Does Cartia XT(Cardizem CD) Cause Anxiety???

[flowergirl2day]

Hi,

Are the irregularities permanent??? I am afraid to switch for fear I will have a stroke or heart attack. How do they switch you over without risking that??? If I get off the CCB's will I have more heart problems???

Everyone is different. Some people might not have any problems at all. Others can experience difficulties on even low doses. Getting the right meds in the combinations that will work effectively takes time and is different for everyone. That is why our doctors experiment with the meds, seeing what will work best. One of my doctors compared this to cooking without a recipe. I did have problems with my calcium channel blocker. I quit it once on my own after being advised to do so (by another doctor) BUT only under my doctor's supervision. My doctor was on holidays at the time and I didn't want to wait until he got back. I was very angry about the drugs' side effects and pain I was experiencing. So I just stopped taking it. I was very ill for several days. This is not something anyone should attempt and I know better now. It can be very dangerous. When my doctor got back from holidays, he put me back on the CCB rightaway and my problems were resolved. Due to the persisting side effects, I tried discontinuing the CCB once again, this time with my doctors' supervision. My max dose was cut to 1/2. I started experiencing the same difficulties as before so went back to a maximum dose.

This is not to say that you will have any problems at all if you try to reduce your dose or completely discontinue it. Do not be afraid to give it a try, especially if you've never had any cardiac problems. We have different health issues, are on other medication that might interact, enhance or diminish the effects of the CCB. The side effect that had bothered me the most was severe edema. I'd get swollen right up to my chest and be in extreme discomfort and pain. I also could not fit into any clothes to get myself to the clinic.

If you can lose weight, you'll give yourself a chance to a better health and perhaps be med-free like your sister some day. Why has your doctor been increasing the dose of your CCB? Ask him. Anxiety plays a big role in an elevated blood pressure, as you know. See if you can learn some stress reducing techniques.

P.S. I don't have the answers to whether or not the side effects (if that's what they are) are permanent. More often than not, they should resolve with the discontinuing of the drug.

Good luck with your appointment!
flowergirl

[WannaBeDrugFree]

Just returned from my appt. My EKG was compared against the one done 3 years ago and they were pretty much identical. So that was a HUGE relief!!!

My Dr. is concerned about my pressure going so high, but didn't like the side effects the higher dose was giving me...so he is having me add a diuretic and having me lower my CCB back to the 240 mgs. I am nervous about the new drug, as I don't even like being on the CCB. I take nothing else now, but that.

He upped my dose, as I couldn't get my bp to stay down after some time, after my Dad died. To be totally honest...my bp was high on the 180 mgs. for several months...I just ignored it and hoped it would eventually resolve after my stress came down again.

Will the diuretic hurt me??? I thought I read it could cause breast cancer to combine them. Am I remembering wrong??? What kind of side effects do these pills have??? I read about them and I am worrying that I will be even more tired and dizzy, etc...as or worse than I am on the CCB alone at the higher dose.

[WannaBeDrugFree]

Well...I went down to the 240 mgs. again...but I chickened out of taking the diuretic. I keep reading bad things about them and I really don't want more side-effects than I already have. Hard enough to function as it is. My Dr. hit the roof when I called and asked if I could just lower the Cartia and see what happens then. He will be really upset with me...but it is MY body, isn't it??? My Mom got angry with me when I told her, too. She takes a beta blocker and diuretic, so she sees no reason why I should be afraid. But with how sensitive my system has been since having a bad reaction to and getting off Ativan about 3 years ago...I am afraid to risk it.

Can anyone advise me here??? Did I make a mistake not taking it when lowering the dose??? I was only on the 300 for 12 days. I hope someone can help me.

[flowergirl2day]

Hi wannabedrugfree,

your name says it all.
Unfortunately, there are times when remaining drug free means taking a chance with one's health.
This is when the risk/benefit ratio becomes significant. You have to inform yourself of all the possible risks and with careful consideration weigh them against the possible benefits of drug therapy. Clearly, this is the challenge the doctors face on daily basis when considering treatment options. The amount of benefit must outweigh the amount of risk involved in a particular therapy. Most of us rely on our doctors to make these decisions with only minimal input on our part.
I suggest doing a lot of research. It can be very helpful and allow you and your doctor work closely in deciding on the course of treatment. You should have some input so educate yourself as much as you can.

Good luck,
flowergirl

[WannaBeDrugFree]

Thanks for the input. I guess you aren't sure whether I made the right choice or not. I know most of what I am experiencing is anxiety hbp and when I am able to calm myself, my bp is very good. This is why I didn't really think the diuretic was totally needed at this point. I guess I want to prove the Dr. wrong and show him by exercise and some diet changes and meditation, I can get things down. The less anxious I am, the better my bp is. The reading at his office is hardly fair, as I get all worked up as I wait for him to come in. I guess I have to learn to relax more, so even when I get read there, I am in a normal bp range.

One thing is for sure...the 300 mgs. was NOT agreeing with me and made my anxiety 100 times worse than it is now. Then I was terrified...now I am hopeful. I still hate being on the 240 and wish I was still at 180...but that is where I think I have to compromise and work at getting my number down at the 240 level before considering going back down to 180 again.

As I mentioned earlier...my EKG was identical or nearly identical to the one done in 2005...so, I know my heart is still okay and I didn't have any mini-strokes or heart attacks in my sleep, as I had feared I had. My heartbeat wasn't irregular and my heart rhythms were unchanged.

I still need to get my blood drawn...but I am waiting till my bp normalizes more, since I know I will get clobbered by the Dr. when I go in to do that and he will be angry about the decision I still made after he demanded I didn't do it. I am pretty afraid he will drop me for that...but I am hoping if I get positive results that he will forgive my decision and that I wasn't trying to go against his wishes...more that I am looking out for my best interests, as well.

I have led a pretty sedentary life since getting off Ativan for the most part...was sick on and off and I even gained all the weight I had lost back again at different times...which I know contributed to my health issues with not feeling great. I am trying to turn that around and pray God will help me to do that, instead of taking more in the drug route to lowering my bp. When my weight is down and my anxiety low or gone...my bp is good. So I am holding on to that for now.