Palpitations (premature beats) and Ultracet and/or Vioxx mediation

[ScottishLass]

I am a 48 year old female.  Although I have always felt, on occasion, a "skipped" heart beat followed by a strong beat sensation, this past weekend I was unable to sleep much due this occurring constantly when I would lay down and, although much less, while getting up, walking around and sitting down.  It scared me to death so I went to my Doctor yesterday.  When I would lay on my left side she was able to hear it and called it a "premature beat".  I am going for a holter monitor and echocardiogram tomorrow.  Last winter I broke my ankle (it was severe, broke in three places, required surgery) and have been on meds ever since for the pain.  I have been taking Ultracet Tablets (McNeil) 2 tablets, twice daily and also Vioxx (Merck) 50mg. tablet once daily for several months.  Could either of these meds be causing these symptoms?  My Doctor didn't seem to think so, although Ultracet does list under "side effects" that a serious, but highly unlikely side effect is irregular heart beat. Please let me know what you think.  Thanks so much. Janis.

[AlanM]

Never posted a comment on the Internet before but loved your 'dissertation' and now feel comfortable that I am not alone. No doubt that hiatus hernia and associated esophagael irritation/problems predispose palpitations/PVC's. No doubt, too, that Losec (or equivalent) help. Will try Maalox. Wind around the heart etc. I can relate to, and, as you observe, there is a fair measure of self help either posture related, or in terms of not exercising within two hours of eating, or going to bed within four hours of a meal. True, too, that coffee and orange juice produce reactions not just hours after imbibing but often the following or subsequent days. Lifting heavy weights isn't recommended either!

[karie]

Very interesting read,
I am 34 and have posted here alot. I lost too much weight last year due to stomach distress: gastritis: gerd, heartburn was constant for 9 months and nothing helped though : prevacid caused a racing heart, nexium did not help heartburn, tums and more. I started juicing for nutrition and put some weight on. Originally we thought onset was due to loosing 4 family members and not H/pylori since blood tests and others negative.
Improved some and took klor=con due to low potassium,
Pvc's increased alot and could not understand. So if one has a sensitive stomach and heart ; Yuk.
I just got over the flu and so thankful for a good day again.
Correlation in the two : Any other reads ?
Heres to healthy tummy's and no heart pvc's.

[Algon]

MikeB -

Your message is by far the most valuable that I have ever read on the subject.

My own palpitations were also set off by Vioxx.

I suspected a digestive system cause for PVC's.

Thank you!

[MikeB]

November 23, 2002

About two years ago I posted details of my personal experience of excessive palpitations (PVC's - ectopic beats) - up to 20,000/day at worst - and how I got rid of them.

Since then, my wife began to suffer from 'acid idigestion' and  herself developed dreadful palpitations - sufficient to cause her shortness of breath on occasions - they would go on all day and all night. At first she refused to believe she was repeating my history (see below) and consulted a cardiologist who gave her all the usual tests and prescribed a beta blocker which did nothing.  At my suggestion (and some nagging!) she started on REGULAR Maalox and later switched to Gaviscon (Gaviscon Advanced in the UK). No surprise to me, the PVC's gradually disappeared over a three week period. She was later diagnosed with acid reflux from a hiatus hernia and put on 20mg Prilosec.

I'm prompted to re-post my history because I've just started to take Vioxx which in commom with Ibuprofen (for example) can leave the stomach and esophagus unprotected from stomach acid and bile. Even my low dose of Vioxx (12.5mg) has certainly reminded me of what acid reflux feels like although I still use 20mg Prilosec myself.

My strongly held belief is that provided no other cause is found by your doctors for PVCs then you've got little to lose by trying the effect of over-the-counter antacids and maybe something like Prilosec from your doctor.

Here, then, is my history which prompted many, many replies of thanks from PVC sufferers who found relief from my suggestions. In many cases, they had often suspected acid reflux and indigestion was linked to their problem but rarely, if ever, did their doctor agree.

Please pardon any irrelevancies in the following.

Good luck.


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From: Mike Brewer  ***@**** (thats thirteen after the K)

03 March 2001

Since posting the stuff below on 19 January 2001, I

[Global]

I noticed Scottish Lass's comments about possible link
between Vioxx and PVC's
I began using Vioxx in March of 2002. I started having
many PVC's around that time. I asked my primary and cardiol
ogist if patients were mentioning this and neither one
confirmed any anecdotes.
I have had some PVC's over the course of my cardiac history
but they increased to about 8 thousand a day. I was checked
out and had a drop in ejection fraction also.
Anyone else wonder about a link between Vioxx and PVC's?


Global

[CCF-M.D.-KE]

Dear ScottishLass,

You have been experiencing what sounds like palpitations, the sensation of one's own heart beat. I think the holter monitor study and the echocardiogram are both good ideas which will help determine whether or not a rhythm disturbance is causing your symptoms. The holter monitor is a device which is worn for 24 to 48 hours and monitors the heart's electrical activity. The echocardiogram is an ultrasound  which will evaluate the heart for structural abnormalities that may predispose you to the symptoms you are experiencing. I would also recommend avoiding caffeine, tobacco, alcohol and stimulants found in decongestants.

Ultracet is an analgesic which can cause dependence and withdrawal symptoms(anxiety and palpitations) if abruptly discontinued. This medication is also infrequently associated with palpitations and rhythm disturbances. I would recommend discussing with your doctor being weaned off of this medication.

Thanks for your question,


CCF-MD-KE