Problems with adverse effects with cardiac meds

[grandmababs]

I'm not new to Microscopic colitis, still am very thrilled with the GI doc who diagnosed it after many years of misery!(I know I'm preaching to the choir here!) I am having an awful time with meds deemed necessary by cardiologist. I did fine on telmisartan until they quit packaging it in unit dose blister packs. I learned from my pharmacist that the med is hygroscopic, ie, it absorbs water from the atmosphere. Therefore, it was necessary to coat the tablets with something to prevent this moisture absorption. My pharmacist said she didn't think it had anything to do with the medication, but that there was something in that film coating that tore my gut up! We haven't been able to get anything out of the manufacturers; they say they don't have to tell us what "inactive ingredients" are in ANYTHING! They only have to tell what the active ingredients are. Has anyone encountered such a situation? And if so, have you any suggestions? TIA! All the other options have been just plain devastating for me.

[tex]

In cases such as that, where an alternative for a prescription medication is not readily available, and the medication is important for your health, there's one way to get around the inactive ingredient problem. Locate a compounding pharmacy (if the pharmacy you're using isn't one), and ask your cardiologist to write your prescription for a compounding pharmacy. That way he or she can specify the exact ingredients (and the dose) desired, and he or she may be able to specify the inactive ingredients, also. If your doctor can't specify the inactive ingredients, you should be able to easily get what you want by discussing the choice of inactive ingredients with the pharmacist at the compounding pharmacy you decide to use. if you can't find a conveniently located compounding pharmacy, there are compounding pharmacies available that will provide mail-order service, if necessary. Many medications are significantly cheaper that way, because most branded prescription medications are typically waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay overpriced.

Tex