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Cardizem for tachycardia/angina, worried about depression
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MedHelp Member's Question

Cardizem for tachycardia/angina, worried about depression

by pikamom, Feb 06, 2002 12:00AM
Hello, I posted a question here around a year ago, called "36 yr. old with new angina". At the time I had my first episode of tachycardia/angina, the cardiologist gave me a prescription for nitrostat and wanted me to have a heart catherization. I never went back...too chicken. I continued to have symptoms of a racing heart, sweaty, nausea, and chest pain on exertion. Then two weeks ago it was particularly bad and my husband took me to the ER where I had a very abnormal EKG and supraventricular tachycardia. They said I needed the cath right away so I signed the consent forms and went right up to the lab. Luckily my heart is normal. The cardiologist says my EKG would be worrisome for someone with an underlying heart disease. He says my heart doesn't get enough oxygen, possibly from a coronary artery spasm. I do have a disease called interstitial cystitis in which I get painful bladder spasms all the time? Anyway, my normal resting heart rate is 120-140...they noticed this when I was inpatient for severe depression 2 years ago and even though I added daily exercize and lost 60 pounds (I'm now normal weight), my heart rate never came down. When it gets going really fast it's like 200 and that's when I get the chest pain. The cardiologist said last week I need to treat the tachycardia so my heart won't eventually get weak. He gave me cardizem to slow the heart and widen the blood vessels for the angina. I worked really hard to overcome this depression and my question is, do you think cardizem could upset my balance? The doctor said it's an electrical problem. Thankyou, Terry
Doctor's Answer

by CCF-M.D.-CRC, Feb 08, 2002 12:00AM
Dear Terry,

Depression is not usually a side-effect of Cardizem (diltiazem).  This is more commonly seen with beta-blockers and some antihypertensive drugs like clonidine.  



In regard to the tachycardia I would wonder what specific type of tachycardia was seen.  Many supraventricular tachycardias can be cured by a type of procedure called an ablation.  Ask you cardiologist about this at your next visit.
Member Comments (7)

by itsa48, Feb 06, 2002 12:00AM
did your heart dr. do the test for the coronary artery spasm? i just went thru this my self.  was having angina pains (pressure) and was real sick at work they called ambulance.  he did the heart cath. and test the left side of the heart and then the right side and that is where i have the coronary artery spasm, they did this test three times to make sure, and i felt it! did you feel anything when they had you in the heart cath? they had to give me nitro by intervenus to stop the spasms.  then i spent 3 more day in the hospital, because they had to regulate the meds, and my blood pressure was low 70/40's, and i had the worst headaches from the nitro patch! iam now on 120 mgs of imdur (a nitro)  and 2.5 mgs of norvasc  (a calicum channel blocker) twice a day i take both. its been almost a month and they are still adjusting meds but i went back to work a week ago and have good days and bad days with the spasms.  my heart rate is normal 56-60 for me.  but i take toperal xl because i did have skipped beats so that is why its low. I do feel better but not the same as my old self (iam only 42 female) and i'm so tired.  But my cariologist tells me to be patient.   I also had to go on a low fat diet my cholorestol is 288 and ldh was high also. I don't know anything about your question to the dr. but will be anxious to read his answer.  I know just going thru this is depressing...so hang in there.  let me know ***@****

Lynn

by pikamom, Feb 07, 2002 12:00AM
I don't remember much from my cath because they had me so full of valium. I have this interstitial cystitis (IC) and when they pushed deep in the groin to find the artery, it started a horrible bladder spasm. They had to put in a foley. I wanted to leave but they said I had to have the test and then just started putting in the valium. I don't remember the wire going up but was aware at one point of really strong palpitations. My cardiologist didn't say I needed any other tests, just to take his prescription and come back in four months. I was quite happy to just get out of there.

by melissaVT, Feb 07, 2002 12:00AM
I am a active, healthy 26yr old female. I have family history of cardiac problems, resulting in death in 3 out of 9 family members, ages ranging in 33-70 for age at time of death. I am also a dialysis nurse.

On JAnuary 26, I was shopping when I experenced some shest heaviness. Didn't think anything of it until I experienced being diapheritic (sweaty and clamy), and nearly passed out. I went to the doctors offices, was transfered to the ER, where my heart rate was 150, and I had changes in my EKG with changes in the ST wave. Was admitted to my local hospital and the next day transfered to our level one hospital in VT an hour away, where i stayed for another four days. I had a rough hospitalizationa nd for some reason was admitted by  pulmonary team instead od cardiology, though a cardiologist met with me. I experienced many acute episodes(bp as low as 60/30, pulse as high as 200), was given anything from nitro, asprin, and morphine. I had xrays, ulrasounds, vk scan, EKG, and eccocardiogram. I was started on cardizem. i have been extremely weak. I am going back to work for 4 hours today for the first time in over two weeks.

I have been given no real answer for what i experienced. I am being closely followed. I am searching for others for similar experences. Thank you.

by pikamom, Feb 07, 2002 12:00AM
That sounds similar to my story. Those EKG changes I get are the ST thing too, it's depressed. I have no idea what they're talking about except I get the idea they don't like that. I think I might ask the hospital to give me a copy of my records, I'd like to see what it says. Like you, I also have a very strong history of heart disease on my mom's side, but only the men. Mom's dad dropped dead at age 40, a brother was found dead in his bed age 54, another brother had quadtriple bipass in his 50's and now has heart failure, another brother heart disease in 40's, and mom had severe high blood pressure in her 20's which she's still treated for. I hope the cardizem works for you and you start feeling better. My chest pain feels like heaviness too, and pressure. Never really pain. When I went to the ER 2 weeks ago it hurt in the center of my chest, between my shoulder blades on my