Coreg After Heart Attack - Heart Disorders Message Board

pattid2 · 01-13-2007, 07:43 PM

HI,

i RECENTLY HAD A HEART ATTACK ON OCT 31, 2006. i KNOW HAPPY HALLOWEEN PATTI. i WOUND UP HAVING TWO STENTS IN A LEFT ARTERY LATER THAT NIGHT. i WAS INITIALLY PUT ON COREG 6.25 TO TAKE 1/2 OF IT TWICE A DAY. A MONTH LATER WHEN i SAW MY PCP HE DECIDED TO INCREASE IT TO 12.5 TO TAKE 1/2 OF IT TWICE A DAY. I HAVE NOT YET BEEN SEEN BY A CARDIOLOGIST SINCE I WAS DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL ON NOV 3. MY HUSBAND BECAME VERY ILL 2 WEEKS AFTER MY SURGERY & WOUND UP HAVING ANGIOPLASTY THE MONDAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING. HE THEN DEVELOPED COMPLICATIONS IN HIS LEG AT THE SITE WHERE THEY WENT IN FOR THE HEART CATH & WOUND UP HAVING 2 BLOOD CLOTS REMOVED FROM HIS ARTERY.

TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT I MISSED MY INITIAL FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENT WTH THE CARDIAC NURSE & WHEN I ASKED TO SCHEDULE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT I WAS TOLD I WOULD ONLY BE GIVE ONE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO BE SEEN FOR FOLLOW UP. UNFORTUNATELY MY HUBBY WOUND UP IN SURGERY THAT SAME DAY & I MISSED THE APPOINTMENT.

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A LOT OF DIZZINESS SINCE THE COREG WAS INCREASED ON NOV 27,. I FINALLY SAW MY PCP YESTERDAY & DISCOVERED THAT MY PULSE WAS AT 46-48. I HAD DESCRIBED TO HER THAT I HAD A LOT OF DIZZINESS IN MY CHEST AREA & FELT AS IF I WOULD FALL DOWN. SHE INITIALLY TOLD ME THAT PEOPLE ONLY GOT DIZZY IN THE HEAD & NO WHERE ELSE. HOWEVER AFTER SHE CHECKED MY PULSE AGAIN SHE CONCLUDED THAT IT MUST BE FROM THE COREG & LOWERED THE DOSE OF IT TO 6.25 MG TO TAKE 1/2 TWICE A DAY.

i ALSO TAKE GLYPISIDE & METFROMIN FOR DIABETES TYPE 2. IS IT NORMAL TO HAVE THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS WHEN STARTING ON COREG? COULD MY DIABETES BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR AS TO WHY I FEEL SO TIRED & DIZZY ALL THE TIME? MY FRIENDS HAVE SAID THAT I NEVER REALLY TOOK THE TIME TO RECUPERATE FROM THE HEART ATTACK SINCE MY HUSBAND GOT SO SICK NEARLY IMMEDIATELY AFTER ME.

I WOULD APPRECIATE HEARING FROM ANY OF YOU.

PATTI

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Mari526 · 01-14-2007, 12:17 PM

CoReg is a nonselective beta-adrenergic blocker and is ordered to treat left ventricular dysfunction following an MI.
The most common adverse reactions are hypotension,bradycardia which is what you experienced.You should be monitoring your BP/PR while taking this drug so, I would suggest that you purchase a digital BP machine and take your blood pressure/pulse rate twice a day before taking your BP meds which include the CoReg. You should bring your documented readouts to your next MD appt. You should make another appt. with your primary MD and request his office contact your cardiologist for a followup appt. if you are having problems rescheduling. It is important at this time, that you are following up with a physician even if it is with your primary doctor.
You should be monitoring your blood sugar closely because CoReg can mask the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia in people who are taking insulin or oral antidiabetes medications. Your doctor needs to monitor your liver and kidney function while on these meds.
You should be weighing yourself daily to monitor for fluid retention. Report unexplained weight gain or shortness of breath to your doctor.

Connie122516 · 01-15-2007, 11:51 AM

Just echoing the need for you to INSIST on being seen by a cardiologist. If you are in an HMO they probably had a prior authorization for only a limited period of time, but your PCP can refer you again. It might require a little extra work on the part of your PCP and his/her office staff to get the authorization again, but they need to get it and I can't imagine the insurance turning it down...if they do, APPEAL.

pattid2 · 01-15-2007, 07:58 PM

i AM SEEN AT THE ATLANTA VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL. THEY DO OPERATE SIMILAR TO A HMO PROGRAM. YOUR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER MUST MAKE A REFERRAAL TO THE DIFFERENT CLINICS IN OREER TO BE SEEN. I HAVE FOUND FROM EXPERENCE THAT AT TIMES YOUR MEDICAL INFORMATION MAY NOT GET PASSED ON TO THE NEW DOCTOR OR SPECIALIST. WHEN I HAD MY STENTS PLACED THE DOCTOR WAS NOT MADE AWARE THAT I TAKE MIRAPEX FOR RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME. OF COURSE MY RLS ACTED UP WHEN I WAS HAVING THE HEART CATH & THE STENTS PLACED. THIS WAS VERY FRUSTRTATING TO THE DOCTOR DOING MY PROCEDURE. LUCKILY MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO TELL HIM ABOUT MY RLS & HE WAS ABLE TO MEDICATE ME CORRECTLY TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM OF MY LEGS KICKING.

started04 · 01-16-2007, 10:33 AM

Hi Patti,

I take 6.25/half 2x and ovver a period of time (3 years) heart rate and blood pressure is normal. Frankly, I believe the original dosage was too high. Occasionally, I have some dizziness when quickly standing from a sitting position.