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Current Postings on This Page (22):
• Patsy -- if one of your meds is an ACE inhibitor
(you can Google each med and see) that might be the cough-producer. But
don't stop taking your meds without discussing this with your doctor. He/she
can probably prescribe a different BP drug that won't make you cough, assuming
that is the problem. Have faith -- sometimes it takes a little while to
sort out the best drug therapy for each person. Just stay in communication
with your doctor (and us!).
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, February 25, 2008
• I never thought about that, yes I am taking BP
meds, well at least I got an answer for that. Now you can answer the
question, why me? Have a nice day.
Patsy Wellwood, Nova Scotia Canada, February 25, 2008
• Patsy -- coughing is not something we've heard
about as a "side-effect" from stents. Are you on any ACE inhibitors (blood
pressure med)? They are known to have "dry
cough" as
a not uncommon
side-effect.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, February 24, 2008
• I've had 2 stents put in a bare metal, and drug eluting stent. I am cold
all the time, I thought it might be the blood thinners I am on, but I was not
like that when I had the bare metal stent in. It started after my last MI, and
they put the other stent in. Then I come on with this very annoying cough, which
I can't seem to shake, I have to all day and all night. I also have heartburn
like crazy, bad enough I had to go and get medication to help, but it doesn't
work very well. I have ruled out everything else, because nothing else has happened
since the MI, and these are all new since the new stent.
Patsy Wellwood, Nova Scotia, Canada, February 22, 2008
• On Nov. 23, 2007, I had a heart attack and had
2 medicated stents put in. I take a high blood pressure medication, a
81 mg aspirin, Plavix, and Zocor for this condition. I also have rheumatoid
arthritis and take methotrexate once a week and folic acid daily for
this
condition. I have taken Remicade and Humira for this condition, but my
doctor took me off to see if I can get by without it. I am 60 years and
have had 2 other heart attacks resulting in 2 metal stents and a triple
by-pass. My current problem is night sweats. I will wake up 6 times at
night soaking wet. An hour after the last episode I will start freezing
and will have to add bed clothes to get warm. My temperature often will
rise above 102 degrees within a matter of minutes. It will slowly drop
(3 to 4 hours) after
I take tylenol.
Len R., Ohio, USA, February 9,
2008
• I received one coated Cordis stent in April 2007
post AMI in LAD. Received another of the same in May in RCA. I started
coughing almost immediately after
AMI in hospital. I have continued to cough, choke & have clear postnasal drainage
excessively for four months. Physician recently gave me a steroid injection & course
of antibiotics with steroid & antihistamine nasal spray. Nothing seems to stop
the excessive postnasal drip with cough, etc.
Anyone else?
S.R., Alabama, USA, August 10, 2007
• I THANK GOD I FOUND THIS WEB SITE. I thought
i was going nuts as do my
doctor & 2 dermatologists. I have been fighting a recurring rash for 2 years
that started a few weeks after a Medtronic stent was put in. I did not make the
connection
then & the doctors never have. When it first started it was so bad i thought
it was shingles. I had the itch, the sores, & the blisters, but the dermatologists
said no. My Dr. still says it is a follicle infection, but no treatment has stopped
it. I used to love a long hot bath, but when i do it now i itch all over for
an hour or more. This is an unbearable itch, not normal at all. I only take luke
warm showers now. I still have a recurring chest itch & neck and back occ.The
Dr.s gave up on it a long time ago. I use a cream on my chest almost daily [
triamcinolone acetonide ] but i worry if it my have a long term use side effect.
I am allergic to several antibiotics, sulfa & penicillin. Do they ever remove
a stent.??
Bernie B, Bloomington, Illinois, USA, July 15, 2007
• Kenny -- sounds like a drug reaction. Check out
our related topic on Plavix
and aspirin: dosage and allergic reactions -- rash seems to be a not
uncommon sign of adverse reaction. But don't stop taking Plavix without
consulting your interventional cardiologist -- he/she may be able to put
you on a different drug, like Ticlid, which may or may not relieve to rash.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, January 27, 2007
• I had a taxus stent in LAD on Jan 1, 2007, started
on plavix and asa and switched my vytorin 10/20 to lipitor 40. Now 3 weeks
later started with hives and itching on my eyelid and axilla and all around
my upper thighs and groin. Could this be the plavix or stent . Started
steroids. any one with similar problem and did it resolve without stopping
plavix.
Kenny, New Jersey, USA, January 24, 2007
• Lori -- 7 stents? That's a lot of stents by any
measure. We're very sorry for your loss. If we may ask, had it been determined
that your mother was too frail or ill for bypass surgery?
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, January 7, 2007
• I would not recommend taxus stents, my mother
had 7 put in february 2005, and she passed away 6 months later
Lori, New Jersey, USA, January 7, 2007
• Greg -- still having this problem? It might be
the Plavix -- this has been reported (see our Forum topic on Plavix and
aspirin -- link is in the right side-bar). But don't stop taking it yourself.
