need for norpace? since ablation

I have/had ventricular tachycardia..with no heart disease..also have supraventracular tachycardia.  In 2001 I had ablation for vt which was partially successful..one blip after blood pressure fell so not sure totally gone...and could not get to supraventricular arrythmia because of loss of blood pressure..  I was in intensive care for a couple of days to keep blood pressure before doctor put me on norpace cr 150 twice a day.

I have been on it ever since and am now 71 years old.  Recently I was given biaxin by my family doctor not aware of the possible interaction and I began to retain after only two of them.  Since then I have not been able to get my blood pressure under control again.  I was on avalide, toprol xl, procardia xl along with the norpace and had to take potassium because it would go too low for the norpace.  I have not been able to take avalide since the episode and am now on Avapro which works bettermost of the time than using avalide.  

None of this makes sense to me or to my doctors since I should be back where this all began the middle of March when I took this antibiotic and had this episode.

I want to go off norpace and try ternormin again since that is the first medication I was on when this first started in 1981.  I was on tambacor until after the ablation but had a lot of side effects from it.  My doctor says he thinks I am okay since I have had nothing but pvc's since the ablation and then only when potassium was low or blood pressure was too high.

I am very concerned about the blood pressure and my resting heart rate is 54 to 60.  It is not under any control at all.  At times it has gone to 173 over 103, but normally about 148 to 160 over 83 to 96.  I have clonidine left over from when I was given it several years ago when I had a problem and when I take it ..sometimes the blood pressure does go down to normal.

Since coming to South Carolina from Indiana my medications have been the same and they did not know the problems I had when younger trying to get my blood pressure under control.  I have had to be hospitalized for it going to high about five times until we found the right meds that were working fairly well.

I am thinking about going back to Indiana to see my old cardiologist, but also considering seeing a doctor at Cleveland Clinic.  

[DeltaDawn23]

I am on Norpace, just started 2 weeks ago.  I read the warning about the antibiotics and thought someone might have mentioned that to me.  When I moved from Michigan to Florida in the 90's I was on bp meds and developed dizziness and was tottering around in the heat.  A nurse friend later told me the heat will make your blood pressure go down until your body adjusts to it, and I was on the bp meds besides.  I wonder if the change in climate could have anything to do with your bp going down?  I've heard good things about Duke University, is that far from you?  I've always heard a teaching university medical center is the place to go when you have a complicated problem.  I haven't heard of that many people on Norpace.  My cardiologist thinks it has fewer side effects than some of the other anti-arrythmics.  I have heard nothing but good things about the Cleveland Clinic.

My problem is Afib.  Is your potassium going down because of the Norpace?  The doctor has said nothing about any kid of testing, I'm just supposed to see him in about 2 months.  Have you ever had severe dizziness as a side effect of the Norpace?  I had a 3 hours spell a few days ago and happened to be at my primary care doctor's office when it started.  He checked my blood pressure and heart rate and said it was not cardiovascular, but rather he thought, side effects from the Norpace.  I was hot, sweating and nauseous.  I am just now, 2 days later, starting to feel normal.

Any advice or experiences you've had on the Norpace would be appreciated.

I hope you get it under control.  Good luck:)  

[DeltaDawn23]

Just happened to think -- did you find out what antibiotics ARE safe while on Norpace?  I take Amoxicillin when I go to the dentist, guess I better call and find out from the cardiologist's office.  I also don't know about having dental work done while on the coumadin.

Before this incident, how did you feel on the Norpace?  I am hoping I will feel better as time goes on.  I have some muscle pains in my back and shoulders and the dizziness.

I think you can fax your records to doctor's at different hospitals and get an opinion.  I read that on this message board.

Keeping you in my thoughts.