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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
I think it's a palpitation?-very worried, please help
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I think it's a palpitation?-very worried, please help
by pat__0__0, Jul 17, 1998 12:00AM
Hi, I'm a 23 year old male and very worried. Over the past month, I have been experiencing what I think are heart palpitations, but I don't know. Sometimes after I eat a lot and especially when I'm first lying down for bed it happens. It kind of feels like my heart is dropping inside amidst the beats. Like the feeling you get in the car when you come over the top of a high hill. This causes a great deal of anxiety for me and probably makes it worse. I do have a lot of stress and have been taking zyrtec and sudafed (one tablet each in the morning per day) for the past two months. My questions are, is this a palpitation, can these medicines cause it, and what should I do?
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Dear Pat:
I can't say for sure whether you are having palpitations or not. Palpitations can refer to a fast heart rate, an irregular heart rate, skipped beats or extra beats.
Zyrtec is not known to cause palpitations. Sudafed, however, can definitely cause palpitations. I would suggest stopping this medication. In addition, stress can contribute to palpitations, so relaxation methods may be useful. Other possible causes include caffeine, alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs. Rarely, palpitations can be due to serious underlying medical or cardiac diseases, though this is less likely the case with a young, healthy person.
I would suggest calling and making an appointment with your family doctor. In the meantime, stop taking the Sudafed and see if the palpitations go away.
I hope this has been useful. Feel free to write in with further questions.
If you wish to be evaluated here at the Cleveland Clinic, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE for an appointment with a cardiologist at desk F15. Information provided in the Heart Forum is for general purposes only. Specific diagnoses and therapies can only be provided by your doctor.
