PVC' and cardizem

[cam4]

Hello! I have had PVC's for about 11 years. I used to take atenelol (from 97 until 2004) Until last july when I had a stressed induced coronary spasm.I was told it was stressed related and was technically diagnosed with prinze metal variant angina.After this event I was switched to cardizem. I have had the dosage increased over the last 6 months because the PVC's have increased considerably in the last few months. I am now taking 360mg. This has done nothing to decrease the PVC's and I am going to ask my cardio to lower it back down due to the many side effects I am having. My question is this, is there a medication that works for both conditions? angina and PVC's well?? I do not think that MY body is responding to cardizem for the PVC's, but it DID with atenelol. The constant skips are beginning to wear me down into a depressive state that at 33 I am feeling this bad all the time every day. I used to ONLY have the PVC;s when I was ovulating or about to begin my period. Now they are pretty much daily and persistant. I wore a holter monitor last month and my cardio told me I had a low level of PVC, but it was only ONE day and I knew I wasnt skipping all day that particular day. Also, he so far has not wanted to consider ablation. Is this a viable option. Thanks for your time .
cam

[dmbcer]

Try a low carb/NO STARCH diet.  It will work.  I had pvcs every single day. Day and night.  Now I have almost no pvcs. Give the diet a try.  I pray it will work for everyone.

[cam4]

your story is similar to mine and many here. I too get depresed when my pvc's act up for long periods. i am taking atenelol and a calcium channel blocker together now and i have had a significant decrease in my pvc in the last 3 weeks. I also notice that when I eat out I have them more. I believe it is the seasonings and sodium content of the food. I avoid MSG at all costs, asking waiters to check if the food i order is prepared wiht it. I let them know I have an allergy.. it can be prepared without it. I am a huge chinese fan, and I now eat it again because I found a restaurant that prepares without MSG. I used to feel horrible every time I ate chinese, and that is when i started thinning about MSG. I also find deli meats to be an issue and mexican food, which also contain levels of MSG. REad your labels and ask questions. IT works.
WHen i dont get enough sleep i am garaunteed a bad day.. and unfortunatly, my meds dont keep my hormones from causing problems during female issues. So i guess as a man, youre lucky in that respect!!!
If you believe in God, pray.. it helps me. I always try to remember to thank him for days that are PVC free and enjoyable, I also try to remember that those days return, when Im having a bad time. Good luck
cam

[Tomatojuice]

I'm a 33 year old male and I have had PVCs for about 3 years now although I didn't actually know it was called PVCs up until 5 months ago. I have just been to the cardio and was recommended Metoprolol- 25mg twice a day if I need it. The PVCs are really giving me problems and I have episodes of breathlessness, more like needing to inhale deeply ever so often. My shoulders, neck and back muscles kinda feel tight as well whenever the PVCs go on for extended period. I don't exactly how many PVCs per day but I would say it in the hundreds. More than enough to get me depress. The cardio say it's not related to any structural heart problem although I am also diagnosed with MVP. Says that the MVP and PVCs are coincidental- that the MVP may or may not be the cause of the PVCs.
Someone wrote in the forum that sleep deprivation seems to trigger off PVCs in the day time which is what I thought so too because I realise whenever my quality of sleep in poorer I seem to get more PVCs. I also noticed that I 'thump' is more forceful than before I had my meals (purchased). Strange though that when I have my meals at home, I don't seem to get it very much. One possibility is the ingredients in the food- someone suggested MSG. I don't take caffaien nor smoke. I'm 172cm tall and weights in at 65kg. Sometimes, the PVCs get me so down I wonder if I will die. It's so depressing sometimes though the cardio says that I don't have to be overly concerned and does not constitute serious cardiac diesease. Wish I could get rid of these PVCs.

[cam4]

Less pvc's than I have had in the last 2 months!!! yEAH!!!
i am stil jhaving some side effects from the cardizem I think. My cardio said it could take a few days for it to be out of my system and be relaced with the norvasc. If you prayed, thanks!!
I hope u all had good weekends

[cam4]

OK!!! well.. I went to the cardio yesterday and was removed from the cardizem due to the horrible side effects. I am taking as of this morining norvasc and toprol. Small doses of both. I was of course panicked to take the pills this am but I did it. Its been 2 hours and so far so good. Have had a few PVC''s, but that is an all the time thing anyway. I want to thank you all, becuase it was YOU that made me ask about combing the 2 types of meds. a calcium blk and beta blk. He initially wanted to start me on Norpace which has BAD possible side effects.I asked to try to combo first. Please pray for me over the weekend. as i get used to the new stuff
cam

[Mike051573]

  Hello everyone,I just posted in the above thread (a lengthy one) and that after 6 years of fighting PVCs on my own without medication for it,as well as avoding exercise alltogether,I am literally at the point where I realize that I need to take something for this,I have a script for Atenolol,yet Ive seen so many thousands of beta-blockers,I was wondering if anyone has had success with any certain types? Thanks very much in advance........

- Mike
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[uptowngirl]

I take a beta blocker and Cardizem very effectively, however, I take one in the morning and one in the evening.
uptown

[Erik36]

I take 180 mg of Cardizem and 50mg of Toprol(Beta Blocker). It controls my A-Fib and my PVC's very well. Under some circumstances, these two drugs can be taken together. But don't try taking them together without talking to your doctor first. The combination can cause problems if the doses aren't appropriate or if you have certain conditions. Good luck!

Erik

[Cleveland Clinic]

cam,

thnaks for the post.

My question is this, is there a medication that works for both conditions? angina and PVC's well??

People have had varying degrees of success with different medications, so there isnt one easy solution.  Beta blockers work well for some and not at all for others.

You could potentially be on both agents with close followup if needed. I would also look into exactly how you were diagnoses with coronary spasm.  It can sometimes be overdiagnosed. If that were the case, I would look into whether you need the cardizem at all.

good luck