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swimfeeders
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swimfeeders is offline
Shropshire
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25-05-2018, 07:44 AM
1

Changing Medications.

Hi

I had my medication review at the GPs yesterday.

The start was not good, a new Doctor I had not seen before.

What can we do for you today?

Well, you called me in was my response, a review of my medications.

I showed her the letter they had sent.

She had not read my notes at all.

I am being taken off one completely, running down over the next two weeks.

I am changing another, again needs to be run down.

The Consultant had recommended a new medication, the GP I saw, blithely decided on another.

This is the one we use.

I cannot go on that, two blood tests had shown impaired renal function, a side effect of that class of medicines.

The Surgery was aware of that, the Practice Nurse had spoken to me about it.

You really do need to go armed to the teeth when you visit some Doctors.

I have been seeing three different Specialists who communicate and work seamlessly.

The GP has all the facts but does not even bother to read the notes.

I will be changing GPs when I move, I hope the new ones will be better.
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Meg
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Worcestershire
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Posts: 42,850
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25-05-2018, 08:37 AM
2

Re: Changing Medications.

Swimmy I can commiserate
The Consultant had recommended a new medication, the GP I saw, blithely decided on another.

This is the one
I understood a GP can't change a medication that has been prescribed by a consultant other than adjusting a dose unless the change is approved by a consultant. The exception is substituting a generic brand for a named one.

I attended the cardiology clinic this week and it was a complete waste of time.
I saw a cardiologist's assistant who wasn't able to grasp some of the things I said so I had to repeat them and he appeared to know less about some things than I do including that which is set out in the NICE guidelines. I was tempted to suggest he reads them .
I feel I am very much on my own, thank goodness for the support group to which I belong.
Mondays child
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United Kingdom
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25-05-2018, 09:14 AM
3

Re: Changing Medications.

I went to the Doctors on Wednesday after being asked to make an appointment after the last blood test the cardiac hospital had requested.

The doctor asked how I was feeling and I told him how some days I did get a little dizzy but when I had asked the cardiac sister I saw two weeks ago who said it was an unfortunate side effect of one of the meds, Ramipril, I was on and to make sure I took it during the evening rather than the morning.

He took my blood pressure and checked my heart. Everything fine and he then said I'm going to increase your Ramipril it might give you side effects but it should be ok.
Er, what sort of side effects?
Well it might make you dizzy feel faint, possibly feel weak.
But I'm already suffering from dizzy spells and get tired easily, can we just leave it as it is for now. Which we did.

Every time lately I have had my blood pressure tested its been fine. Why increase a med that will lower it more, especially when I saw him two weeks ago he said my blood pressure was slightly on the low side.
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summer
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yorkshire
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25-05-2018, 09:26 AM
4

Re: Changing Medications.

Did he say why he wanted to increase it MC? What was his logic?
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Muddy
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UK
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25-05-2018, 09:30 AM
5

Re: Changing Medications.

I hate having to cross examine doctors .
I like those who explains in detail exactly their treatment without making you feel like a tiresome child taking up Drs time.
swimfeeders
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swimfeeders is offline
Shropshire
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Posts: 24,056
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25-05-2018, 09:35 AM
6

Re: Changing Medications.

Hi

Ramipril is what my GP wanted me to go on.

The specialist did not.
Mondays child
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United Kingdom
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25-05-2018, 09:40 AM
7

Re: Changing Medications.

Originally Posted by summer ->
Did he say why he wanted to increase it MC? What was his logic?
He seemed to be saying it would help my heart but seemed very vague about it.
You know when you get that feeling that someone was doing something just for the sake of being seen to do something, well that's the feeling I had.

I've made another blood test and appointment with him in six weeks at his behest so we will see what happens then.
I'm having a telephone appointment with the cardiac sister anyway today as a check up so will talk to her as well.
swimfeeders
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swimfeeders is offline
Shropshire
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 24,056
swimfeeders is male  swimfeeders has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
25-05-2018, 09:45 AM
8

Re: Changing Medications.

Originally Posted by Meg ->
Swimmy I can commiserate
I understood a GP can't change a medication that has been prescribed by a consultant other than adjusting a dose unless the change is approved by a consultant. The exception is substituting a generic brand for a named one.

I attended the cardiology clinic this week and it was a complete waste of time.
I saw a cardiologist's assistant who wasn't able to grasp some of the things I said so I had to repeat them and he appeared to know less about some things than I do including that which is set out in the NICE guidelines. I was tempted to suggest he reads them .
I feel I am very much on my own, thank goodness for the support group to which I belong.
Hi

The problem here was that the GP had not read the notes and had a fixation.

Losartan and Ramipril are both ACE Inhibitors, but Losartan has fewer side effects.

Some Doctors are simply a law unto themselves.
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Mags
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Mags is offline
South West UK
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 47,931
Mags is female  Mags has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
25-05-2018, 09:46 AM
9

Re: Changing Medications.

Originally Posted by Mondays child ->
I went to the Doctors on Wednesday after being asked to make an appointment after the last blood test the cardiac hospital had requested.

The doctor asked how I was feeling and I told him how some days I did get a little dizzy but when I had asked the cardiac sister I saw two weeks ago who said it was an unfortunate side effect of one of the meds, Ramipril, I was on and to make sure I took it during the evening rather than the morning.

He took my blood pressure and checked my heart. Everything fine and he then said I'm going to increase your Ramipril it might give you side effects but it should be ok.
Er, what sort of side effects?
Well it might make you dizzy feel faint, possibly feel weak.
But I'm already suffering from dizzy spells and get tired easily, can we just leave it as it is for now. Which we did.

Every time lately I have had my blood pressure tested its been fine. Why increase a med that will lower it more, especially when I saw him two weeks ago he said my blood pressure was slightly on the low side.
I have been on Ramipril for 6 weeks now, I take 1 x 5mg first thing in the morning. I used to feel very light headed after taking them at first but that feeling has passed now. My side effect from them now a persistent dry cough which feels painful after a while as I’m not coughing up anything. I’ve been told that is one of the known side effects.
swimfeeders
Chatterbox
swimfeeders is offline
Shropshire
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 24,056
swimfeeders is male  swimfeeders has posted at least 25 times and has been a member for 3 months or more 
 
25-05-2018, 10:12 AM
10

Re: Changing Medications.

Originally Posted by Mags ->
I have been on Ramipril for 6 weeks now, I take 1 x 5mg first thing in the morning. I used to feel very light headed after taking them at first but that feeling has passed now. My side effect from them now a persistent dry cough which feels painful after a while as I’m not coughing up anything. I’ve been told that is one of the known side effects.
Hi

Yes, horrible side effect.

The object of the exercise is to get me off the plethora of tablets I am on at the moment and down to 3 a day and all low dose.

I do not like being ill, I am fed up with all the side effects and just want to get better asap and lead a normal life again.
 
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