Opiates cause heart problems?

[lostsoul2]

Does anybody know if opiates, more specifically painkillers, can cause problems with the heart?  I was addicted for 2 years and have been clean for over a month, but it seems like I get winded easily now, and my heart starts pounding at times with the slightest exercise.

[corey411]

Opiates depress your respiratory system also. I would think that long tern depression of the respiritory system would have lingering effects. It is best to get a check up. You don't want to become clean and die of something that could be fixed with a check up. Wouldn't that be ironic. I'm scheduling a check up as soon as I get back from vacation. I already know that I have problems with a fatty liver which is most likely from opiates. Always better safe than sorry. Good luck, Corey

[PromisedLand]

Interesting.  My wife isn't addicted (that I can see) but she takes a lot of percocet and over the last few years was on oxy for chronic pain (won't go into all the details)..she had a check up the other day and her EKG was fine, chest was clear, but she finds herself
getting winded walking up a flight of stairs.

I often wonder if my abuse of vic is what caused me to ultimately collapse at work last year and wind up with a pacemaker.

Jim

[missm2]

I would say yes, I have the same problem..I was diagnosed with SVT.(supraventricular tachycardia)-extremely fast heartbeat (My cardiologist didn't know about my addiction though). I'm having alot less attacks since I have been clean.

[puranx]

while its good to get a checkup, remember its only been a month. Give it some time. Think about what you did to your body, fatigue, sleep, etc all effect that

[GoingToMakeIt]

Sounds like time for a checkup. Many time existing problems are masked by opiate use.

[NautyOne]

Yes.  Abuse can.