very long term use of Cardura and withdrawal.

flowergirl2day

Kat,

take what he says with a grain of salt! How the heck would he know? They'll say anything and never admit they simply don't have the answers.
Mine told me that I should not be experiencing shortness of breath because the beta blockers DO NOT USUALLY HAVE THIS EFFECT ON PEOPLE. He would never have made this remark in front of any of his peers. Such a fib! Of course they do! Especially at a maximum allowable dose. I guess he needed me out of there in order to see the next patient.

I'd caution you to be very, very careful. I have no personal experience with this drug. I stopped my calcium channel blocker (max dose) which I suspected of causing my peripheral edema, suddenly. I got really sick over the days that followed, just as you described, tachycardia, dizziness, nausea that was worse than usual, etc. I ended with angina pain for several hours eventually one night and am lucky it stopped there. I am back to square one, on a full dose of this medication, dealing with severe edema right now.
I hope you get some helpful replies from those on this medication.

Good luck!

flowergirl

bethsheba

Hello Karen,

First of all, never but never believe anything your doctor tells you until you've done the research yourself. You'd be surprised what doctors know and what they don't know...and how it differs from what they tell their patients.

I haven't been on Cardura but based on my experience some thoughts and some questions come to mind...one thought being that different blood pressure meds can enhance or diminish the effects of other medications, or in other words, the symptoms you've experienced with Cardura withdrawal may be symptom withdrawal OR it may be an effect of the new medication interfering with the Cardura (keeping in mind that some drugs stay in our bodies longer than we or "they" think) and possibly the clonidine.

Some questions that come to mind are:

1. Did you stop taking the Cardura cold turkey? If not, how did the doctor tell you to wean off the drug?

2. Did one or more pharmacists give you information on how to stop taking the Cardura? If so, were the instructions the same as the doctor's?

3. How do the pharmacists recommend discontinuing the Cardura and introducing the new meds? Is this in agreement with your doctor's instructions?

I"m not saying that the symptoms you're experiencing aren't due to long term side effects but you may want to investigate other possibilities as well.

Bethsheba

PS What does TIA stand for?

famnd

Did you get the pkg insert (not the pharmacy printout)? Did you call the drug company who makes the drug? If not do so. Just ask for customer service. The phone no. should be on the pkg. insert or ask the pharmacist to give you the number.

When you take two different drugs, one usually enhances the other one. So when you stop one drug, the other one is left with nothing or the new drug you are trying which may not be as effective.

Agree with Beth & FG, do your own research, don't just take the Dr's info. Even super b/p specialist's forget the important details at least that has been my experience. When in doubt about stopping a drug, taper off slowly. Fam

bethsheba

Hi Fam!!

As usual, some excellent advice...the first thing we should do (unless it's a 911 call, ) is check that package insert and/or call the drug company!!

Yes, there's just too much info to cover in those brief office visits...and even if it was covered, things change!

Bethsheba