PVCs - any home remedy successes?

[WadeP]

Had ablation in 2002 & no AFIB since but plagued with PVCs ever since.  Just had another 24 hr. holter, echo, etc., and all normal except showed 4,000+ PVCs - benign.  So heart in good shape.  I exercise daily, am 6'4" - 180 lbs., 52 yrs. old and am on Flecinade and a beta blocker.  PVCs just seem to keep gradually getting worse(they're bad for a few weeks, not so bad for a few weeks, etc.) and now they're affecting my sleep and exercising (which really tees me off!).  Have been reading/investigating non medicinal ways to reduce the damn PVCs though I realize eliminating them is probably unrealistic.  Heck, I'd be VERY happy to reduce them to just a 'one a minute' frequency.  Have come across many posts supporting changes in diets as well as many variations/combinations of supplements.  I have, for a long time, avoided my triggers (alcohol, sugar, adrenaline, caffeine, etc.).  Have tried many different combinations of supplements and changed my diet but am feeling I'm wandering...trying this one week, and this another.  Much is trial and error and I'm getting frustrated and impatient. I want to hear from anyone who's had significant numbers of PVCs who, in turn, has had real success (assuming there is anyone) reducing them.  I don't care what they did...no possible remedy is too crazy or silly.  I realize what works for one may not work for another but surely there are those who have, perhaps through trial and error, persistence, research and a higher intelligent level than myself (not too hard to find) found success in reducing their frequency. If there is someone 'out there' who would like to share their successes, I'm all ears!!!!

[lmillis]

I had PVCs for at least a year. After many trips to the doctor and even one to the ER, I figured it out. I was taking Xanax because of a anxiety caused by a motorcycle accident and I accidentally got hooked on it. All benzodiazapines are addictive and a patient can get addicted and start experiencing horrible PVCs as a between dose symptom. In effect, the drug was causing anxiety as it would wane from your system. Then you need to take more Xanax to get the PVCs calmed down and the cycle gets worse. I stopped the Xanax and the PVC and anxiety got much worse as my dependence had gotten out of hand. I am benzo free for two months and have PVCs but are getting better. Most signs indicate that within a year I should be normal and PVC free.

[GrantBee]

This was a super helpful blog to read. My PVC's (that skipped beat feeling in my chest that really feels SIGNIFICANT -- that's what we're talking about, right?) have been more associated with stress and anxiety too. Though sometimes they start in the middle of my most calm moments. Like others - docs say benign.. But when mine strike - the blood flow to the head interrupts ever so slightly and I feel the slightest bit dizzy.. It's just a mess.

I am intrigued to try and start the liquid magnesium talked about early in the thread. I have many of the other symptoms of poor magnesium levels (like soreness of muscles endless fatigue, etc). Thought I was just getting 'old' (at 51). I always wondered why my magneisum blood test always came back normal. Now I know it's not a reliable test.

Thanks all!
Grant

[skydnsr]

I have a lot less PVC's and palpitations when I take a chelated magnesium suppement.  I use Solgar brand Chelated Magnesium, which is magnesium glycinate.  I take 2 pills (100mg each) twice a day.  If I stop taking it for a day or two, I can definitely tell that I need to go back to it.  

I was on metoprolol for several years, and that did take care of the problem for a long time.  Eventually, the side effects of metoprolol became worse than the PVCs, though.  As the side effects of the metoprolol got worse, it also seemed like the effectiveness of it in controlling my PVCs became less.  In the end, there was no good reason to continue taking the metoprolol.

Drinking alcohol makes my PVCs worse afterward.  The next morning when I wake up, my heart feels like it's skipping a lot of beats.

[arthurstanley]

Believe me, it might work because if you are really stressed, it's better to have the effects of alcohol than to have the stress. But alcohol sometimes makes them worse. I've had PVC's now for 5 years and I've had 5 tachycardia attacks in that time. I had to stop drinking, though I love it. If you've never had a PVC, it's really hard to understand the fear about them. I've passed 4 kidney stones and I prefer to pass another one than to have PVC's or tachycardia attacks.

[jPVC]

I've had PVC's for around 20 years now. I hate them like the rest of you. Something to note that may not be the case for everyone, but if you observe that your PVCs come after eating, and you are someone who exercises regularly, there is a possibility that you aren't getting enough calories. Might be worth doing a calorie count, and finding out from a trainer or nutritionist what your calorie intake should be given your exercise regimen. My calorie needs are around 2500/day given my exercise routine and build etc, but for about a year, I wasn't paying attention, thinking I was eating healthily, and was only getting around 1800/day. Like clockwork everyday within an hour after exercising, my heart would start with its tricks.

[HealthSingh]

I am a 30 year old male and I have had undiagnoced PVC for who knows how long. This last week tho I finally decided to get checked for an irregular heart beat. The second they hooked me up to an EKG they noticed my heart would pause every 40-60 seconds and then restart. Soon as it was diagnosed  I felt terrible so bad a that the PVC's got worse with the stress. I couldn't even sleep at night the PVC's would scare me and send a rush of adrenaline through my body making me very nervous .I started doing some research and heave started taking 400-500 mgs of potassium a day, plus an omega 3-6-9 formula thats supposed to help with heart health As well as baby aspirin 85 mgs in the morning. I have also cut out all aspartame from my diet. I was hooked on no sugar juices mixes eg.Crystal lite and Nestea ice tea. All these things have helped but did not make my symptoms go away completely. One this that has been a life saver was something I stumbled upon on YouTube. A woman was talking about stomach problems and her PVC's. She recommended a Vagus Nerve massage the second i did this by rubbing my stomach deeply into my abdominals under my rib cage they intensity of the PVC's went away. So much so that last night i slept with out even feeling them. This really works!! Please look into Vagus nerve massage.

[heartitis]

Yes, the Vagus massage does help but the effects are temporary. Try taking GABA 750mg every day. The GABA supports your parasympathetic nervous system which impacts your Vagus nerve from within. It has virtually done away with my PVCs. I take L-Theanine 100mg along with the GABA and that may help as well. Also...NO caffeine..not even decaf for me...and no HOT drinks as this irritates the vagus nerve. Any time you eat or drink too much it can set off the PVCs as the Vagus is irritated. Try the GABA. It really works to fix what's wrong with the Vagus from within...you can reduce the dosage gradually and wean yourself off gradually. From what I've read, the GABA is harmless.