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Avatar universal

Cardizem for tachycardia/angina, worried about depression

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
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Avatar universal
Thank you for sharing with me. Your symptoms are almost the same as mine. Isn't it funny that hearing that soemone else experienced this makes you feel better in someway. Thank you.
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Avatar universal
Dear Doctor, thankyou for your answer. I will ask my cardiologist about that ablation when I next see him. I don't know what kind of tachycardia, he just said it's electrical and I shouldn't let it go untreated. I just took my pulse at the grocery store this afternoon and it was 101, so that's a big difference as it's been between 120 and 140 for the last two years. Since overcoming the depression, I've lost a great deal of weight and it's now normal, and started walking 30 minutes 5X a week plus floor exercizes for my back (I've had two laminectomies at the L-5 S-1 level) and yoga class once a week. I still walk with a cane because of the nerve damage that goes all the way down to my feet, and I still take all the meds from the urologist (for interstitial cystitis) and psychiatrist, but all in all I think my life is quite improved from two years ago. The back surgeries and bladder disease began in my twenties and led to the severe depression. Before that I had been a nurse aide in a nursing home and was an active young wife and mother of two small children. I got to the point that I just didn't want to live anymore and finally was hospitalized and started in therapy. But now, I'm having a more positive outlook and taking better care of myself. I don't just take all the pills these doctors want me to, I wonder if it's really necessary and how it will affect me. I got rid of the percocet, oxycontin, and opium/belladonna suppositories for severe pain, and now take ultram instead. I have more pain, but less depression. I have my suspicion that living with chronic pain has led to the high heart rate. Nearly every night I jerk awake with the horrible bladder spasms and my heart is racing. This can happen several times a night and I've been like this since 1991. Or maybe it's the meds that increase my heart rate. I was in a 4 year research program at the University of PA with Dr. Wein, a top urologist. Still no cure but they said I'm getting the best treatment. I had a consultation about having my bladder removed but it was not advised as the disease often comes back in the new pouch or kidneys. So I just make the best of each day as it comes. Today is a good day.
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Avatar universal
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.
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Avatar universal
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.
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Avatar universal
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 back, the left side of my neck, and my left inner arm and last two fingers. My fingers hurt the worst, felt like they would explode. Also I was slightly out of breath, and my head felt funny, lightheaded I guess you call it. Since my heart was going really fast I didn't have to wait at all, just went right back and got hooked up to the EKG. The cardizem is working great, I've been taking it for a week now and haven't noticed a racing or pounding heart at all, which I was getting every day especially at night. I'm just worried about how the cardizem will affect my mental health and interact with my other meds. My cardiologist asked for a list of my meds and medical history and he seemed to take a good look at it, so I guess I shouldn't worry. Between the urologist for the IC, and the psychiatrist for the depression, and now the cardiologist, I take pretty much medicine.
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Avatar universal
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.
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Avatar universal
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
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