Re: atenolol

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - MTR on December 19, 1998 at 17:21:06:

In Reply to: atenolol posted by Wayne Simpson on December 17, 1998 at 11:21:48:






I am 45 year old male, nonsmoker, nondrinker who had been an international athlete 20 years ago and who has remained fairly active since then.
I have undergone a third series of investigations to determine the origin of my arrhythmia problem. Two previous investigations by the same cardiologist
diagnosed my problem as benign arrhythnia. I have 20 irregular beats per minute or 28,000 irregular beats in a 24 hour period. I have sought a second opinion and
a third series of standard heart tests. This time however, I underwent a exercise stress test with the injection of cardiolite both before and during the test. Interestingly,
this time, the arrythmias did not cease during the exercise part of the test which they did during the previous two bouts of exercise stress testing. As well, I have had an
echocardiogram and a holter examination. Although I do not have the definitive results of this third test session, the second opinion cardiologist does not think that my
symptoms are exclusively related to heart dysfunction. She has consulted a neurologist and I feel that I will be passed on to him for further investigation. I should mention that
was prescribed atenolol for the arryythmia problems. I has significant side effects, including; depression, edema, bradycardia, hypotension, weakness/fatigue, and most
significantly, brochospasm. I have never been diagnosed with contraindicated asthmatic problems. The atenolol did not affect the irregular beating of the heart and has since been
discontinued.
Q:Could there conceivably be a neurological answer to my arrythmias and seizures (PVT)and is there a type of medication which I could take to reduce my symptoms without the
significant side effects? Are degenerative diseases such as ALS, MS, Hodgkins, Parkinsons, etc. indicated with problms like arrythmias? And, should I be tested for respiratory
diseases like asthma?
Thank you for your consideration.
W.S.



  
Dear Wayne, thank you for your question.  I'm confused by one issue - seizures - which you mention at the end of your question.  Do you have seizures and if so, what is the cause thought to be?  Beyond that, I think that you have benign premature beats (palpitations).  If your echocardiogram and exercise stress test are normal, then you do not have structural heart disease and your premature beats are thus considered to be benign.  This means that premature beats will not harm you, but may be a nuisance.  Beta blockers can suppress premature beats, but have many side effects as you have found out.  I doubt that you have a neurologic disorder from the information you've provided and even though you had bronchospasm with beta blockers, I doubt that you have asthma.  Also, if you are able to exercise without shortness of breath, asthma would be unlikely.  The most important thing to do with benign premature beats is to focus your attention elsewhere and not to dwell on every premature beat that you experience.  Since you have many important questions, I suggest that you speak to your cardiologist again since I am unable to give specific answers in this forum.
I hope you find this information useful.  Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional 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.