Re: atrial tachycardia

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - MTR on March 21, 1999 at 21:07:48:

In Reply to: atrial tachycardia posted by kim on March 21, 1999 at 17:46:29:






I WAS RECENTLY DIAGNOSED AS SUFFERING WITH ATRIAL TACHYCARDIA AFTER HAVING PALPATATIONS FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
I HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY ARE NOT LIFE THREATENING AND CAN BE CONTROLLED WITH DRUGS.  I HAVE BEEN PUT ON A DAILY DOSE OF 2 X 50MG ATENOLOL.  1 IN THE MORNING AND 1 IN THE EVENING.
COULD YOU TELL ME GENERALLY MORE ABOUT ATRIAL TACHYCARDIA?
IS IT LIKELY TO GET WORSE WITH AGE?  I AM AT PRESENT 35.
WILL THE DRUGS HAVE ADVERSE SIDE EFFECTS OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME? I HAVE BEEN TOLD I WILL HAVE TO TAKE THEM FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
AT PRESENT I FEEL AWFUL TAKING THEM.  VERY SICK, LOSS OF APETITE, TIRED.
I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR REPLY.
KIM




Dear Kim, thank you for your question. Atrial tachycardia is a rhythm disturbance of the atria of the heart where an abnormal, fast rhythm is initiated from a focus in the atria and is sustained through a reentry loop circuit from the atria to the ventricles back to the atria.  Generally, atrial tachycardia can be a nuisance, but is very rarely a serious problem.  Atenolol is a beta-blocker that is designed to limit the severity and frequency of atrial tachycardia, but rarely has long-term side effects.  Most people tolerate atenolol well, but there may be another type of beta blocker that wouldn't cause you to have such side effects. You will need to speak to your cardiologist about that.  Usually, atrial tachycardia does not worsen with age.  
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.