I Switched from Ramipril to Candesartan Cilexetil and Feel Epic!

I began to suffer from hypertension after I was made redundant in 2008 and like most people I trusted my Doctors judgement and took the dreaded Ramipril as prescribed. I was a slave to Ramipril for three years before my Doctor finally listened to me and offered me Candesartan Cilexetil to control my blood pressure and now I feel epic! 

As is well documented on this blog I have had three and a half years of nasty Ramipril side effects which made it difficult for me to function. Having four children and having to find work at the beginning of this terrible recession the last thing I needed was to feel ill all the time. The side effects of Ramipril for me were constipation, drowsiness, aching bones, sore throat, breathlessness and feeling sick and dizzy occasionally.  

These side effects seemed worse than the high blood pressure but my Doctor assured me my body would get used to it… but he was wrong. I was also told there is nothing else and I will have a stroke if I don’t take Ramipril. My father died after several strokes so I am well aware of what this means for me and my family should I have a stroke. I trusted the Doctor (although I was beginning to have doubts) and started this blog in the hope of finding a better way and also alerting people to the side effects of Ramipril. 

I finally got back into work but my throat problem got steadily worse to the point where I was reaching every morning and people commented on my apparent sore throat. I am a kitchen designer so speaking is an essential part of my job when doing presentations. My Doctor sent me to the ear, nose and throat department of my local Hospital and they put a camera up my nose and down my throat and found nothing but a voice box trying to protect it self from the fumes produced by the Ramipril in my stomach. So this was the last straw and something had to change! 

Well… after three and a half years of suffering Ramipril side effects I ventured to gain a second opinion and to my amazement, found a Doctor that agreed that because it is a quick releasing drug meaning you get the full force of the dosage within an hour of taking it, Ramipril doesn’t suit all people. Hurrah… at last a Doctor willing to listen and address my issues with this awful drug. 

I was prescribed Candesartan Cilexetil, a slow release drug with few side effects. This was a couple of months ago and my throat is still healing but all the other symptoms have gone and I feel like my old self. No lethargy, no constipation and my body is healing. Now I know its early days but I feel as the advert says… epic! After three years of feeling like a rapidly deteriorating middle age man I am finally getting this thing under control and feeling great. 

I am not saying that all people taking Ramipril should do the same but if your Doctor tells you there isn’t anything else they are either lying or lack knowledge. Either way you need to insist just in case like me… Candesartan Cilexetil works better for you.  

When I was on Ramipril I used to get to work, which is a forty minutes journey for me and the drug would kick in, the full dosage and it would make me feel sick. Not the best way to start a full day’s work. 

Call me cynical… but I am guessing that Candesartan Cilexetil costs more and this is why in the UK they are sticking with Ramipril when it clearly has massive side effects as you can see from posts on this blog. Hey… you only need to read the little leaflet inside the Ramipril box, that’s enough to scare anyone.

Please be aware that you can’t take Candesartan Cilexetil if:

• You are allergic (hypersensitive) to candesartan cilexetil or any of the other ingredients of Candesartan Cilexetil Tablets.

• You are more than 3 months pregnant (it is also better to avoid candesartan cilexetil in early pregnancy).

• You have severe liver disease or biliary obstruction (a problem with the drainage of the bile from the gall bladder).

I would like to point out that Ramipril does work for some people but not all. As always I wish you and yours well and hope this helps someone somewhere!

 

The easiest way to avoid Ramipril side effects is to find a natural way of controlling your blood pressure... read The Blood Pressure Miracle, it will change your life!

Hypertension: Treating High Blood Pressure With Green Tea

By Robert Reddin

Green tea is known to reduce hypertension and has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years. How does green tea lower high blood pressure?

Why is it effective

The secret of lies in the fact green tea is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate, which is a powerful anti-oxidant.

It is made from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant. The leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. By contrast, black and oolong teas, which come from the same plant, are made from fermented leaves, which results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases.

How Does It Lower High Blood Pressure (BP)?

It enables blood vessels to relax. Tea has caffeine but, unlike coffee, it actually relaxes you and your blood vessels and lowers BP naturally without side effects.

ACE, one cause of high blood pressure, is inhibited

Studies show that green tea catechins, especially EGCG, inhibit ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme), that causes the tiny muscles surrounding the arteries to clamp down, making the arteries smaller, which forces your BP to rise. (source: Actis-Goretta L, et al: Inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme activity by flavanol-rich foods. J Agric Food Chem. Jan 2006; 54: 229-34). If green tea can do this naturally, why take an artificial ACE inhibitor such as ramipril.

