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I have just come out of hospital after a suspectd heart attack. Luckily it was a heart spasm. I have been put on more medication one of which is Diltiazem. I have read the leaflet and it says to be used with care with kidney problems. 3 weeks ago my GFR was 42 but whilst in hospital it dropped to 35. I am worried that this new medication will make things worse. Has anyone had a problem with it.
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MrsO-UK_Surrey panda22
Posted
I have CKD3 and have been prescribed 6 different BP pills in the last 18 months to try and reduce my high blood pressure. However, most of the pills have caused unwanted side effects. Amlodipine and Diltiazem caused swelling of my ankles and feet and were stopped. A diuretic taken for just 3 weeks a few months ago caused my kidney function to plummet 8 points in that very short time, together with an increase in my creatinine and potassium levels and a severe drop in my sodium levels. As you can gather, I seem particularly sensitive to most of the pills prescribed for high blood pressure. The only pill to date that I have not had any discernible side effects from is Losartan Potassium. Unfortunately, it isn't doing much for my blood pressure, but my renal consultant is loathe to increase the dose because of my low kidney function. At the last blood test after stopping the diuretic, my eGFR had recovered 7 of the 8 points lost, now reading 46.
To be fair to the drug manufacturers, nearly all medications carry a warning about using "care with kidney problems". The important thing is for you to ensure you have regular blood tests to check your kidney function and, if it is found that a particular medicine lowers your eGFR significantly, then it should be changed to one that doesn't.
Are you under a renal consultant? If not, perhaps you could ask for referral to one for reassurance. Meanwhile, if you have a good pharmacist, they are the best people for advice where drugs are concerned.
I hope you soon feel much better.
panda22 MrsO-UK_Surrey
Posted
MrsO-UK_Surrey panda22
Posted
By the way, slightly off tangent, have you had a Vitamin D blood test? Many of us in this part of the world are being found to be deficient, and those with kidney disease even more so. Deficiencies can lead to pain in muscles as well as other things. I was found to be deficient and was advised by my renal consultant to take a 3-month course of Vit D3 (Colecalciferol) which increased my levels to normal. I now take a 3-month course each winter to maintain those levels. In kidney patients, it is important for calcium levels to be checked alongside the Vit D blood test, and once again mid-way through the course - taking Vit D allows more calcium to be absorbed into the body thereby increasing calcium levels. Too much calcium could be deleterious for the kidneys. Having said that, my calcium levels remain within the normal range when taking the Vit D supplement.
panda22 MrsO-UK_Surrey
Posted