Atenenol and PVC's

[medking]

Thank you for taking my questions. I was diagnosed w/ PVC's about 12 yrs ago, now 38. I have had three normal echo's, 3 stress tests (normal), high normal cholesteral, normal BP etc.  I also suffer from anxiety and on 50 mg of zoloft. My cardiologist provided me with 25 mg of Atenenol to be split in half and used as a needed basis.  I typically only get PVC's in any quantity (several hundred or so) every 4-5 months and always triggered by panic/anxiety related triggers.  The rest of the time I get from none to several isolated thumps during the day. For the most part I get very few PVCs'. Questions: Is it safe to take atenenol under my circumstances, ie. take a small dose when I get some PVC's that I consider bothersome ? I may only take 12,5 mg on 6-8 occassions in one yr. I will say it works well for me, stops the PVC's cold. Question: 2- I had an isolated incident a few months ago where I had a skipped beat that triggered 4-5 consective beats, I coughed it was over back to normal. Never in my 38 yrs did this happen. I told the cardio and he said not to be concerned at all- ignore them. One isolated incident is nothing. I rarely get runs, two of the PVC together and mostly occur every 4-6 beats when they do come. Recently, when I excercise, I get nervous when my heart goes too fast and this triggers the odd PVC I want to work out but always worried about the PVC's. When I am not nervous I dont get any PVC's eventhough my heart rate is at 160BPM. Should I continue to wrk out? Truly, under a normal structured heart etc ...Is it really ok to ignore the PVC's when they come ?

[Cleveland Clinic]

medking,

There should be no reason you cant take atenolol. Some people get PVCs at a slower heart rate, if this happens you can just stop the medication.

2) The incident, as you state should not be any cause for concern.

3) Work out to your hearts content, no pain no gain.  

4) Yes. Yes. Yes.

The PVCs are a major annoyance. There are alot of ways, as you've seen in this forum, that people cope with them. It might help to read back.

good luck

[jan]

I have coughed to get rid of pac's,pvc's or whatever for years.  It always made me feel like I had to cough and I saw that it stopped it, so now when I don't get that urge I cough anyway.

I, also, found when I have them for quite sometime chg'ing positions or just walking gets rid of them.  One time none of this worked and it lasted over an hr., but then it was time for my atenolol.  When that kicked in they went away.
So, why not try these strategies and when all else fails take your atenolol?

BTW, it seems with a faster heart rate you won't have the PVC's and with a healthy heart exercise can only help, right?

Good luck!

[alan32]

after reading several of the posting at this site i am impressed at the scope of the knowledge and am finding it all difficult to grasp. i am looking forward to the opportunity to present my questions and am thankful for it

                                al wilson

[Kristin391]

With PVCs, I firmly believe and am convinced by all the research I have read that if there is no pathological basis for the arrhythmia, it is best to ignore them and live life to the fullest.   Yes, changing positions, coughing, taking deep breaths all help to stop or at least decrease them.  Yes, they can be uncomfortable but they are not going to hurt me so I ignore them.  I try to stay away from caffeine, alcohol and other stimulants and I certainly don't smoke.  I exercise regularly and do experience them when I exercise as well.  I think if I were to obsess about them, they would bother me but I have chosen to truly ignore them and accept them as part of who I am.  I also realize that everyone has these.  Mine are associated with a mitral valve prolapse.  I do not tolerate beta blockers because they cause severe fatigue for me that it is not worth it.  I much rather have PVCS than feel tired all the time and unable to carry on with activites of daily living.

[LynnSB]

Medking wrote:
Questions: Is it safe to take atenenol under my circumstances, ie. take a small dose when I get some PVC's that I consider bothersome ?

and the doc answered that there was no reason not to take the atenolol.

I am not sure I understand the answer -- maybe others did. Is it ok to take the beta blocker ONLY SPORATICALLY on as AS NEEDED basis?  


Thanks.

Lynn

[acmm]

i am currently on a therapy of 50mg of atenol and 600 mg of mexilitene daily to control pvc's which on some occasions doesn't even help. i have learned to live with them and some days are better than others for reasons i cannot explain. i have been told by my cardiologist that it is a benign condition since i have no evidence of heart disease. i am 53 yo male exercise regularly and lead a normal lifestlyle. i recently had a 2 month pvc free stretch and then one morning they returned just like that. i am considering cutting back or stopping the mexilitene completely and see what happens. i am not sure if taking this drug is really doing anything for me and i actually believe at times it may have made matters worse. would stopping cold turkey have an adverse affect on my condition??

[LynnSB]

Hank -- thanks for your response.

acmm -- do NOT stop beta blockers cold turkey -- not because, in your case, there would be a danger but because of rebound.. you might well have more palps or a transitory increase in blood pressure. Talk to your doctor and cut down on your meds gradually, then go off and see if , perhaps, you are better without them. good luck!

