Prinzmetal's Angina

• By kbla06
• Reply 3440966
• October 8, 2012 at 11:36 am
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I,m on .8 patch everyday still little jaw pain

• By kodi
• Reply 3441328
• October 8, 2012 at 1:37 pm
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I have not used the patch, yet I am on a calcium chanel blocker-2.5mg, Isosorbe-60mg, and Ranexa 1,000mg, also a alpha/beta blocker, the beta blocker alone did not do the trick.
Anytime i try to cut back on one of these meds, the neck,face,arm, chest pain returns quickly.
The early am spasms have become very light in the way of symptoms, yet still there.

I am one year into trying to find the right cocktail for me, dont give up, and dont hesitate to ask your Doc. what might work for you.
Take Care, Kodi

• By MountainLoverNY
• Reply 3441594
• October 8, 2012 at 3:24 pm
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Thank to both of you I didnt know I could take more mg in a patch. I dont have medical insurance so its tough I was prescribed the Ranexa at one time but it was $500 a month 30 pills The Isosorbe although worked caused severe back pain I was non functioning with out pain meds or anti inflammatory drugs. So I went on the nitro patch It did work for a bit but I will be calling to see if there is some other thing he suggest. I also have the chest pain if I switch something up! Its nuts. and very frustrating.

• By MountainLoverNY
• Reply 3441610
• October 8, 2012 at 3:31 pm
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My Attacks are like someone blasting a 6 inch steel rod straight threw my chest! Usually happening between 4 Am and 7 Am

• By Miracle2008
• Reply 3441926
• October 8, 2012 at 5:33 pm
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Diltiazem, a calcium channel blocker, may be on the Walmart $3 perscription plan. HEB also has a plan where you can get some meds $3-$5. Check around.

Doris

• By BabetteJW
• Reply 3442352
• October 8, 2012 at 8:35 pm
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I've been taking a Calcium Channel Blocker called Amlodipine besylate 5mg. My Angina events have reduced dramatically in the past 3 months since I've been taking it. Instead of two to three angina attacks weekly I've only had three attacks in the past 3 months. I had an MI in 2004, (aged 48yrs) & have two drug-eluding stents in my left Coronary Artery. I had no Cardiac risk factors, but I was taking Vioxx for Osteoarthritis for three years. In the US there were successful class actions against Merck (drug company that produced Vioxx). Here in Australia, the class action was not successful. Way to go USA!!

• By Yatchzee
• Reply 3442447
• October 8, 2012 at 9:15 pm
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Most of us with Prinzmetal take a calcium channel blocker first off. I take 5 mg of generic Norvasc, amlodipine. Then the nitrates--slow acting or fast acting or both. Some of us take anti anxiety meds. Some take Ranexa. Some of us take supplements such as l'arginnine, l'carnitine, magnesium. We are all different and each of us needs to experiment with what works. Usually beta blockers are not good for us. Don't take supplements without asking your doctor. Caffeine is not good for us and smoking is a definate no no. Try and not take on too much in life so that you are not stressed out. Stress is the worst for me. It is believed that stress hormones block your body's ability to produce nitric oxide which is necessary for your arteries to expand, relax and not spasm.
Joyce

• By MountainLoverNY
• Reply 3443165
• October 9, 2012 at 7:13 am
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I have been mixing the meds up for 3 years, seems I am great for about 3 to 4 months with what I am taking. Then the break threw attacks start and I have to switch meds again. I quit smoking 6 months before my heart attack 2 plus years ago. One decaf a day is the norm for me.
Never had Hi blood pressure still don't but he has me on a pill for it because its suppose to help ease the pumping of the blood flow. My DR took me off Plaxix August 1st not sure if this is the reasoning behind the attacks now.

