Alternatives for SVT? Risks for NOT taking meds?

[EllenMarieS]

Two SVT related questions:

1) I've only experienced SVT one time a few weeks ago.  What are the risks for not taking anything to prevent a recurrence?  Wouldn't it be OK to not take anything?  Isn't it likely that I won't have a recurring episode for a long time?

2) Are there any alternatives to regular blood pressure medication for treating SVT? I was taking metoprolol tartrate 25 mg twice daily, but this caused me to experience chest pressure.  My cardiologist took me off of it and put me on a low dose of cardizem.  I haven't experienced any ill effects so far from cardizem, but I would much rather find a natural treatment for SVT like acupuncture or natural medicines.  I know that bearing down can help stop an episode of it... what else can be done naturally?

Thanks.  I can't believe I'll have to take something for SVT for my whole life...and I'd like more information.  

[ireneo]

This is something to discuss with your cardio. You didn't mention the severity of your SVT episode. Did it last a long time, did you have to be cardioverted at the hospital, what was the rate? All that makes a difference.

I have various arrhythmias but choose not to take medications. I've had PSVT all my life and have learned to live with it. After having 3 ablations, my PSVT times are not bad: they never go over 200 bpm and most last less than a minute. I do have some Diltiazem that I can use as a "pill in the pocket" med. That is, I only use it when my heart is being exceptionally bad. I did that last Saturday because I was having tachy bursts every few minutes and chest pain.

Talk with your doctor again. See if PIP would be OK for you or if some day you may need to consider an ablation.

[Wisconsin2007]

I'd rely more on the advice of my cardiologist than anyone providing advice here - your cardiologist has years of training and know your case far better than anyone here can.  So ask your cardio before you make any decisions.

But to the question at hand, I would imagine it would depend on a lot of factors - how fast the rhythm was, how long it lasted, what symptoms you were experiencing at the time, what the source of the SVT is, etc.  For example, symptomatic WPW is not something you want to go without treatment for.  But if you have limited PAT, you might be just fine without treatment.  That's the boat I'm sailing in right now.  

[EllenMarieS]

Thanks, ireneo and Wisconsin 2007 for your helpful responses.  I know my cardiologist will be the best person to answer my questions, but she doesn't have me scheduled for a follow-up appt. until September.  

My episode of SVT occured about a month ago, possibly triggered by relatively low blood levels of potassium.  My heart rate went from normal (70s, 80s) to 200 bpm all at once.  I went to the ER and it took three intravenous doses of some medication beginning with the letter "A" to bring the rate down to about 110-120 bpm.  They also gave me a metoprolol tartrate and prescribed that to me for me to take twice daily (pretty sure on recommendation by the cardiologist on call who is now my cardiologist).  They also told me to drink a lot of OJ and eat bananas to boost my potassium levels!  

As I mentioned, the metoprolol tartrate (25 mg morning, 25 mg evening) caused chest pressure -- I went to the ER for that and was admitted a few hours later since the pressure wasn't going away.  It angers me that no one there -- nor the cardiologist on call the next day or the cardiologist nurse from my cardiologist's office -- realized that the cause of the chest pressure could have been (was in fact) due to the medication they'd prescribed a couple of weeks before.  I guess they had to cover their bases to make sure I wasn't having a heart attack,  and I am so grateful I wasn't (I was pretty sure I wasn't but the sensation of pressure was strange and unusual).  They suggested the chest pressure being related to reflux, asthma or stress -- but did not suggest the possibility of the medication itself causing the problem.  Metoprolol tartrate also brought my heart rate too low (50s) so I was tired much of the time.

I like the idea of using the Diliatazem as a "PIP" as needed (that's what I'm taking now, 30mg twice daily -- the cardiologist finally figured out that the pressure was being caused by metoprolol t. and took me off it).  Of course, I will not do anything without my cardiologist's supervision.  Perhaps I'll try to get an appt. with her sooner rather than later to explore this option.  She's already mentioned ablation to me.  She suspects that some sensations I'd had since the first episode could have been recurring instances of SVT -- but that the metoprolol was keeping it under control.

Thanks again for your comments -- they were very helpful.