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!