Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Heart Rhythm (Expert Forum)
Calcium Channel Blockers for Tachycardia
Answered by
Michael J. McWilliams, M.D. - atrial fibrillation, Pacemakers, Defibrillators, Arrhythmias (SVT, VT), PVC/PAC, Ablation
Wilmington Health Associates
Wilmington - NC
Questions in the Heart Rhythm forum cover topics that include heart rhythm issues, arrhythmia, irregular heartbeat, implanted defibrillators, pacemakers, and tachycardia.
Calcium Channel Blockers for Tachycardia
by Jack54, Jul 29, 2008 02:15PM
Currently I have aggressive CAD, 6 stents and a history of an mi and a stroke. I may be having CABG fairly soon due to the max number of stents in my LAD (4).
7 years ago, I was diagnosed with tachycardia, explained to me as pathological rapid heart rate of unknown cause. I was placed on a beta blocker immediately. My resting heart rate was around 105 bpm.
Beta blockers have totally ruined my life, as well as they have save it. What irony...
My question is, can I find a CCB that can take the place of a beta blocker that will slow my heart rate down? I already take Norvasc, a CCB to try to reverse diastolic dysfunction. My LVEDP is 27 mmhg.
I am currently taking 20 mg of Coreg CR (controlled released), an ACEi, Plavix, Zocor (intermittently due to adverse reactions, same as with all statins) and Norvasc.
I react differently to many medicines than other people and as I get older the more unpredictable I am, when it comes to side affects of new drugs like antibiotics and heart medications, like ARBs, which I cannot take.
I am desperate to wean myself off of Coreg and start another CCB for the tachycardia.
Thanks for reading,
Jack
7 years ago, I was diagnosed with tachycardia, explained to me as pathological rapid heart rate of unknown cause. I was placed on a beta blocker immediately. My resting heart rate was around 105 bpm.
Beta blockers have totally ruined my life, as well as they have save it. What irony...
My question is, can I find a CCB that can take the place of a beta blocker that will slow my heart rate down? I already take Norvasc, a CCB to try to reverse diastolic dysfunction. My LVEDP is 27 mmhg.
I am currently taking 20 mg of Coreg CR (controlled released), an ACEi, Plavix, Zocor (intermittently due to adverse reactions, same as with all statins) and Norvasc.
I react differently to many medicines than other people and as I get older the more unpredictable I am, when it comes to side affects of new drugs like antibiotics and heart medications, like ARBs, which I cannot take.
I am desperate to wean myself off of Coreg and start another CCB for the tachycardia.
Thanks for reading,
Jack
Doctor's Answer
by Michael J. McWilliams, M.D., Jul 29, 2008 10:21PM
, Jul 29, 2008 10:21PM
Jack,
Calcium channel blockers will slow down your heart rate but are not proven to decrease your risk of cardiovascular events in the post MI setting whereas beta blockers have been shown to decrease your risk of cardiovascular events. If you didn't have a history of coronary artery disease, a CCB would be a much more attractive option. Because you have coronary disease, probably best to stick with what has been proven to decrease your risk of events -- the beta blocker.
I hope this helps.
Calcium channel blockers will slow down your heart rate but are not proven to decrease your risk of cardiovascular events in the post MI setting whereas beta blockers have been shown to decrease your risk of cardiovascular events. If you didn't have a history of coronary artery disease, a CCB would be a much more attractive option. Because you have coronary disease, probably best to stick with what has been proven to decrease your risk of events -- the beta blocker.
I hope this helps.
Recent Videos
RSS
Expert Activity
Related Expert Forums
Related Communities
I am 55, the mi was ~6 years ago. I really don't have a life because of fatigue and weakness, so I don't know if statistics, or a roll of the dice is best for me. I have two or three other goofy diagnoses, CFS and FM, reactivated EBV....
Again thanks so much for "your truth". I was expecting more of a butt kicking, but feel many things are possible from your tone. Now if I could just find an agreeable cardiologist :)
Great work you do here,
Jack