MikeO Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 Hi Yesterday my Dr put me on Ranolazine. It is used for chronic angina which is not new to me even after my bypass surgery (my RCA could not be fixed) so, back then i was put on isosorbide which aggravated my hypotension so i eventually was taken off of it. What got me a ad hoc meeting with my Cardiologist was some recent episodes of what i thought was a colon spasm (felt ischemic and reached up into my chest). first time i had experienced it was back in october when i transitioned off of metoprolol and on to carvedilol. So after discussing we don't think i have any colon issues per se (no blood in the stools i will leave it here) but is just angina attacks (they are similar to prior events) so he wants to try Ranolazine for now. His choice for the drug is that it does not affect blood pressure and heart rates. Just throwing this out here to see if anyone had taken Ranolazine and can share their experiences with the drug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted February 11, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2022 Well made it thru day one with nothing bad happening. I did become very lightheaded getting out of bed this morning but the pharmacist said that would happen until i adjusted to the med. Just wish i knew how the Ranolazine really works all i know is that it is not a vasodilator. Guess next time my cardiologist asks if i have any questions i should speak up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistol Posted February 12, 2022 Report Share Posted February 12, 2022 @MikeO found this: " Ranolazine is in a class of medications called anti-anginals. The exact way that ranolazine works is not known at this time." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted February 12, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2022 Thanks! @PistolI Googled what you wrote and found some interesting studies done with Ranolazine. This did catch my eye. At the sympathetic perivascular nerve endings, ranolazine may potentially reduce electrical activity and inhibit the release of norepinephrine, in addition to the inhibition of α1-adrenergic receptors, which may also be relevant for the antianginal effects of the drug. The inhibition of cardiac release of norepinephrine may also have favorable effects by reducing cardiac adrenergic stimulation https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/15/1/31/htm#app1-pharmaceuticals-15-00031 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistol Posted February 13, 2022 Report Share Posted February 13, 2022 @MikeO THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING! This could potentially be helpful for several of my own symptoms, including Prinzmetal angina and excessive sympathetic activity resylting in high norepinephrine levels! Like you I could not tolerate Isosorbite due to drops in BP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted February 13, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2022 @PistolIt will be interesting to see how this helps with my elevated heart rates. I know it's only been a few days since i have started the Razolizine and so far i have not broken 95 bpm even with some of the lower bp's were i normally would see 110 or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted February 14, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2022 More digging into Ranolazine. so far i have seen my heart rate is more stable and my latest GI issues disappeared (stomach is growling again and BM's are back to normal). from what i have read was: and i am not saying i have heart failure yet is: We discovered that ranolazine (RAN) reduces high sympathetic tone and increases parasympathetic tone in CHF, thereby improving sympathovagal balance (SB), most likely by inhibiting neuronal sodium channel 1.7 (Nav1.7) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5001871/#:~:text=We discovered that ranolazine (RAN,1.7 (Nav1.7). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistol Posted February 14, 2022 Report Share Posted February 14, 2022 @MikeO thanks for sharing, this, very interesting! And I am so glad that it seems to be helping! 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted February 17, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2022 Day 7 since starting Ranolazine. I don't think i am going to celebrate anything (i always get burned) but it helped a little bit. Worse side effects so far is a bit of a headache, tinnitus ramped up a little and i do feel a bit weaker at times. Hopefully week two will tone things down. I did break one of my Dr's rules Monday night and fell asleep laying flat on the couch, next morning i passed out just trying to sit up (frustrating) I just hope it is not due to the new med. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted February 20, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2022 Few more days into the treatment with Ranolazine and i have noticed a substantial change in the unknown chest pain i have been experiencing (much better). I still have a bit of a headache but is manageable. My GI difficulties so far are completely gone and has not been this good in years (not sure if this is a fluke). I lost two more inches off the round of my waist as well. During a bad flare up the bloating would get bad (48") and now i am at (40"). Down side i am getting more orthostatic symptoms but has been more limited to a postural change. I was in the shop last night and started feeling warm and lightheaded so i knew to quit and get off my feet for a while. Thanks @Pistoli did follow your advice and listened to my body and it worked! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistol Posted February 20, 2022 Report Share Posted February 20, 2022 2 hours ago, MikeO said: i did follow your advice and listened to my body and it worked! 