Lynn

[medking]

Hank, just wondering. Do you ever get an increased incidence of tachycardia and then PVC's when you feel bloated? This has been occurring alot with me and just wondering whether other people suffer from the same?

Kindly advise,

Medking (Abe)

[acmm]

thanks for the reply. i was only planning to back off on the mexitil not the atenol and will speak with my doctor first. i agree there is no need to take toxic drugs if no benefit is obvious. however, if i had a guarantee i would give anything a try to get rid of these pvc's for good. i can't tell you how disappointing it was to me when they returned after a 2 month pvc free period. what was the longest you went without any??

[luvbillyray]

I get Episodes of PVC's as well. I can go months even years without them then.....all of a sudden they are back for 6-8 months...all day everyday. What gives???? All my test are above just ok. I cannot blame it on anything other then I am an anxious person under stress mostly daily. Any input regarding why we get these episodes ?????

[Ling]

I too am searching for answers.  I had occasional PVC for years and then about a month ago, boom.  All testing has come back.  I had them all day everyday until they put me on Zebeta.  It has helped, I still have some break through though.  I am however comforted to see that several of you have mentioned episodic "attacks" of these PVC's.  I had what was called bigeminy this time.  I have more questions than the cardio has answers.  I guess my biggest hurdle is more mental than physical.  I am afraid to get back into my Pre PVC routine, so exercise has been decreased.  I used to walk 2 miles a day.  I am also thinking that if I would quit dwelling on the darn things it would help.  I hope everyone is well

[trrtrix]

I know exactly how you feel about being afraid to exercise. I have been lucky to have found some dietary changes that have so far resolved my palps. But prior to that, I was having tons, with bigeminy, trigeminy, couplets etc. They were definitely worse with exercise. All I can tell you is that I kept excercising vigorously (I swim for a team, 2 miles 3x/week, and run 20-24 miles per week at a 7:30-8 min/mile pace) and I didn't drop dead. I felt worse if I didn't execise because that meant they were getting the better of me. It's spring, go enjoy a walk!

[Ling]

Thank you for your response, I am going to start exercising again and hopefully will start to get more secure in it.  I am hoping exercise will act as a stress reliever and help more.

[trrtrix]

Most excellent. Good for you. Let us know how you feel periodically.

[Ling]

I was put on a 48 hour monitor today.  I have had a few thumps so I wrote them down.  I discussed a stress echo with my cardio.  I told him even though I am 30, I am still concerned since my cholesterol was so high.  So I will have that next week.  I am kind of scared.  Anyone ever have one of these tests.  (stress echo)  Are they good for determining artery blockage?  thanks all

[smiles45]

I have pvc was wondering if any one feels it in thier throat i feel a flutter in my throat and then i feel like i have to burp? is this unusual?

[trrtrix]

Hello again

I've never had a stress echo, but I know they are very easy to have. No needles, just some goo on your chest. As you exercise, the heart requires more blood to its own tissue. As your heart rate goes up, your heart muscle also begins to squeeze harder. If you have a blockage in one of the arteries that supplies blood to the heart, that section of the heart may not move as briskly or strong as the rest of the heart. This is what they look for during a stress echo. The technology these days allows for excellent viewing of your heart in action.

I don't blame you for being nervous, but I'll bet you are alright.

Good luck!

[alan32]

smiles 45

i have had that sensation regularly as well but do not know if it is PVC or PAC but i believe it would be the latter.


to everyone

i am new and have read many of your accounts about PVCS and individual experiences with them and drugs to control them.
My story is simular in many respects to several of you.
I was wondering if any of you have had an angiogram to determine if your heart had an irritable focus based upon a partial blockage nearby. I have not but i have had about everything else.

thank you
al wilson

[Ling]

Got the results from my monitor back today.  Dr. says I have PVC's, mostly thought, not when I noted them.  He said I have a few in a 2 day period.  He would like me to decrease beta blocker.  So I am anxious.  Anyway.  I have stress echo next.  In the meantime, I had a big PVC today and it scared me.  So now I am trying to be calm.

Hope all is well

[XfileT]

2 questions... is pvc same as palpitations? and #2. I went a day with out Atenenol till i got scrips filled. Would just that short time cause my heart rate to increase?

I am 100mg of Atenenol.
In april I had a chem stress test, echo, some kind of scan and a heart cath to make sure. All is great, no issues, no problems, thank God. But today my heart has been around 100-120 at times, I am concerned, should I be? I mean about 4months ago all was well with my heart, i have even had ekgs and blood work done since and all is great. I worry about my health a lot, sadly, so any advice you all can give will be greatly appriciated. brutal honesty is a must for me :-) thank You and May God be with you all.

T

[XfileT]

My pulse has come down to 82. am I just freaking out or what? I hate worry and fear. How do i stop this?

[Tommy471]

A related discussion, Thanks to all was started.