Ranolazine and Dizziness: What Users Say

• Gre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2020

Ranolazine for Angina "I have microvascular angina and am already on various medications. I started 375 mg of Ranexa twice a day a week ago, and I’ve felt like a zombie since, with a permanent headache, dizziness, and all I want to do is sleep. Hoping it will ease off."

• Kid...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 21, 2019

Ranolazine for Angina "I'm a 55-year-old female who experienced early-onset heart disease with angina symptoms that I first noticed at age 41. I was 49 before I found a doc who took my symptoms seriously. An angiogram showed an 85% blockage on my LAD, and a stent was placed. I thought I was 'fixed', but the angina persisted, and I was diagnosed with microvascular disease. Ranexa has given back my quality of life, including being able to briskly walk 4-5 miles with the occasional sprint thrown in. If I forget to take it, I experience pain just walking up a small slope. Fortunately, my insurance has covered it after getting a prior authorization. My co-pay just went from $30/month to $10 thanks to the new generic. Side effects: Occasional mild dizziness, manageable constipation."

• Con...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 7, 2021

Ranolazine for Angina "My 85-year-old father was prescribed this drug Ranexa and initially tolerated it well. After a dose increase to 1000 mg, he experienced severe nausea, vomiting, dizziness, weakness, and eventually lost the ability to move or speak. He was transported to the ER by ambulance three times in one week. EKG, CT scan, blood work, EEG all normal. No sign of stroke. A couple of hours later, he regained the ability to speak and to move. Hospitalized for four days. Ranexa lowered back to 500 mg is being tolerated well. Extremely scary experience."

• Mar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 27, 2022

Ranolazine for Angina "My cardiologist prescribed Ranexa after I had a heart attack in 2017. It lowered the frequency of my angina by about 50%. The side effects were fairly severe and included: nausea, constipation, frequent urination, dizziness, and I noticed it was harder to concentrate and remember things. I was on a fairly high dose at 1000 mg twice per day. About six months ago, with my doctor’s approval, I started to wean off this medicine and am now down to 500 mg once per day. I feel much better. All of the side effects have, for the most part, gone away. I still get some angina, but it doesn’t seem like it’s gotten any worse since dropping the dosage. At my next appointment with my cardiologist, I will see about stopping the Ranexa completely."

• Gbg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 19, 2016

Ranolazine for Angina "Wish I could say it was effective, but I could not get past the side effects within the first week. I was light-headed, dizzy, faint, and did not feel much like myself. The doctor told me I needed an adjusting period. By the second week, it was too much, and I stopped taking the pills. So now I'm wearing a nitroglycerin patch and carry Nitro pills with me at all times. I'm on an EECP machine, which dilates vessels and supposedly encourages new vessel growth. This treatment is 5 days a week, 1 hour per session for 7 weeks."

• DBa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 5, 2018

Ranolazine for Angina "Great drug. Was having trouble just walking and felt like garbage until I took this. Upped dosage to 1000 mg 2x’s per day on advice of Dr. (Cardiologist). Had a strong dizzy feeling. So maybe I take before bed 1000 mg but just 500 mg in the morning. Will follow Dr. advice. I’m starting to feel like a walking pharmacy!"

• Don...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 11, 2018

Ranolazine for Angina "I was just prescribed Ranexa 500 mg 2 times a day. After 2 full days, I had to come off of it. The side effects were horrible: hands swelling, dizziness, feeling faint, heart palpitations, shaking, and low blood pressure. Was advised by the cardiologist to stop immediately and am scheduled to see him Monday. I stopped it Wednesday evening, and side effects are easing up, but not completely gone as of today, Friday."

• Ste...
• July 15, 2016

Ranolazine for Angina "Suffered from angina on exertion. Have had now 6 caths, 7 stents, and a bypass. Started on 500 mg twice a day. I was increased to 1000 mg twice a day, by the 4th day, I was so sick. Dizzy, confused, high blood pressure, ended up in the hospital. Went back on 500 because I thought it was the Ranexa. After another check-up, my doctor told me he was sure it wasn't the 1000 mg dose, so I increased it. Four days in, and wham, felt horrible. Went back to 500 and felt alright and didn't need my nitro. But then I got blocked up and had my seventh stent. No angina now, and I came off the Ranexa."

• Sti...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 20, 2017

Ranolazine for Angina "Had two heart caths to fix a blocked right artery, but the docs were unsuccessful. I've been on Ranexa for about a year for angina pain. Started on 1000 mg twice daily, but after a couple of months, I began to get dizzy spells. So I cut back to 500 mg twice daily, and I still have no angina pain and now no dizziness. Tried to cut back to 500 mg once a day, but angina came back. So Ranexa definitely helps. I'm now back to taking 500 mg twice daily."

• Cid...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2017

Ranolazine for Angina "I was given Ranexa by my physician assistant for some minor chest pain. I took 4 doses of Ranexa (500 mg) as prescribed. I experienced dizziness, was lightheaded. That evening, about midnight, while I was in bed, I had uncontrollable diarrhea, headed to the bathroom, changed pajamas, and immediately had uncontrollable diarrhea again. Returning to bed, I experienced the uncontrollable diarrhea while asleep. I did not take any more and ended up in the hospital emergency room severely dehydrated. I was there two days with numerous tests. After this experience, I would never take this again. I destroyed the rest of the pills."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 25, 2023

For Angina "I'm 60 years old with angina symptoms; however, I have had a cath angiogram and cardiac MRI, which diagnosed me with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Previously, I was taking bisoprolol 2.5. Even after my tests, I continued to struggle with shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, fatigue, and weight gain. Bisoprolol only masked my symptoms, as I still experienced continuous days of struggling. The doctor at the hospital said it was impossible for me to have angina and that my symptoms were due to HCM. I explained to my cardiologist that bisoprolol was only providing slight relief. As a result, he prescribed ranolazine 500. What a game changer it has been! Now I can walk inclines and longer distances without difficulty. I'm no longer constantly hungry and am losing weight. My energy levels have been restored, and I finally feel like I'm getting more oxygen. I continue to take bisoprolol 5 mg daily in combination with ranolazine. Additionally, my acid reflux has improved, and I haven't experienced any reflux in the past week."

• TJN...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 9, 2024

Ranolazine for Angina "Had triple bypass 10 years ago which failed and two stents placed six months later. Angina persisted. Due to irregular heartbeat and coronary artery disease had pacemaker/defibrillator placed in January 2021. In August 2021 had a chemical stress test which triggered ventricular tachycardia and the defibrillator was triggered. By the time paramedics got me to the hospital, I was shocked a total of 42 times as well as another 10 by paramedics. Had an ablation in October. Placed on Ranexa in 2022 for angina. Began to have dizzy spells then completely blacking out causing several serious falls. Tried stopping various meds and when Ranexa stopped, the blackouts went away. No more blackouts but still have the angina."

• jim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 30, 2013

For Angina "I had angina due to a blocked artery, started on 2 per day for a week, then doubled up. Started to feel dizziness, severe headaches, progressed to a complete unbalance sensation. I also experienced constipation and joint stiffness. Now back to 2 pills, 500 mg per day for trial purposes."

• off...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 15, 2017

Ranolazine for Angina "This caused dizziness, diarrhea, low blood pressure, nausea, and eventually liver failure for my parent after less than one month of use. Research this before you start taking this drug."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2015

Ranolazine for Angina "Caused nausea, dizziness."