1. Community
  2. Heart Health
  3. Angina

Diagnosis

Posted , 4 users are following.

linda89207
linda89207

YES! yes yes, at last I have had a diagnosis "Coronary Artery Spasms" Microvascular still not admitted or recognised but at least I know all the medication I take is correct, I have now been prescribed Nicorandil just half a tablet twice daily (5mg 2 times a day) and it seems to be controlling it better gone are the days when I was using GTN spray up to 5 times now just two sprays and the pain has gone in a couple of minutes still get an attack most days but am feeling better and more settled.

This forum has been so very useful to me because I was more informed when talking to doctors so couldn't be fobbed off. 

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • priscilla04738
    priscilla04738 linda89207

    Posted

    Yes you are right, doctors don't like to admit it.  I now take 3 sprays at once, seems to help more that 2.  I am probably getting a bit used to it.  Does car travel make it worse for you?
    • linda89207
      linda89207 priscilla04738

      Posted

      Hi Priscilla, yes car journeys do, is it the jolting bumpy journey that does it, I haven't told my Dr's this as I thought they may say it was reflux but I knew all along that it was heart related/angina, so glad I have a diagnosis at last the nicorandil has really helped me are you taking it

         

    • priscilla04738
      priscilla04738 linda89207

      Posted

      No, I am on Diltizem, Duride, Metropolol.  It may be a different name to NZ.  On a bad day, even going to the local shops brings it on.  It is a nuisence!!.  My specialist said that car travel will be a problem, specially as you say a bumpy road.  Must be the vibration for something that triggers it.  Sometimes if I am going to travel for a couple of hours, I have got morphine to take and take it before I leave, but even then it still doesn't stop it.  May be not so bad tho.
    • samuels
      samuels linda89207

      Posted

      Hi Linda,

      Glad they were able to put a name to it, it takes a huge weight off your mind when a doctor can comfortably diagnose's  you with the obvious, I was in the same boat for around 15 years and only up until around 10 years ago did my the cardiologist diagnosed me with small blood vessel spasms in the heart (now known as MVD ) Niucorandil stopped my night time spasms, I'm on the full dose of 20 Mg twice a day this also helps with the Prinzmetal Angina that another cardiologist concurred with an emergency doctors diadnosis of Prinzmetal angina so he upped my Cardizem to 480 Mg a day, broken down to 240mg in the morning and 240mg at night, by doing this he explained that I will always have the drug in my system (unless I forget a dose ) and I tell you what my emergency department visits have dropped ....I don't have to use the GTN spray unless I get an attack of Prinzmetal which still does occur on average depending on the weather and work load around 10+ days....Cardizem increase has done wonders and I can do lots more....

  • Jille
    Jille linda89207

    Posted

    Hi Linda, was reading some earlier posts in discussions this afternoon as I have a diagnosis of Cardiac Syndrome X.  I'm glad you finally have a diagnosis of your condition and medication that is helping. I too take Nicorandil twice a day but would be interested to know if you (or anyone else reading this) have been given any specific advice as to the timing of doses. For optimum efficacy my pharmacist recommends one dose in the morning and the second 6 to 8 hours later. Similarly when I was in hospital it was dispensed at breakfast and at tea time. Despite searching the internet for info I can't find any that relates to dose timing other than 'twice daily'. Due to an exacerbation of symptoms that have been otherwise stable for 3yrs my dosage is being increased, hence my search for more information. I will ask my pharmacist again when I pick up the meds but I wondered if anyone else had been given such, or any other sort of, advice. 
    • samuels
      samuels Jille

      Posted

      Hi Jille

      In regards to the Nicorandil I was advised that it lasts 12 hours before it starts to dissolve so taking it a couple of hours won't hurt as it is acting as a "top up" ,  I was told not to take it to early, I.E I have mine anywhere from 6.00- 7.30am then again around the same time again in the evening, I was told if I got my angina spasms say around 5.30pm I could take a Nicorandil tablet then but be a good idea of taking it any earlier .

      There are some good drug / medication sites about that fills you in on everything you need to know about individual drugs...but you have to be near a scientist/pharmacist to understand the reading of it's literature smile

    • linda89207
      linda89207 Jille

      Posted

      Hi Jillle

      when I was in hospital I was given it morning around 9am and then evening 10-11 but while in I had a bad attack of angina and I was offered it early which was about 8pm. I can only tolerate 5mg ie 1/2 a 5mg due to severe head pains i have just also been prescribed a new one Ranolazine which carries a few alarm bells for other medication I have to carry a card to present to medical staff only started it yesterday so crossing my fingers that it works for my coronary artery spasm also know as prinzmetal angina I think your gp should be able to help you with when you should take it

       

    • linda89207
      linda89207

      Posted

      sorry should be 5mg ie 1/2 10mg twice daily
    • samuels
      samuels

      Posted

      Sorry....

      I originally said..

      "I was told if I got my angina spasms say around 5.30pm I could take a Nicorandil tablet then but be a good idea of taking it any earlier ."..it should say...

      I was told if I got my angina spasms say around 5.30pm I could take a Nicorandil tablet then but not be a good idea of taking it any earlier .

    • Jille
      Jille samuels

      Posted

      Hi

      Thanks for taking the time to respond

      I checked out with my pharmacist yesterday and he confirmed I should take the second dose 6-8 hours after the first. I'll carry on with that as that is what has been prescribed for me but I am curious that advice to you both is different to mine.  I will definitely have to see if I can find out more about it.  Will check out some of those websites again and try and decipher the information, but like you say most of them are not geared up for the lay person!!

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.