Fast heart beat - normal?

I have been on Tenormin for irregular heart beat and chest pain. I saw my doctor a week ago and he described to me that he think my problem is in the esophagus and that spasm in the esophagus cause the nerve behind the esophagus to overreact and to send wrong signals to my heart, that cause irregular heart beat and chest pain. He decided to take me off Tenormin and put me on Trepiline 10mg. He said that would make the nerve less active. He also booked me for a GI Scope. My question is: My heartrate on Tenormin was 59 beats per minute. Now my resting heart rate is 94 beats per minute (chest pain is worse than before). Is it normal to have such a fast resting heart rate? Thanks!!!

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

Hello,

My heartrate on Tenormin was 59 beats per minute. Now my resting heart rate is 94 beats per minute (chest pain is worse than before). Is it normal to have such a fast resting heart rate? Thanks!!!

Yes, some people kind of over react when beta blockers are stopped.  This will probably subside over the next few days.  It might be worth calling your doctors office to tell them.  Sometimes we will half the dose before stopping it completely to allow the body to get use to not having the beta blocker.

Good luck and thanks for posting.

[rubyblue]

Thankyou very much doctor! My heart rate is down to 84 today. So it looks like my body is starting to get used to not having the beta blocker anymore. The chest pain is also better. So it was just my body adjusting to the change. Thanks!!!

[ziggy123]

[ziggy123]

I just got back from my stress test for an irregular heartbeat and now I am even more stressed because I do not think that I did it the right way. I was very anxious going into the test, what is it called "white coat syndrom (syndrome)? My beginning pulse rate was 112. I started out not walking properly on the treadmill as I was not following the pace, but trying to push it with my gait. I got the hang of it, they upped the pace. I guess to try and calm me down the technician started talking to me and asking questions. I answered and kept going. As they got the the thrid increase my legs were getting sore, no dizziness, chest pain, slight shortness of breath. I said how much longer and their response was, you can stop now if you want, so I said sure I'll stop. Should I have kept on going until the end? Now I am worried that it will show I am unfit. It not getting to the third level regarded as a failure? Can you repeat it if you did not do it right? ARGH!!!!!!!!!

[starr0709]

I am a 27-yr. old female. My resting heart rate stays around 100bpm. I have been having chest pains for the past 48+ hours. I am seeing an endocronologist for a follow-up appointment on Tuesday. He did bloodwork to check my thyroid, and he told me that if my thyroid is normal then he is going to refer me to a cardiologist for my fast heart rate. I worked out on Monday so I'm thinking I could have pulled a chest muscle. Also, I had the blood work done about 2 weeks ago; could this be phlebitis? The last time I had blood drawn, I got an imflamed vein and had to be on antibiotics. Do you think if my chest pain was something serious, that it would be unbearable? I have still been able to work and sleep through the night, but my pain is at a level 4-6 and it is constant (dull, sometimes shooting). Thanks.