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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Neurocardiogenic syncope
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Neurocardiogenic syncope
by GVH, Feb 10, 2003 12:00AM
My son is a 6'7 college basketball player. Approximatley a year ago he suddenly started feeling light headed as if he were going to faint.His legs also feel like rubber.After months of doctoring the tilt table test confirmed he had NCS.His BP went to 0/0 in five minutes.His first med was Inderal,which did nothing.He was then put on 1/2 pill 2 times a day of Metoprolol.This made him very tired at first,but then seemed to help for about a week and then everything crashed.They then added Proamatine along with the Metoprolol and worked up to 3 pills 3 times per day(45 Mg).This seemed to help for a few days and then went to worse than he had ever felt.After quiting the medication within a day he felt much better,but still can only play for 2 or 3 minutes at a time.He is doing a tilt treatment (standing against the wall) and trying to work up to 30 minutes.His fist time he only made about 2 1/2 minutes.He is now up to 22 minutes at a time.Heat will also bring on the symptoms,as well as working out and running.Just wondering if there is anything new has been found since the last forum answers.
Thank you
Thank you
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT, Feb 18, 2003 12:00AM
Sounds like he's doing all of the right things. Beta blockers (class of drugs that include metoprolol and inderal) are still the mainstay of medical treatment at this time. Tilt training or repeat tilt table testing (about 2 sessions/day for a four week period - but variable with each patient) has also been shown to be effective. An older, but still helpful technique is to raise the entire head of the bed 45 degrees (from the floor, not just raising the pillows). Supposedly it increases circulation to the adrenal glands to put out more aldosterone, which promotes sodium retention and thus theoretically helps to maintain blood pressure (or something to that effect). Finally, if everything fails or he is not getting the desired effects despite maximal medical treatment, a permament pacemaker may be considered. Good luck.
Member Comments (3)
by justy, Feb 12, 2003 12:00AM
Has he been checked out for Chiari Malformation? I was told by many neurologists and neurosurgeons that I did not have chiari, and was finally given a cine MRI at my request, which showed that I had absolutely no csf flow around my brain. There is a Chiari clinic in NY that uses the tilt table test to determine Neurocardiogenic synscope as I might add, just one symptom of chiari malformation. I had less than the 3-5 mm tonsillar herniation threshold which most Dr.'s and Radiologists use to determine Chiari Malformation and was told by the Dr. who finally diagnosed it, that it was not as simple as a mere herniation. My compression was so severe it was beginning to wear away some of the bottom part of my scull.
by NatashaNicole, Feb 19, 2003 12:00AM
HI, I am 18 years old and I was diagnosed with neurocardiogenic syncope 2 years ago. I am an athlet as well and so far the only medication that has helped me, and helped me well is Ephedrine Sulfate 25 mg pills. I take one pill 3 times a day. You son might like to try it. I hope you find something that will work.
