Guest guest Posted July 28, 2003 Report Share Posted July 28, 2003 It was awful for me but my dog is tolerating it fine. Edgar celtic8586@... wrote: > Hi Group! > I've asked my Doctor to take me off of atenolol (50 mg) and on to > something > else, that's less fatiguing. I take the drug for high blood pressure, > weight > related. I've lost forty pounds and the BP is coming down, but I want > something > less draining than atenolol. He recommended cardizem 120 mg. I plan to > be off > of BP medicine by years end. > I know one is a beta blocker the other is channel blocker. > Has anyone had experience with cardizem (diltiazem)? > Rich O > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 28, 2003 Report Share Posted July 28, 2003 Rich - I'm on cardizem for rate control and blood pressure -- 360 mgs a day. Does a good job on rate control but I'm having to supplement other drugs to help deal with blood pressure -- a diuretic and an ace inhibitor. I'm not experiencing any significant side effects with the cardizem. Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 28, 2003 Report Share Posted July 28, 2003 >> Has anyone had experience with cardizem (diltiazem)? > Rich O Rich: The first meeting I had with my EP he took me off atenolol and put me on diltiazem (CD 240) which is a 24 hour sustained action capsule. Although I hadn't complained about the atenolol, I noticed I had much more energy after the change. I don't experience any noticable side-effects from the stuff. So I like it but, like all medications, there are probably plenty who don't. Don, Ontario > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 28, 2003 Report Share Posted July 28, 2003 > Hi Group! > I've asked my Doctor to take me off of atenolol (50 mg) and on to something > else, that's less fatiguing. I take the drug for high blood pressure, weight > related. I've lost forty pounds and the BP is coming down, but I want something > less draining than atenolol. He recommended cardizem 120 mg. I plan to be off > of BP medicine by years end. > I know one is a beta blocker the other is channel blocker. > Has anyone had experience with cardizem (diltiazem)? > Rich O Rich, I can only speak about the afib part, not bp. When I was first diagnosed with afib, my former internist put me on tiazac, which I believe is a calcium channel blocker. It did help. Then the cardiologist switched me to a beta blocker, and that was a considerable improvement. It would be interesting if anyone who knows the theory behind one of htese types of meds vs. the other would explain them to us. It sure would be grat if I could switch to something less lethargy- producing than a beta blocker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 29, 2003 Report Share Posted July 29, 2003 > It would be interesting if anyone who knows the theory behind one of > htese types of meds vs. the other would explain them to us. > the theroy according to D (so don't believe a word a beta blocker modifies the timing of heart cells by competing with adrenaline - if the betablocker happens to latch on to a cell then that part of the cell will be unresponsive to adrenaline for a while (there a many sites on each cell). a calcium channel blocker modifies the timing by blocking some of the calcium channels (there a many calcium channels on each cell) or If want may to talk posh.... beta blockers compete with adrenergic neurotransmitters for binding at sympathetic sites. calcium channel blockers inhibit the influx of extracellular calcium. -- D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 29, 2003 Report Share Posted July 29, 2003 Rich, I was on Atenolol (50mg) for BP & rate control plus a series of other BP medications (one at a time) - Zestril, Norvasc & Diovan. Each one of the BP medications resulted in side affects (swelling of feet and ankles, numbness in left arm etc.) As soon as I stopped the BP medication the side affects went away. In a conversation with my Dr. we decided to stop the Atenolol and try Cardizem. I am currently on 240mg and feel great. My heart rate is good, however my BP, although better, is not where it should be. Zestril worked best for the BP. When I see the Dr. next week, we may try to go back to the Zestril or Norvasc with the cardizem - based upon there being a possibility that a combination of the Atenolol and other BP meds caused the side affects. I know that being off Atenolol is agreeing with me and no side affects from the Cardizem to date. Bob > Hi Group! > I've asked my Doctor to take me off of atenolol (50 mg) and on to something > else, that's less fatiguing. I take the drug for high blood pressure, weight > related. I've lost forty pounds and the BP is coming down, but I want something > less draining than atenolol. He recommended cardizem 120 mg. I plan to be off > of BP medicine by years end. > I know one is a beta blocker the other is channel blocker. > Has anyone had experience with cardizem (diltiazem)? > Rich O > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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