Help! Pacs ..just quit all meds, Rythmol...

[Kim_1970]

My friends,

I just quit Rythmol today.  Was on it for a month.  I have tried several meds for arrythmia (svt).

The first one I tried (Metaprolol), I got tinitus after a week.  Dr's did not seem to care. Was on that 3 months then switched to new EP Dr and he gave me Corgard and Rythmol.  Weaned off Corgard and stayed on Rythmol which seemed to work good for my heart. BP is around 128/76 pulse 74.  :)

Actually felt pretty good except the tinitus and my ears. They ache sometimes, and ring. Especially in L ear.
Went to ent dr and realized I have hearing loss and tinitus and I was not exposed to any loud noises just the potentially ototoxic drug metaprolol.
After doing more research I see that Rythmol is also potentially ototoxic.

I wanted off all meds as I do not want to go deaf???  
I want the ringing to go away and maybe my hearing in that ear will get better?  I am taking Lipo Flaviniod for that (vitamin) No one really knows what will happen?  Go figure, doctors not knowing...

Cut my Rythmol dose in half last night and this am and now have not been on Rythmol since 6am.  I had a busy day filled with running around for 3 kids, teacher parent meeting etc.

My heart has been skipping around all afternoon.  More than yesterday on the med.
Is this rebound?  Dr said I could quit cold turkey even though I halved dose 1 day.

My arrythmia is Atrial Tachy and I have pacs.
  
I am wearing a 30 day Cardionet monitor so that is good. But what do I do about all these  crazy palps?
Just laid down for 15 min and that helped a tiny bit.  Now, I have to cook dinner etc... :(

Will they subside?  Should I go on valium/zanax to ride these out before ablation? (3-16)
I feel so jumpy and at not at ease.
I have tried all the natural things for all this. In fact I just made myself a Calm brand Magnesium drink.
I will try anything to help.  
I want to stay off heart meds since (FOR ME) they seem to have done more harm than good. Wish the "magic" pill would have worked.
THANKS FOR ANY ADVICE....help......

Kim

[Kim_1970]

My atrial tachy lasts 1-3 hrs and was upwards of 200-250 bpm. :( when I have a "spell".
From what I've noticed is I would  be having pacs for a few hours, and they would make me nervous and anxious that seemed to make it worse and then I would get this slam feeling that would result in the tach spell. I used to think they were panic attacks but after holter they showed they were real. I do not hypervenalate. I try to stay calm. At first I only had them 3-4 times a year. Then around the time my daughter had spine surgery my bp went up and I had them more frequently. They were like a wave the way they came over me.  I became very fearful of them as I become very faint and shake. (panic sets in)
They are very frightening.
EP said Focal Atrial Tachy and is
NOT life threatening. How could it not
be if I get so faint. It used to feel
like the blood flow was cutting out of my head. My neck, head and face would throb and then I would almost black out. Caught one of those on holter.  I finally learned-  I would just lay down and did not get as dizzy.
Meds were kinda working but i never had tinitus ever before. How odd 1 week after?? Pharm guy said it reduces blood flow pressure and can affect ochlear nerve??
So plan is to take one Metaprolol
If I have an event.  
Pacs a little better today I am trying to
ignore them.  They happen about every couple hours and skip around for several - 15 min. Sometimes a little lightheaded but NOT like tachycardia spell.
Ears? Well i have been under stress but now the urgent stress is over and life back
to "normal". I sleep good, have supportive family and do not feel stressed beyond my limits.
I wonder how long before tinitus goes away?
I am just not sure what caused it?
I look forward to getting through this season in my life. THANKS FOR ANSWERING.
I am learning to look past pacs and say no big deal....
Maybe will take a benzodiazepine if I feel like anxiety taking a leap.
I do see a counselor. Have been since few years ago when this started.
I have learned about anxiety and what appropriate anxiety is and inappropriate anxiety is.  Also that anxiety can make us feel horrible but not 200 bpm for hours.   I can now laugh at that!!

[is_something_wrong]

Tinnitus is often caused by stress and tense muscles? I didn't know metoprolol was toxic to the ears, though it in rare cases may cause tinnitus.

How many PACs do you have each day? How much atrial tachycardia? How rapid is it? How long does it last?

Almost everyone with PACs may be at "risk" for getting a little run of PACs now and then. I often feel that in the morning, when my heart rate is in the low 50s, if I think about all the work I have to do this day. Suddenly I can feel the heart rate double for a short time, like 5 beats or so.

[DeltaDawn23]

I agree, a low dose Xanax should help.  Could you try another beta blocker?  I've been on Atenolol for about 9 years and no ear issues.  From what I've read, you may need some heart drugs until your heart heals from the ablation.  Good luck.

[achillea]

You're troubled by palpitations and ask if you should try antianxiety meds like valium/xanax to ride things out before ablation.

Well, you describe yourself as jumpy and not at ease, so you're clearly suffering from anxiety, which I know is tremendously uncomfortable.  So what do you use for anxiety?  Stuff that works, and that doesn't include 'natural' things, apart possibly from meditation.  But it's hard to find time for meditation when you're running around after young kids and leading a busy normal life.

I'd recommend the xanax or ativan for the short haul.  You really will feel a lot better about 20 minutes after taking one of these little tablets, and no, you won't turn into a druggie because of this.

I don't know how long it will be until your ablation, but if it's going to be months, then I'd suggest a visit or two with a nice counselor or (better) a shrink for advice about dealing with anxiety over the longer term.