Norvasc

[Guest guest]

My doctor recently put me on Norvasc. He said it tends to work better than the other drugs out there.

He also says it has a long half life (it stays in the blood stream most of the day). It has few side effects and he thinks it should not become less effective over time.

He also said it can take up to 1-2 months before it becomes effective. I take 5 mg/day in the morning.

I've been on it for about 10 days, it does seem to be getting easier to eat. I can swallow cold water, when I couldn't before.

But it's still early in the treatment.

I've had no headaches, nor dizziness. Does anyone else have experience with Norvasc?

BostonPete

[Guest guest]

, wrote:

Does

anyone else have experience with

Norvasc?

No, but I am on Diltiazem which, like Norvasc, is also a CCB. I have been

on it for about two months. I am only taking a small dose of it. However,

I think the last two months have been better than most. I was without it

for a few days after being on it for a month and that seemed to trigger a

few bad days, before the drug kicked back in. The difference in my case

is not much, but it is easy for me now to go out and eat with others and

have little concern that I will loose control, or even that any one would

guess that I have a problem swallowing. I still have trouble at night,

and wish I could remove the blocks and stack of pillows from the bed.

I told my doctor about my up turn and he said it was possible for

Diltiazem to help the LES relax, but he was doubtful that if there was a

difference in the esophagus that it would be enough for me to notice. He

went on to name some other drugs in the class that he thought would be

more likely to produce a noticeable difference. I don't remember which

ones he named.

I should add that I have ups and downs and I can not be sure that getting

better has anything to do with the CCB. Also, last summer my life moved

into a much more peaceful state. After, two relatives died, and two

basket case dysfunctional relatives moved away. These events were the

climaxes to things that had been going on for years. I may just be

benefiting from the reduced stress and less depressive circumstances.

notan

[Guest guest]

If you have to take it anyway, why don't you ask for one of the CCB's that will also relax the LES?

Boston Pete

Re: Norvasc, wrote:

Does anyone else have experience with Norvasc?No, but I am on Diltiazem which, like Norvasc, is also a CCB. I have been on it for about two months. I am only taking a small dose of it. However, I think the last two months have been better than most. I was without it for a few days after being on it for a month and that seemed to trigger a few bad days, before the drug kicked back in. The difference in my case is not much, but it is easy for me now to go out and eat with others and have little concern that I will loose control, or even that any one would guess that I have a problem swallowing. I still have trouble at night, and wish I could remove the blocks and stack of pillows from the bed. I told my doctor about my up turn and he said it was possible for Diltiazem to help the LES relax, but he was doubtful that if there was a difference in the esophagus that it would be enough for me to notice. He went on to name some other drugs in the class that he thought would be more likely to produce a noticeable difference. I don't remember which ones he named. I should add that I have ups and downs and I can not be sure that getting better has anything to do with the CCB. Also, last summer my life moved into a much more peaceful state. After, two relatives died, and two basket case dysfunctional relatives moved away. These events were the climaxes to things that had been going on for years. I may just be benefiting from the reduced stress and less depressive circumstances. notan

[Guest guest]

notan wrote:

I should add that I have ups and downs and I can not be sure that getting better has anything to do with the CCB. Also, last summer my life moved into a much more peaceful state. After, two relatives died, and two basket case dysfunctional relatives moved away. These events were the climaxes to things that had been going on for years. I may just be benefiting from the reduced stress and less depressive circumstances.

I'm sorry that you had a rough time there, but I'm glad that your life is significantly less stressed now! I know what you mean about cumulative life stressors, as I've had my own fair share of them -- I've managed to rid myself of many of them, but some are here forever. Constant stresses (and even GOOD things are still stressors on the mind and body) have a tremendous impact on the body's ability to function; the research is slowly but surely pointing out that there are many more connections than previously thought.

Anything we can do to lessen our stress levels is bound to help not only our achalasia symptoms, but our general health level (physical and mental.)

Deb

[Guest guest]

, wrote:

If

you have to take it anyway, why don't you ask for one of the CCB's that

will also relax the LES?

My impressions is that any CCB that would make a

big difference in the LES pressure is also going to effect a lot of other

important smooth muscles in the body, and that would not be a good long

term treatment. I would love to find out that this is not true. However,

things are pretty good, and my, " don't fix it if it isn't too badly

broken " , mentality inclines me to let someone else be the guinea

pig.

notan