hard heart beats, dilantin and catapres

Hi - I just wrote you a message but an error came up so I hope it isn't duplicated.

I have a mitral valve prolapse with a 3+ regurgitation and some calcification from the aorta to the mitral valve.  I am on BP meds that control any arrhythmias. Other than the MVP, my heart is considered in good condition.  In mid-Sept., I had a small stroke resulting in some simple, partial seizures.

Last night I was awakened 3 times with a VERY hard heart beat, lasting for quite awhile.  The pace seemed similar to my regular daytime beat.  I have felt hard beats before, during the daytime, but not as strong as this and I have not been awakened with this before.
Q: What could this be?
Q: Is this something I should call my cardiologist about, wait and see if it continues, or just forget about?

Since the seizures in Sept, I have been placed on dilantin.  I have been on Catapres TTS-1 since around May, 1999 and Catapres TTS-2 since September.  The catapres patch has always itched to some degree. No big deal.  In the last 2 weeks, each time I have removed the patch, hives have developed where the patch had been.  Not much itch.  They scab and leave a big red square that is dry and red for at least 2 weeks.  I can't find info on the reactions between catapres and dilantin.  The dilantin is the only med that has been changed since before Sept.
Q: Do you know of any catapres-dilantin reactions?
Q: Any other ideas?

Thanks,
kd

[CCF CARDIO MD - DLB]

It sounds like some sort of arrhythmia - if it was bad enough to wake you up, you need to get it evaluated soon, by your cardiologist. It sounds like you have a skin sensitivity to the patch - this is not that unusual, but you probably need to be switched over to another medication for your blood pressure.