Re: PVC's

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD-APS on April 11, 1999 at 15:53:58:

In Reply to: PVC's posted by Roxanne on April 09, 1999 at 13:10:35:






I started this Rythmol on the advise of my Cardiologist because the beta-blokers were not helping with my symptoms. I have PVC's every couple beats all day, I find it hard to do many things, sleep, play, relax, etc... I see an EP Doc next week to make sure that these PVC's are not dangerous. My Cardio doc does not think they are but to be on the safe side. I now I'm having second thoughts about this Rythmol because I have read it could have potential bad side affects. I have only been on it for 2 days and PVC's are less today but since I have not been on it that long do I have to wean off of it???  Do you think it is safer for me to take the Rythmol till Tuesday or discontinue it and deal with the PVC's??? Do people just walk around throwing this many PVC's with nothing  happening to them??? What are your thoughts on these so called benign PVC's. Should I worry??? Thanks again: Roxanne




Dear Roxanne,
PVCs are a benign condition, they occur in all of us, unfortunately some of us are more aware, and more "bothered" by them than others.  Beta blockers, probably the safest of the antiarrhythmic drugs, are often given in situations where the patient literally can not stand the PVCs, i.e. they significantly reduce the patient's quality of life.  All other antiarrhythmic drugs carry significant risk of themselves producing an arrhythmia, and surely one that is more serious than PVCs, hence such drugs (rhythmol for instance) are not recommended (the risks of the drug in this situation OUTWEIGH the potential benefits!)
Another very unsafe practice is a patient starting or stopping an antiarrhythmic drug on his/her own, as these are the times when an arrhythmia is most likely to occur!
Your question is inappropriate for this, an informational forum, so call your doctor and ask him/her their recommendation.  Of course, the EP doctor is a specialist in arrythmias and antiarrhythmic medications, so I am glad to see you will be evaluated as such.
I hope this information is useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for
general purposes only.  Only your physician can provided specific diagnoses and therapies.
Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck!
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please
call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at
www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the
cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your
cardiac problem.