Just looking to get others opinion on things because first hand information on meds ect is better then a Dr prescribing the stuff and never have been on it. I was having the worst time with the Isosorbide the back pain was horrible I mentioned it to my Dr he said he never heard of that happening but he listen and switch me to the patch and the back pain went away. A member here told me about the patch! I was very thankful. So I thought I ask again! I do appreciate everyone's input!!! It has been so helpful to me in the past! Thank you all so so much

• By Yatchzee
• Reply 3443892
• October 9, 2012 at 11:22 am
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The calcium channel blockers lower blood pressure. Is that what you take? We all experience the break through pains at times.
That is when the quick nitro comes into it. Also, I take up to 9 grams of l'arginine throughout the day when I am having spells of pain. This is a relaxing effect for arteries but also lowers blood pressure further. So not sure if that is good for someone with already low pressure. I find that a heating pad on my chest and back shoulder blade where I get the bad pain is helpful along with reading. LOL I just try and space out in my book and put the rest of the world away.
That is just me. Joyce

• By MountainLoverNY
• Reply 3444645
• October 9, 2012 at 3:31 pm
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The pain I get is devastating I can not even open my eyes it only last a few moments at a time but it brings me to my knees for sure. Dr has me on Carvedilol

• By Yatchzee
• Reply 3445348 · In reply to 3444645 by MountainLoverNY
• October 9, 2012 at 7:58 pm
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OK, so just a heads up..........some of us with Prinzmetal do not do well on a beta blocker, which is what Caredilol is.

http://heartdisease.about.com/od/coronaryarterydisease/a/betablockers.htm

I know doctors don't like to hear that we have searched the internet and found articles and want to try something else. There may be a real important reason you are on the beta blocker, but if there is any way you can substitute a calcium channel blocker instead, I would recommend it. It might be the answer.
Joyce

• By Yatchzee
• Reply 3445366
• October 9, 2012 at 8:02 pm
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http://heartdisease.about.com/od/coronaryarterydisease/a/calciumblockers.ht m

• By special85
• Reply 3447069
• October 10, 2012 at 12:28 pm
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When I was first diagnosed with this condition the cardio had me on 30 mg of Imdur daily, then the chest pain got worse and he upped it to 60 mg, now I'm on 60mg twice daily. I think that this condition get worse, or it has for me, as it progresses. I, also, take amlodopine, a calcium channel blocker. I've tried other CCB's but they didn't work for me. At first I was on Metropolol, a beta blocker, that nearly put me under. That was when he changed it to the CCB, which really helped with the spasms. Now it is a daily fight to keep the spasms at bay. My spasms can be heartburn, back pain, chest pressure or just a fullness in my throat. I'm just now finally figuring this all out. Thank goodness for sublingual nitro. The two weeks before my period is the worse time for spasms. I'm popping nitro all the time. Thinking that hormones are driving me and my heart crazy!! Maybe the back pain you were experiencing on the isosorbide was really spasms that would have gone away with the sublingual nitro. Just a thought.
Hoping you figure out the mysterious illness,
Special85

• By MountainLoverNY
• Reply 3447654 · In reply to 3447069 by special85
• October 10, 2012 at 3:59 pm
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For me i think that the back pain was from the isosorb because when I replaced it with the nitro patch the back pain stopped. But I have learned that anything with this illness doesnt surprise me. I have talked to a few other woman that have said they think there is a link between menopause and menstrual cycles I haven't had a Dr confirm that to me as of yet.But I have only had male cardiologist in the past so I cant say what a female cardiologist might say on the subject. I would sure find it interesting to see for sure! I just turned 50 so alot of things takin place! :o) But a mom to one of my friends said she started having angina when she started menopause a few years into it,, the angina peeked then slowly within a few years went away! I can only wish that would be the case for me. Or anyone going through this. The chest pain is what I get,, like a freight train barging threw my chest it is a scary ordeal. I feel as if I am having the big one with 2 heart attacks already its very upsetting to say the least. I try to get it out what I have experience because the drs at the ER passed me off as having to much stress and gave me a anti depressant and sent me home 2 times the 3rd trip to the er they said I had a heart attack!! I have a call in to the Dr and hope he mixes things up again and I have some relief from the episodes. You are the first person I have read about having other issues pretaining to the angina. So i always get some kind of knowledge from this site its wonderful and so so helpful Thank you!

