Norpace (antiarrythmic drug)

I would like to know if anyone here has ever taken Norpace or ever heard of it.  

I have been taking it since 1989 when it first came out.  I was having and continue to have benign PVCs that drive me crazy.  That's why I was given the drug.  I haven't had any problems with it, but a little over a month ago my heart really got bad with PVCs again and my heart rate was lower than usual.  Felt like it was stopping sometimes and I got a dizzy and breathless feeling.

I have never had a spell like this even though I have had problems most of my life.

I asked my cardio to lower the dosage thinking that would help.  It was lowered from 300mgs CR every day to 200mgs everyday.  My heart rate is lower than it has ever been in my life.  Resting and not resting.  I really feel bad.  The PVCs are continuing also.

Maybe the dose should have been raised?  I just don't understand how, when taking meds, the heart can change so much.  Does this happen sometimes and a change of meds are necessary?  

I have to go on a monitor again which means after 7 incidents I have to drive back to the doctor, 17 miles one way, to download the monitor.

Any imput on Norpace or having to change medications would be helpful.    

[is_something_wrong]

Hello,

More PVCs with lower heart rate is normal and a physiologic phenomenon. After a heart cell discharges, it builds up electrical power (repolarizes). The heart works a bit like domino bricks, the sinus node is the first brick falling, that makes all the other bricks fall (cells depolarize). A PVC is an unstable brick somewhere in the puzzle, falling before it's supposed to.

My point is, the longer time before sinus node fire, the higher possibility another brick somewhere starts falling. If the sinus node fails (stops working) those PVCs will keep you alive until you've got a pacemaker.

Norpace is a sodium channel blocker (class 1 antiarrhythmic drug). There are 4 classes, sodium blockers, beta blockers, potassium blockers and calcium blockers. Class 1 and 3 (sodium and potassium) are known to have somewhat more side effects than 2 and 4. All 4 have a potential to slow the heart rate (and in some people actually cause more PVCs).

I use a small dosage of beta blockers for my PACs and PVCs. It completely wipes out PACs during exercise and high adrenaline, but skipped beats (PVCs?) during rest tend to increase a little, when my heart rate is in the low 50s/high 40s. In my case, I find PACs (or whatever they are) during exercise extremely scary, and I accept the tradeoff.

I would recommend you print your question and ask your doctor what his opinion is. Maybe he can prescribe another drug with less side effects or better effect.

You should NEVER stop using drugs, or change the dosage, without asking your doctor, by the way :)

[chicky2001]

Thank you for your answer.  It does answer some of my concerns and I am complaining to my doctor hence the monitor.

What I find odd is my heart changing from 80 bpm and slowing down so much.  It is the same medication I have been taking since 1989.  It is even 50 mgs less now.  

Can a heart just change so much?  I just don't get it.  The bad thing is when I go to the cardio my blood pressure and bpm go up.  The bpm is around 80 when I'm there.  I don't understand how I can explain it any better to her. I tell her when  I am not under stress my heart has lowered in bpm way more than before.  I just don't get why.  It has never been this low before.  Resting especially.  Never.  

I wonder if I am headed for a pacemaker all of a sudden or just need to change medications.    I have had PVCs most of my life, but just don't understand this new phase.  Thanks in advance.

[PikaPika88]

My doctor let me tried "Norpace" in 1974.

[chicky2001]

Did it work?

[PikaPika88]

The Norpace was for SVT but didn't work at all.  He took it off after 2 weeks.  I got a very very naughty heart.

[chicky2001]

It just seems to me Norpace is not used much now days.I haven't heard of anyone here using it recently.  I just wonder why.