PVC's/PAC's

[hltyhrt]

I  am a female who has been struggling with heart palpitaions since I was about 23 yrs old I am now 35 (they started after my first child was born). Recently I have noticed an increase per day in the number I am having. I also have been diagnosed with panic attacks/anxiety (anxiety since 19 yrs old). I did have an holter done about one month ago it showed rare PAC's/PVC's with some sinus tachycardia. My MD wants me to start zoloft and feels this will decrease my symptoms. I am a bit nervous about starting the medication due to its possible s/e's of heart palpitations, tremors,fainting listed as possible s/e's. I know I am a very anxious person and have struggled many yrs with it which has landed me in the ER x 2.

My question is do you feel the zoloft will decrease the palps? And increase heart rate. (Also, I will have an echo this Friday).

Thanks.

[scully1]

I've been having these skipped beats  for about a year now,  I am a 36 year old male.  It first started after drinking alcohol I woke up and felt them,  exactly like others here have described them,  a pause then a stronger beat afterwards.
I thought Vodka was the initial cause,  but in the past few months they show up without any alcohol consumption,  and they almost always last for 5-6 days straight and disapear only to come back again for the same amount of time.  I went to the cardiologist, an had a stress test and I am taking Toplrol XL,  he said not to worry about them,  but they are annoying especially when trying to study or sleep. I guess there is no cure for these things?  I never heard of them before a year ago, and wish I never had.

[anacyde]

Zoloft might increase your palpitations, but then again, it might not.  By avoiding the medication, you are possibly missing out on a chance for something to help you feel a lot better for the fear of something that "might" happen.

As a student of psychology in college, I worked in the psych lab.  When we did experiments, we had to list *everything* that happened during them, whether it was a consequence of the actual experiment or not.  Similarly, during drug trials such as those for SSRI medications, ALL of the symptoms that subjects experience must be listed because that's just the way research is done to ensure the most accurate results.  Now bear in mind that most people in these trials already had symptoms of restlessness, anxiety, palpitations, etc.,  because that is exactly what Zoloft and other SSRIs are prescribed for.

I hope that helps ease your mind a little.  Hang in there.  I hope you can find something that works for you :)

[rktect]

Well, I have had constant PVCs for about a week and a half now.  My initial anxiety has diminished and I am resuming normal life...with a few less heartbeats.  I still have them all the time (I've probably had a good 10-15 PVCs in the time I've written these first few sentences), but I'm really getting used to them (do I have a choice?).  Sometimes they are more pronounced than other times, but I'm not really afraid of them anymore, thanks especially to reading this forum and realizing I'm not going to die...well not for a long time, I hope.  I'm 33 and plan on tripling that before I'm through.  I'm still going to see a cardiologist next week, however I have a feeling he's not going to say anything different than what I've read on these posts.  This is a great tool, and I hope others will take these comments to heart and relax...it's really true...these PVCs aren't going to kill you.

[pugfriend]

Last night I had a lot of gas. Went to bed and this morning when I turned onto my back I started having flutters in my chest and felt a rush and really anxious. So I got up and walked the dog to get the paper and the whole time the flutters and hard beats continued which caused more anxiety and more flutters. Checking my pulse I noticed a hard or extra beat followed by a pause. Now, I have had this several times in the past 20 years or so. Have been to the ER several times and had the holter etc.  Nothing except PVC/PAC's were ever diagnosed. So what to do?  I tried tenorman (spell check) once for about 3 days and when the problem went away I quit taking it.  This problem crops up at different times but seems to be worse with gas, stress or being extremely tired. I didn't go to the Dr. today (yet). Instead, I tried to relax, got a hug from my husband and took a shower. I still feel a little shakey but haven't felt the skips for about an hour.   I don't know if this helps anyone but telling you about it makes me feel better.  I so wish someone would come up with a sound reason for this problem.  It is so uncomfortable but I hate complaining about it or thinking about it so much.  They (Doctors) say it isn't harmful but it sure isn't normal.  

[mobelk73]

I enjoyed reading your stories and knowing I am not alone. I have pvc's and pac's on a regular basis but am reluctant to go on the meds. I have worn the holtor monitor several times in 24 hour increments and I always show some symptoms but sometimes the sensations are so much harder than others does anyone else feel like this? I literally feel like I am dying bc they some times last for an hour or more. it is so easy to let this control your life. I have 3 children and I feel like i may not be around for them. I had a myoview stress test this week t make sure I don't have any other issues, I am 34 and going out of my mind I rarely leave my house and especially not alone for fear of something happening! Am I nuts?

[hltyhrt]

thanks 4 all the good advice/comments:)