👍Good job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted February 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2022 Well i am on the two week mark taking Ranolazine. So far my headache has cleared up, no mystery GI issues and i am feeling better when i get up in the morning. Down side i have seen a change in my resting blood pressures (77/48) even though my daytime upright readings are pretty stellar (128/87). I am sure i will be talking to my Cardiologists nurse yet this week. I see a change in my Amlodipine coming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted February 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2022 4 hours ago, MikeO said: I am sure i will be talking to my Cardiologists nurse yet this week. I see a change in my Amlodipine coming. Well this was quick i was totally taken off of Amlodipine for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susanna Posted March 2, 2022 Report Share Posted March 2, 2022 I was prescribed ranolazine as well. I’m still trying to figure out if it works. I get severe hypertension with mild exercise and it does not seem to have done much for that. My HR has gone down a bit but not to the normal level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susanna Posted March 2, 2022 Report Share Posted March 2, 2022 On 2/24/2022 at 3:34 AM, MikeO said: Well i am on the two week mark taking Ranolazine. So far my headache has cleared up, no mystery GI issues and i am feeling better when i get up in the morning. Down side i have seen a change in my resting blood pressures (77/48) even though my daytime upright readings are pretty stellar (128/87). I am sure i will be talking to my Cardiologists nurse yet this week. I see a change in my Amlodipine coming. Have you exercised and taken BP readings right away? I thought I was a normal POTS patient until I started monitoring that and found my BP was 208/160 when I walked briskly across house. The strange thing is it’s not predictable. Some days my BP is 65/43 lying down and others it’s normal. Curious for any updates you have on ranolazine… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted March 2, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2022 23 minutes ago, Susanna said: Have you exercised and taken BP readings right away? Yes, when i was recently in Cardio Rehab the nurses would take a exercising BP and then have you stop and would take another reading most times i would stay the same but some we would see a reduction in pressures (20-30 mmHg) 29 minutes ago, Susanna said: I thought I was a normal POTS patient until I started monitoring that and found my BP was 208/160 when I walked briskly across house. The strange thing is it’s not predictable. Some days my BP is 65/43 lying down and others it’s normal. From what i keep reading it is not uncommon for folks with dysautonomia (POTS) to have labile swings in blood pressures. I too have the unpredictable readings you just described. This morning my just out of bed readings were 94/64 and right now i am stuck at 175/105 just after putting on my shoes. This will change as the day goes on. 39 minutes ago, Susanna said: Curious for any updates you have on ranolazine Well i can tell you that it has helped with my angina also for whatever reason my GI issues have cleared up 4 days after starting the drug. Down side i suspect it has caused a few more syncope episodes (i did read that this can happen in a small number of people) One of the reasons my Cardiologist chose it is supposedly it does not affect HR and BP. I think for now i am on the fence with Ranolazine i will see how the next several weeks go but so far i have not had any bad side effects outside of the syncope episodes. I am sure these will clear up as i have stopped the Amlodipine for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susanna Posted March 7, 2022 Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 Thank you…this is helpful and reassuring to know that others have abnormal increases in BP from doing simple things like tying shoes. I think it has helped me with angina but I’m not seeing improvements in POTS or dysautonomia. I find I still have heart fluttering and irregular beats. I am woken up with very low blood pressure episodes. Still looking for the magical cure for labile BP and HR… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted March 7, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2022 Hi @SusannaGlad to hear the Ranolazine might be helping with your heart. When i first went into my clinic and was assessed for my syncope episodes the Dr did come right out and say that trying to control by blood pressure was going to be a (she used a B word). right now we are just focused on finding what will get me into a happy medium so that when my bp drops i don't pass out (my swings can be between 40-70 points). Are you on any other meds for your POTS? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted March 11, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2022 Well day 30 while taking Ranolazine. So far as i can tell it is working or doing what it should be. down side i can feel the effects of coming off of Amlodipine. Fatigue has set back in. If i had to start a office pool i would bet on a med change coming down the pipe. @Pistolyou are spot on as to changes taking a bit of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted April 16, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2022 Well has been 2ish months since i started the med. I am happy so far and is working as advertised. Bonus is that my GI issues have cleared up, not sure why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted August 29, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2022 Well it has been around 6 months from when i first started the Ranolazine. I am very pleased with how well the drug has made me feel (been a real game changer). My unknown chest pains have totally cleared up and have not any bad shortness of breath episodes. I did also have a very good Cardiology visit. My Dr is pleased as to how well i have responded. I am now back on the yearly visit schedule WooHoo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistol Posted August 29, 2022 Report Share Posted August 29, 2022 @MikeO -I am happy to hear this, good job! Excellent news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted February 1, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2023 well one year update. My Cardiologist renewed my prescription for the next year. So far this has been my number one (miracle) drug. My unknown chest pains for the most part have been in remission. One thing that was noted is my Blood Pressure swings and diastolic pressure have improved (has me puzzled a bit) I did read somewhere that Ranolazine improves the hearts diastolic stretch among other things. I just hope this continues to improve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdlady Posted February 1, 2023 Report Share Posted February 1, 2023 Glad to see you've had such improvement! It's amazing when you find something that is really helping and makes positive changes to your quality of life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted February 1, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2023 1 hour ago, Birdlady said: Glad to see you've had such improvement! It's amazing when you find something that is really helping and makes positive changes to your quality of life. Thank You! One Step at a time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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