Salt uptake is blocked

Laboratory tests have shown that green tea blocks salt uptake in the intestine leading to lowered BP readings. Also theanine, a protein from the tea, lowered blood pressure in genetically hypertensive rats but not in normal ones. (Source: Kreydiyyeh SI, et al: Tea Extract Inhibits Intestinal Absorption of Glucose and Sodium in Rats. Comp Biochem Physiol Pharm Tox Endocrin. July 1994; 108: 359-365). That is good news for those of us who are genetically predisposed to hypertension.

Reduced risk of hypertension for middle-aged people

Recent research, following an eight year study, has shown that middle-aged people who drank more than 600ml of green tea each day have a 65% lower risk of developing hypertension. People who drank between 110ml and 600ml of it daily for more than a year showed 46% lower risk of high blood pressure.

People who did not drink it or who drank less than 110 ml daily had no protection from hypertension.
This protection from the development of hypertension by drinking the tea did not show up statistically until after one year of daily use. Short-term human trials were inconclusive.

Given all the evidence, green tea is most effective at reducing hypertension if we drink four or five cups of green tea each day. "It is Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one" (Ancient Chinese Proverb). Making green tea part of your daily diet can help lower your high blood pressure naturally.

Robert Reddin suffers from high blood pressure. He lowered his blood pressure to normal levels using natural methods. Click here If you want to lower your blood pressure naturally. http://how-to-lower-your-blood-pressure.com

The easiest way to avoid Ramipril side effects is to find a natural way of controlling your blood pressure... read The Blood Pressure Miracle, it will change your life!

Ramipril Side Effects Aching Bones and Constipation

In 2009 I lost my business and my job; obviously this played a part in my high blood pressure problems and consequently my Doctor prescribed Ramipril. But nothing prepared me for the Ramipril side effects that would add to my mounting problems.

We had two cars and eventually lost them both, my mortgage was in arrears and on top of this we lived in a very rural place so work was not easy to find and getting to interviews without a car was near impossible. So you can imagine I was stressed and frustrated, this was a new experience for me as I had always worked and earned quite well. This took its toll on my health and my blood pressure went sky high.

My doctor prescribed Ramipril and I just did as I was told as most people do when advised by their Doctor. I hadn’t heard of Ramipril and wasn’t aware of the side effects that come with it. Most drugs have side effects I know but mostly they are mild and don’t really change your life much however, the side effects of Ramipril are quite severe in some cases. This added to my already dire situation.

Because my cars had gone I was having to walk a half mile to the bus stop which at 48 years old shouldn’t be a problem right? Wrong… once Ramipril got into my system I couldn’t walk even slowly without feeling like my body was starved of oxygen. My chest hurt and I felt like I was suffocating. 70 year olds were asking me if I was ok, because I looked pale and sickly. I would wake up every morning aching from head to toe.

I went back to the Doctors and told him I can’t live like this, I have three kids and need to get back to work and asked him how, when I can’t even walk to the bus stop. He told me there was no alternative and I would possibly have a stroke or worse if I didn’t take Ramipril because my blood pressure was so high.

One year in to unemployment and Ramipril I began to get a permanent sore throat. I would wake up every morning sounding like Barry White which pleased my wife no end but sadly just added to my mounting problems. Now I had aching bones, constipation, breathlessness and a sore throat. My nails became brittle and I would get numbness if I leant on any part of my body for any length of time.

I couldn’t carry on like this so I bought my self a blood pressure monitor, stocked up on muscle relaxants and stopped taking Ramipril. It was hard at first and I suffered immense pressure headaches but took muscle relaxants to get through the detox. My blood pressure went up to 150 over 100 and stayed that way for a week. But… I felt better in my self I got a job back doing what I enjoy and have even started losing my tummy which also seems to be a side effect of Ramipril.

Please be clear I am not suggesting that everyone should do what I did but don’t just give in to what the Doctors tell you, there are other ways of controlling your blood pressure and sometimes its just a matter of finding out what’s causing it rather than just loading up on drugs. Ramipril side effects are severe and can make you into some kind of zombie so try and find another way. We are all different and some people suffer more than others.

One more thing… if every time you go to the Doctor with a minor ailment and he puts it down to the side effects of the drugs you are taking for other things… when are you going to know if you have, God forbid, the beginnings of a genuine possibly fatal illness?

