'm still feeling fatigued and weak after 6 weeks on Jardiance. I don't really know if it is working. I've been struggling to control my blood pressure since January and tried different meds, most of which I had reactions to. I am currently on Losartan, which I don't think is very effective, and spironolactone, which may or may not be working since I can rarely get a blood pressure reading. It's all very exasperating. Now my eGFR is slowly declining, and my glucose is slowly rising. I thought the Jardiance was supposed to control blood sugar. I don't have diabetes, at least not yet, but my doctor says I am stable. I feel like crap. Sometimes I wonder if they know much more than we do.
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1 Reaction@bch72 When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, which is rare in men, I went to 3 different providers before choosing Mayo. The challenge with all these meds, lack of data or worse, lack of feedback from patients.
Mayo has offered new meds for BC treatment, but when I heard the side effects, I said No. I do not have support, live alone or anyone to lean on but myself. I do my own research, talk with patients. Do my best to manage emotions, sometimes I fail.
For blood pressure, do you take any supplements to keep normal?
I have been researching beets as a good source, I take 1 gummie super beets. I don’t have high blood pressure but its more preventative.
When I was diagnosed with diabetes, my PCP also prescribed a statin, because my father had heart disease.