Discuss this with your cardiologist. Ticlid is another antiplatelet drug
that he/she might prescribe instead.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, January 6, 2007
• After having two Taxus stents placed in early
October 2006 followed with 75mg Plavix, 81mg aspirin,75mg Toprol and Vytorin,
I thought I was good to go. Even felt 98% better. Then on October 31 2006,
I began itching uncontrollably. Coincidentally, I took a flu shot October
31 so I immediately saw the flu shot as the cause. Even my PCP thought
so. So used benadryl to help with reduce to itching. But now, on December
4, I still have the itching. Sometimes it's unbearable. Mostly I have light
itching during the daytime, and the more serious itching in the evening.
I take the plavix, toprol and Vytorin first thing in the morning, so am
wondering if it's oral meds or the drug eluting stent.
Greg R., Texas, USA, December 5, 2006
• I Have had placed the Cypher medicated stents
about 2 years ago I now have anemia . And no one can find a reason. I was
wondering if anyone has the same problem. My brother also has them and
is just diagnosed with anemia.
Sandy, Massachusetts, USA, December 2, 2006
• We continue to receive reports from patients about
adverse reactions that they feel might be due to drug-eluting stents, given
that they have eliminated other causes. We have not found a wealth of data
on these problems outside of our Forums. Check out our topic on Allergic
Reactions to Drug-Eluting Stents.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, August 9, 2006
• My father had taxus stents put in in January,
2006. He has continued to have an unexplained temperature since then. Has
been in the hospital and no infection was found anywhere. Has anyone had
this reaction from the taxus medicated stents? We are wondering if this
temperature could be from them?
M.C., Missouri, USA, August 8, 2006
• My father-in-law had 3 taxus stents put in on
5/27/06. Since then he has had chronic hiccups. Has anyone else had this
reaction?
Dolores, Annandale, Virginia, USA, June 1, 2006
• i have had extremely dry crusty lips since the
use of plavix and aspirin. i am not sure if it's from the medication or
the stent itself. please please help me.
sue, markham, ontario, canada, May 9, 2006
• A number of patients have written in about allergic
reactions after stenting and we urge posters here to also read that Forum
Topic. Sometimes drugs can cause these reactions -- namely Plavix,
Ticlid or other medications that heart patients are on. But sometimes the
explanation may be an allergy to the metal in the stent, or the polymer
(plastic) coating.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, April 24, 2006
• Sharon, "medicated" (a.k.a. coated or
drug-eluting) stents have radically reduced the incidence of restenosis
by supressing the growth of "scar tissue" inside of stents. This
used to occur in about 20% of cases -- this has now been reduced to single
digits. That is why in the U.S. well over 90% of all stents used are of
the drug-eluting variety -- in some hospitals it's 98%. That being said,
there is some concern that drug-eluting stents are slightly more "thrombogenic" --
prone to an increased incidence of thrombosis (blood clotting) inside the
stent and for a longer period of time than bare metal stents. We are, of
course, talking about small numbers: clinical trials show about 1% thrombosis
rate for all types of stents; real world may be a bit higher for drug-eluting
variety. That is why post-stent dual antiplatelet therapy of aspirin and
clopidogrel (Plavix) is prescribed for 3-6 months at a minimum and possibly
for a year or longer -- to keep the blood smooth and reduce the possibility
of clotting inside the stent.
So things to think about are: can you tolerate Plavix
and aspirin? can you afford a year of this drug? are you going to need
surgery that you can predict in the next year (antiplatelet therapy can
be a problem for surgery because it inhibits clotting)? are you allergic
to either of these drugs? There are also some (again very few in number)
who are hypersensitive or allergic to the drug-coating itself on the stent.
There are several topics on our Forum about these concerns. Also read our feature
on drug-eluting stents. In Europe, drug-eluting stents are used less
frequently (they are more expensive) and some cardiologists are again starting
to use bare metal stents in wider arteries that measure 3.0mm or more in
diameter (restenosis normally occurs much less frequently in wider arteries).
Remember, the complications are few in number, but any concerns should
be discussed with the interventional cardiologist who is doing the procedure.
By the way, the fact that your husband's stent has worked fine for 9 years
would indicate that it was quite successful -- in any case stents can't
be "replaced" because they are permanent implants. If it has
blocked up and is the cause of the angina, it may be reopened via angioplasty.
But it may be that another area in the coronary arteries has a blockage
that is the cause and may require treatment. Please let us know how things
turn out.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, April 22, 2006
• My husband has had a coronary stent
for 9 years. the past 2 weeks he has experienced angina on a regular basis
and may need to have his stent replaced. I believe doctors are now favoring
the medicated stents. Are there any side effects or risks from these "medicated
stents." i would greatly appreciate any feedback, thanks in advance
Sharon Brumbaugh, Gresham, Oregon, USA, April 17, 2006
• I would like to know if anyone has the following
side effects with Taxus Coronary Stents: Itching all over, feeling warm
and face is red, palpations, nausea & burping Thanks so much
Jean K., Texas, USA, March 28, 2006
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The Cardiology
Patient Forum needs your help...
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To Patients: If
you feel you might be having an allergic reaction to your drug-eluting
stent, you may be interested in enrolling in a research study
-- the only one of its kind -- to determine if you are having
such a reaction. For more information, email :
stentstudy@angioplasty.org
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