This is one of the many reasons why I came off Ramipril. So far I have been fine and no sign of stroke or other problems. I monitor my blood pressure regularly and I now use natural remedies to keep my blood pressure under control, normally around 135 over 75 these days which isn't too bad. Don’t give in to Ramipril side effects find a better way.

The easiest way to avoid Ramipril side effects is to find a natural way of controlling your blood pressure... read The Blood Pressure Miracle, it will change your life!

Why You Should Be Aware of Ramipril and Hair Loss

Author: anonymous

Ramipril is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure), heart attacks or strokes in patients. It is also used to help treat heart failure and may be used to treat people with diabetes who have developed kidney problems.

Although effective at intended use, there have been concerns about the sides effects of Ramipril. One of the concerns is the side effect of Ramipril and hair loss.

Before taking Ramipril, make sure that you are prepared for any and all side effects. It should be noted that not every person experiences all side effects and some don't have any at all. Ramipril and hair loss do not go hand and hand but it needs to be discussed because it can be very scary when you suddenly look in the mirror to find that you no longer have as much hair as you did yesterday. Typically, only between 1 and 2% of people taking Ramipril frequently may suffer from hair loss.

If you take Ramipril and experience hair loss, tell your doctor immediately. Your doctor can sometimes prescribe other medications that don't have as many side effects or that have different ones. If you take Ramipril and experience hair loss, understand that it is not the end of the world. You are taking Ramipril to potentially save your life and if that means that you have a little less hair, that should be one sacrifice you're willing to live with.

However, if your hair is really important to you, make sure you discuss Ramipril and hair loss with your doctor. By discussing this nasty side effect well in advance, you can hopefully skip that morning when you find you have a hairball stuck to your hairbrush or that your drain is clogged from the hair that should be on your head.

Ramiprila and hair loss can affect men and women. Hair loss can be traumatizing, but again, if the Ramipril is being given to save your life, hair or no hair, listen to your doctor and take the medication so that it can do its job effectively.

There are many drugs on the market today and they are used to treat many ailments each and every day. Sometimes, those medications that we take have side effects. Some are barely noticeable and some are completely devastating or life hindering. The important thing to remember is that the medications prescribed are by a professional so you should never try to alter or not take your correct dosages, even when you are afraid of certain side effects such as Ramipril and hair loss.

About the Author

Find Out More On Ramipril and Hair Loss at http://ramipril-hair-loss.blogspot.com/

The easiest way to avoid Ramipril side effects is to find a natural way of controlling your blood pressure... read The Blood Pressure Miracle, it will change your life!

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme

By Gary O'donnell

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) drugs such as Ramipril are indicated to reduce the risk of stroke, myocardial infarction or cardiovascular-related deaths. However, there are adverse reactions to the use of Ramipril which you should know before using it.

Ramipril is a drug belonging to the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) group of medicines. The drug, marketed under the brand name Altace, is indicated for patients who have a high risk of cardiovascular diseases due to a history of stroke, coronary artery disease, diabetes or peripheral vascular disease or show signs of at least one cardiovascular risk factor such as elevated total cholesterol levels, hypertension, cigarette smoking, microalbuminuria or low HDL levels.

Benefits

Ramipril is used to reduce but not eliminate the risk of myocardial infarction, cardiovascular-related death or stroke. The drug is also used to treat hypertension and can be combined with thiazide diuretics. It is also known to treat congestive heart failure and to improve a patient's survival after a heart attack.

To reduce the risk of stroke or myocardial infarction, it should be taken at an initial dose of 2.5 milligram daily for 7 days, 5 milligram daily for 3 weeks, gradually increasing in dosage as tolerated. Maintenance dosage is 10 milligrams daily.

Safety Precautions

Pregnant women should not takeRamipril. Also, drinking alcoholic beverages is not advisable while taking this medication because it can cause low blood pressure while increasing the side effects of the drug. And consult your doctor if you have to use potassium supplements or salt substitutes while usingRamipril.

If you are planning or requiring a surgery, tell your doctor about it. Furthermore, if you are allergic to any ACE inhibitor such as benazepril, captopril, quinapril, fosinopril, enalapril, moexipril, perindopril, trandolapril or lisinopril, then you should avoid this medication.

