Heart skipping beats

[danx34]

I'm 34, never smoked and have had anxiety for years.  I've been on lexapro for about 2 years and the past year I've been trying to wean myself off it.  The first time I noticed my heart skipping beats was when I first decided to try to quit the lexapro.  I literally thought I was going to die.  I had just quit the lexapro cold turkey and within a week I was having so many skipped beats I couldn't function.  So I went back on it and within about 2 months I wasn't having any more skipped beats.

However tonight it started again and it's really got me panicking.  Maybe I messed up on my dosage and took too much or too little.  I take my pulse and all I feel is beat, beat, beat, pause, beat, beat, beat...  Every time it skips I feel light headed, usually cough, and it scares the hell out of me.  Which of course makes me panic more and end up getting even more skips.

Another strange symptom is I start to burp a lot.  Not sure what's causing that, it happened a year ago when I was having all the issues too.  I'm pretty sure it's just anxiety, stress, or lexapro again.  I guess I'm just looking for some reassurance.

[princess_k]

Im on Zoloft and My heart does this as well as flutter. My doctor told me as well as others that this can cause heart attacks. Im not sure because its an ssri or its this med(zoloft) I want to quit taken it but its helped well with my depression and anxiety and i dont want to feel that way again. I guess its a no win situation. I was on zoloft from 2000-2005 with no problems what so ever but the pharmacy said age changes your body so you may have a different reaction next time around. Maybe you could try a different drug.

[marshaldillon]

I posted before I saw your post. My heart skips beats shortly after I eat-no other time. It seems to stay out of rythm for 5 minutes or so. It is very scary. Once it 'smooths out' I know it won't happen again for a week or so. The fact you have to burp when this happens is what caught my eye. My doc thinks the acid reflux may be afffecting my vagal nerve. If that is the case she thinks it is benign but has me wearing a 30 day monitor to see what I am doing. You should go to your doc and get a monitor to give you peace of mind that everything is ok.

[oceanminded]

Your symptoms sound identical to mine. I'm also on Lexapro for anxiety and panic attacks. I don't think the Lexapro is the culprit for the skipped beats. It's more likely anxiety. I had all the heart tests done and they called my PVC's and PAC's benign. You may want to get a heart check up just for your peace of mind. Avoid certain factors that may aggravate the skipped beats. I also take magnesium, potassium and fish oil which may help reduce the skipped beats. The skipped beats really suck and they are never easy to get used to. But knowing they are harmless helps. Good Luck!

[Brooke_38]

Hello...

This medication being in a class better known as SSRI's usually do not cause the symptoms you are having. Of course how our bodies respond to meds is entirely unique. You mentioned that this skipped beat was noticed during your inital trial of Lexapro. But then you discontinued it, symptoms continued, you went back on it and the symptoms disappeard within 2 months.

WIth that said, I'm pretty sure that it is a conincedence and that the medication is not responsible for these "skipped" beats. Based on the symptoms you are feeling, my suspicion is that it is a premature beat that you are feeling. Whether its occuring in the Atria (upper chambers) or the Ventricles (lower chambers) cannot be determined unless it is seen on a rhythm strip or EKG. If you have not had this evaluated in the past, you may want to mention this to your Dr.

If you have no previous heart related problems and have no other identifiable risk factors that would predispose you to heart disease...than you will probably be told that these beats are a benign, menaing that they will not put you at risk of anything happening to you. SInce you are  already being treated for anxiety, this is most likely the underlying problem causing your symptoms.

Best of luck to you:)