Palpitations after laxative use

[andrea2289]

After using laxative for years, I had gotten to where I only needed them occasionally. I NEVER have palpitations unless I take laxatives for more than a few days, ever. I recently took laxatives for about 10 days and stopped when I developed palpitations.  

Usually when I get the palpitations after taking a laxative I can thoroughly hydrate myself for a few days and they always go away. This time they haven't, and it is going on three weeks now. I have noticed drinking a LOT of Low Sodium V8 (VERY high in Potassium) usually makes them go away within about 30 minutes. I can’t keep drowning myself with V8 and water to control them but the doctor doesn’t seem to be concerned. EKG, blood work and thyroid check came back fine. But he didn’t check my kidneys and the EKG didn’t catch the skipped beat (although the doctor can hear it)

I am not the type to freak out, and I if anything, the palpitations irritate me more than anything, but my gut feeling is that I threw something out of whack being on the laxatives as long as I was.

Could I have damaged my kidneys? Thrown my electrolytes out of balance? They seem to be getting worse and now I have developed pain between my shoulder blades, which may or may not be related but I definitely notice it when the palpitations are present. I understand there are many causes of palpitations and I was looking for some suggestions to bring up to my doctor.

[Forum-M.D.-bkj]

andrea,

Thanks for the post.

The body has an amazing system to regulate sodium, potassium and water as well as other body salts. This system unless under great stress will autoregulate itself.  After ceasing laxitive abuse, if you have normal renal function it would not take long for your body to readjust itself to normal balance. A simple blood and urine panel would tell your physician if everything is in line.

Perceptions of palpitations are easy to link to exogenous 'cures'. The natural history of most palpitations is that they are intermittant. Your perception of them stopping with the V8 is more likely due to the fact that they stopped on their own than from any change in the electrolytes from V8 which in the grand spectrum are not that much.

You need to look into other ways of dealing with your palpitations. If you do have low electrolytes on a panel, then taking supplements would be a better alternative than trying to self medicate by marked changes in your diet.

good luck

[RNRita]

Funny you should mention that.  I was put on Zelnorm for abdominal pain.  Each time I tried it, I had severe diarrhea for the first day.  It was ALWAYS followed by severe palpitations for a day.  I stopped taking it.  

[andrea2289]

It is a very frustrating experience. My doctor doesn't seem to be concerned. They can 'get me in' in two weeks. An appointment with a new doctor would take just as long. So, as I type this, I am having palpitations and pain across my upper back (which is only present when the palpitations are). My husband called the ER and they said they would do the same thing they did before, blood work, EKG and if they were fine, I'd be sent home. You almost feel like you are alone. The doctor isn't concerned and the ER doesn't seem to be either.

I am a very level headed person, not easily worried and even the palpitations don't really get me worked up. But, I am being left no choice but to try to figure it out myself. I understand that palpitations are every normal and can have many benign causes, but is it normal to have back pain with them as well?

[deedle1976]

Hi, I always get terrible palpitations (mainly PVC's) if I have been vomiting or having diahorrea. They are stopped by eating bananas or drinking isotonic sports drink so I believe them to b e due to transient potassium imbalance.