Should I ask for increased dose of Norpace?

I have been taking Norpace CR 100 mg. a.m. and 100 mg. pm for about 3 weeks.  I started out at half the dose they wanted because I am very sensitive to drugs and had so many initial side effects the nurse told me to stay at my present dose.  I am on a 30 day event monitor.  Things have settled down pretty much, and I'm wondering if I should ask about increasing my dose (there is a 150 mg. capsule) just a bit more while I'm still on the monitor.

I had one bad spell of severe dizziness that they did not link to the drug, and some on and off muscle aches, and gastro-intestinal upset.  

I still get bouts of rapid beats and irregular beats, though nothing sustained, and mostly when I'm rushing around and/or stressed. In general it is helping, but I can occasionally feel the irregular beats trying to break through.

I don't see the cardiolgist until July 15, 2011.  Should I ask for an increase in my dose, or wait and see how it goes on this low dose?  I am retiring by the end of June and expect my stress level to decrease immensely.  Any thoughts?  

Should I ask for my dose to be increaed

[Jerry_NJ]

If I follow you, you are on 1/2 the dose the cardiologist would have liked to put you one.  Given you 3 week experience that suggest it is helping, it seems reasonable to me to discuss going up a step, to 150 not the 200 full dose, twice a day.  

I don't (or haven't yet) had any real bad side effects from heart drugs. They haven't done me a lot of good either, or more correctly they have been able to put me in normal sinus rhythm.  So, given my relatively good experience with drugs, I'd go to the full dose as soon as possible.

[DeltaDawn23]

So, your drugs have put you back in NSR?  Do you mind my asking what drug you're on or if it is an anti-arrythmic?  I'm feeling better in general, good days and bad, but I think many of my issues are due to work stress.  My goals are to stay out of Afib and the ER and feel better.  So far it's working.

Thanks for the input.  I will discuss it with the cardiologist for sure when I see him in July.  Not sure if I want to ask for a higher dose now, as the nurse or nurse practioner are the only avenues available to me until I see the doctor, and I'd really like his input, face to face, not thru the "I'll leave a note for the doctor," route.

[Jerry_NJ]

Anti-arrythmics only kept me in SNR following electrocardioversion.  I used Propafenone 225 mg 3 times a day, also used the stronger Rythmol SR 425 mg twice a day.  

I am now in permanent AFib, and my symptoms are considered too mild to consider trying an ablation.  I was willing to try as I am not able to jog for exercise when in AFib.  I can walk, even miles if not a steep grade, but no heavy duty exercise.  I am on HR control with BB and CCB and clot mitigation with warfarin. I am also a senior, so....