Clinical Side Effects:

There are some clinical side effects that are possibly or probably related to the use of Ramipril. These side effects are headache, asthenia or fatigue, impotence, cough, dizziness, upper respiratory infection, symptomatic hypotension, anaphylactoid reactions, pancytopenia, thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, angioneurotic edema, hepatic failure, jaundice, hepatitis, abdominal pain, pancreatitis, anorexia, diarrhea, dry mouth, constipation, hypersensivity reactions or anxiety.

Lastly, while taking this drug, avoid sudden movements especially getting up from a lying or sitting position to avoid the feeling of dizziness.

Read more about Ramipril in the newly published Ramipril Review for more information. The easiest way to avoid Ramipril side effects is to find a natural way of controlling your blood pressure... read The Blood Pressure Miracle, it will change your life!

Statin Side Effects

By Tony Wong

It is well known that there is a positive correlation between the levels of cholesterol in the blood and the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The higher the cholesterol count, the higher the chances of the arteries in the body, especially those supplying the heart and the brain, getting clogged up with plaques, leading to narrowing of the lumen and subsequently death of the organ supplied by the vessels due to poor blood flow.

This problem of raised cholesterol in the blood, most of which is contributed to by synthesis of the substance in the liver (the balance being taken in through the diet as high cholesterol foods such as egg yolk, fatty meats and butter), is solved very well by the usage of potent chemical substances known collectively as statins. Statins function by inhibiting the enzyme HMG CoA reductase in the liver which is involved in the biosynthesis of cholesterol. As the production of cholesterol by the liver is a continual ongoing process, this results in the statin being recommended for continual long term use to lower high cholesterol.

Examples of statins in common use are: Mevacor (lovastatin), Pravachol (pravastatin), Zocor (simvastatin), Lipitor or Lipator (atorvastatin), and Crestor (rosuvastatin). Currently the most popular statin in use in the world is Lipator.

All is not well in the world of treatment of high cholesterol levels with statins, however. While statins are extremely effective in the treatment of cholesterol levels, the problem arises of statin side effects. These statin side effects are common to statins as a group, but can be more for certain members of the statin family, and less for others. The incidence of statin side effects also varies depending on the individual taking the statin, and whether the statin is taken alone or in conjunction with other drugs. Statin side effects, while minimal, can be sometimes potentially disturbing and can be serious enough to warrant discontinuation of the drug.
Following is the list of the most common statin side effects.

Muscle pain. This is said to be the most common side effect. This comes on as soreness, weakness or tiredness of your muscles. This may be so mild as to be a simple discomfort when walking or can be so severe that it causes pain when climbing stairs. Very rarely, the condition of rhabdomyolysis may occur, where there is severe muscle damage, leading to liver and kidney failure and death.

Liver Damage. Sometimes statins cause a rise in liver enzymes. If the increase is mild, it is said to be safe to continue the drug. Moderate rises usually can be reversed by discontinuing the drug. Because the effect is different in different people and in different statins, the doctor may recommend a different statin. Continued use of the drug in the face of a marked rise of liver enzymes may lead to liver damage. Liver damage may be totally asymptomatic. It is thus advisable for one to have liver function tests done about 6 week after starting a course of statins, and monitor these every 3 to 6 months or so.

Gastrointestinal Symptoms. The usual symptoms are nausea, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea or constipation. These statin side effects, although very common as a whole for all users of all medicines, are said to be rather rare with statin therapy. It is suggested that statins be taking in the evening or nights to reduce the incidence of these side effects.

In view of the potential of getting the above side effects, should one then just avoid them altogether? The answer is no. Currently statins are by far the best and most effective treatment for the lowering of the blood cholesterol to normal cholesterol levels, far more than any other measure. If one weighs the pros and cons of statin treatment, it will be obvious that the risks of getting heart attacks and strokes in an untreated high cholesterol patient far outweigh the risks of side effects of statin therapy. It is thus suggested that statins be recommended strongly still for the treatment of high cholesterol, but with the proviso that there be regular monitoring of blood for liver function tests as well as levels of creatine kinase, a rise of which indicates muscle damage. We find Lipator or Lipitor to have much less side effects compared to other statins.

There are a few other ways to help reduce your high blood cholesterol. One of these is the avoidance of high cholesterol foods. To know more about this and to get more information on Lipator, visit LipatorGuide. Tony Wong is a medical practitioner.

The easiest way to avoid (Statins) Ramipril side effects is to find a natural way of controlling your blood pressure... read The Blood Pressure Miracle, it will change your life!