Anyone take new drug Camzyos (mavacamten) for HCM?

I got Covid in January, 2023. I then had a heart event and had a stent placed on 2/6. Afterwards, the doctor diagnosed HOCM. He eluded to the fact that I had a milder case before Covid and that the virus has exacerbated my previously diagnosed condition.

Wow! You've had quite a year so far! How scary that must have been for you. We may never know all the effects of Covid and the aftermath of its course. I hope you are doing better now, and that the sleeplessness issue can be addressed. Not being able to sleep is awful...I know people have all sorts of different things that work for them, but not all things work for all people. For some melatonin helps. I did not like it at all and won't take it. I have tried Mary Ruth's liquid nighttime multi-mineral product. It does something, but I can't really say what. That sounds strange, but it works on some level. It's a bit pricey even on Amazon.
Hopefully either the Camzyos reps or your doctor can address your insomnia.

I was taking it before I started Camzyos. It was one of the things my doctor tried before he learned about Camzyos. He started me at 25 mg, then bumped me up to 50 and then 100. I got very dizzy when he upped my dose to 100mg. So he brought me back down to 50mg. I have not had any negative reactions taking both. We discussed if I am going to continue taking it and for now I am. I take it in the morning with Camzyos and Atorvastatin. He said for now he wants me to continue with the Atorvastatin as well.

Hello @whidbey and welcome to Mayo Connect. @kelliw is a Camzyos champion and her advice is spot on! I hope you are able to contact your doctor or as kelliw mentioned the specialty pharmacist or nurse navigator for any concerns. This is a new drug and every person is unique and will have a different response. Some it seems respond quickly and others take much longer to see results. I have no experience with Camzyos as I had to have a septal myectomy. But I can tell you this much, this group of Camzyos people are amazing! This group is very supportive of each other and willing to share their experiences in the hope that it helps someone else. How long have you known you had HOCM? Is your doctor specialized in treating HOCM?

Thank you for your response. I do not have a nurse navigator. I have appreciated reading this Mayo clinic blog.

@whidbey, that must be a lonely feeling not having the support of a nurse navigator or specialty pharmacist to talk to when you just began a brand new drug. Being so new on the drug seems like you should have close follow up and easy communication, especially regarding drug interactions. Are you able to contact your doctor about this? It seems like a serious issue, and warrants closer medical supervision. You only recently began the Camzyos treatment...I just can't imagine you would have no way to communicate side effects to your physician. Is your cardiologist familiar with HOCM and Camzyos? @kelliw has an awesome champion cardiologist who has been so supportive of her and went to bat for her when she was told to adjust her medication. I mention this because you have to be your own advocate sometimes. Not everyone has a super star for a cardiologist, and they have to fight for themselves. @jaymaysea began Camzyos recently and had issues with adjusting meds too. Please be sure you are being heard. It is important because this is a new drug, and you need to be followed closely. I would encourage you to contact your doctor. May I ask where you live?

@whidbey have you tried reaching out to a Nurse Navigator at Bristol Myers Squibb? That said, I have not found them to be that helpful. because tend to refer you to back to your cardologist.

My cardologist has a nurse navigator that is very responsive when I contact the office ( using emails) with problems. My heart rate was averaging between 95 and 110. I reached out and got a response within 15 minutes that they were calling in a prescription for Metoprolol succinate 12.5mg. On the other hand, my cardologist says that rapid heart rate is a symptom of Camzyos. But it’s a symptom I am having. It is frustrating and scary. But it’s your life so you have to advocate for yourself.

My cardologist and I had to have a “heart to heart” because he is very pro Camzyos and follows the dosing guidelines to the book. When I tell him my symptoms ( initially I was lightheaded, now I am suffering from a high heart rate) he tends to say symptoms with Camzyos are rare. He reduced my dosage from 5mg to 2.5 even though my symptoms were not improving because it’s what the algorithm called for based on my limited echo. @kelliw’s cardologist deemed it was in the best interest of the patient not to follow the guideline.

After some back and forth, my cardologist agreed to do a stress echo since my obstruction is only evident upon excretion. We will see it there has been improvement in my LVOT and EF ( ejection fraction) since my last stress echo.

Bottomline, you MUST educate for yourself if you are having issues which is not easy because the drug is so new, know your LVOT and EF so you know whether you are improving, you MUST ask question, and listen to your body! You are an individual and this drug is not for everyone. Some respond very well, other not as much. Unfortunately, I appear to be in the later category. I have been on it for 8 weeks. I expected to be able to do a lot more by now. My cardologist wants me to stay with it. So I going to hang in there for a while longer. We will see what happens with my stress echo tomorrow. I may be headed to surgery. But, with the support of the group, I decided to give the drug a try first.

Use this group, ask specific questions. The participants are wonderful, caring people, that are willing to take the time to give you the benefit of their experience.