• By special85
• Reply 3449676
• October 11, 2012 at 10:18 am
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I think every woman on this site would have the same experience when going into the ER with chest pain. Oh, it's just anxiety but we will keep you here for observation. Little did they know but I had had a heart attack and then when they came in the next morning, after putting me in the women's unit, to tell me my troponins levels were elevated I had another heart attack!!! I have had this condition now since Dec. 2010 and it took 3 cardios before finally getting diagnosed correctly. It has slowly gotten worse as it has progressed and I've had to be on the nitro drip twice when I couldn't get the spasms to quit after taking 3 sublinguals. My cardio says that I will probably be on the drip every 7 to 8 months. I have learned to really listen to my body now. I can feel when I'm on the downhill spiral, popping nitro like crazy every day and that's when I know the drip is in my immediate future. Don't dread it anymore because it instantly relieves the pain. My primary care doctor says he has two other Prinzmetal patients and I'm the worst one. Lucky me!!! I've had to quit working to lower my stress level and rest on the days that I feel awful. I try to walk at least 30 minutes every day and have started doing some light strength training. Can't believe I'm saying that because I used to be so fit and was able to walk a hour a day and do a 45 minute exercise tape at work. Oh well, at least this condition is manageable and we are still here.
Hoping you find your right cocktail of medication,
Special85

• By tammyhatesimitrex
• Reply 3450436
• October 11, 2012 at 2:25 pm
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Hello all, how long do you all wear your nitro patches?? Mine was for 12 hrs and I would wake up between 2 and 7 am with severe pain EVERY morning and my doctor told me to start wearing my patch for 24 hrs and I haven't had any spasms at all for 11 days now. that's a record for me. I was diagnosed almost 2 months ago. And had a very rough 2 months

• By MountainLoverNY
• Reply 3451189 · In reply to 3450436 by tammyhatesimitrex
• October 11, 2012 at 7:30 pm
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Hi i keep .04 nitro patch on from 1030 PM till 12 or 1 the next day. Most days I am fine with no attacks. Seems that I personally have to change meds every few months due to the fact I start having the break threw attacks my Dr calls them.

The ERs do not treat young females the same as they would a male coming in with chest pain so I let me voice be heard I tell everyone around me my story. I had one stent put in when I first had my heart attack 13 months later I stared with the same pain again. The replaced my stent and I literally came out into the recovery room with chest pains! 2009 Its been an on going battle since then. But the truth Im still here and fighting it so Im thankful for that!

• By tammyhatesimitrex
• Reply 3452397 · In reply to 3451189 by MountainLoverNY
• October 12, 2012 at 9:41 am
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I'm so sorry that you have "break threw attacks" I guess I must be on a pretty low does patch, mine is .2 I haven't had to use any "under the tongue nitro" since I've kept the patch on 24 hrs instead of 12.


You are so right ON about the ER's they sent me away the 1st time saying I was having anxiety, the 2nd time, just a few days later...my husband is a police officer and works with some of the people in the ER regularly and got a hold of a few he knew and pretty much said my wife is NOT have anxiety, it is her heart, please help her! So they gave me a cath, I had a mild heart attack during the cath. They gave me lots of meds, follow up appt w/heart doc and sent me home. few days later I got worse...my husband made them send me to a heart hospital in a nearby city where I stayed for about a week. They told me that I was having coronary artery spasms due to imitrex damaging my arteries. They started to put a stint in but said that the spasms are happening all over my arteries so a stint would do no good and that my heart was actually healthy all but the arteries the imitrex caused damage to.

I am finally getting used to being on all these new meds and this nitro patch and feeling somewhat back to my normal self. There was a time when I didn't think I would ever get better. I felt so bad all the time and did nothing but lay around with no energy. I am officially back to work and actually made it a full week last week all but late one day by 30 mins. Which is a record for me, since I've been home.

Prayers to all of you!

• By MountainLoverNY
• Reply 3453038 · In reply to 3452397 by tammyhatesimitrex
• October 12, 2012 at 1:35 pm
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Thank you just knowing I am not alone helps so much! Finding answers to some of my questions here is a wonderful thing!

• By MountainLoverNY
• Reply 3453047 · In reply to 3452397 by tammyhatesimitrex
• October 12, 2012 at 1:38 pm
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I was also on chanxiz to stop smoking, So they say its part of the issues I am having.