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Arrhythmias and treatment side effects
I am 45 ys young, and was hospitalized in August from an ER visit for arrhythmias and panic/anxiety that would not calm down. I am now currently taking 50mg toprol xl, 200 mg amiodarone daily, and as needed, 5 mg diazepam. I seem to feel better, but still have off days. I am not sure what to expect long term for the particular meds I am taking. I had a 24 hour IV of Amiodarone in the hospital after an MRI and echocardiogram of my heart showed no structural abnormality. I believe the IV was to see how I responded to such a strong anti-arrhythmia medicine.
I am a worrier and have lived with the PVC's and PAC's since my early 20's. I have been seen by several cardiologists over the last 20 yrs. I have been told as ALL the others here at this site, that I have nothing to worry about, yet as I have aged, it has gotten worse. I am anxious, but it is from the feelings in my chest and often labored breathing that bring it on. My new cardiolgist is very caring and open to some alternative therapies too...but right now, until we get to a better place, he wants me to take these meds. My QUESTION: Am I in danger from taking the anti-arrhthmia drug? I want to do what ever is best for me and my children in the long run of course. This forum is very helpful, seems to calm me when I read all the posts. I am very happy to finally have the chance to post a question. I am concerned about the long term effects of the drugs and probably worry too much. On good days, I feel normal, and some days there's a weird anxious feeling, I worry about side effects being the cause. Thank you
I am a worrier and have lived with the PVC's and PAC's since my early 20's. I have been seen by several cardiologists over the last 20 yrs. I have been told as ALL the others here at this site, that I have nothing to worry about, yet as I have aged, it has gotten worse. I am anxious, but it is from the feelings in my chest and often labored breathing that bring it on. My new cardiolgist is very caring and open to some alternative therapies too...but right now, until we get to a better place, he wants me to take these meds. My QUESTION: Am I in danger from taking the anti-arrhthmia drug? I want to do what ever is best for me and my children in the long run of course. This forum is very helpful, seems to calm me when I read all the posts. I am very happy to finally have the chance to post a question. I am concerned about the long term effects of the drugs and probably worry too much. On good days, I feel normal, and some days there's a weird anxious feeling, I worry about side effects being the cause. Thank you
I am so impressed by your vast knowledge of supplements and minerals and this heart condition that we all share, unfortunately. I came across this website as I was looking for answers and alternatives to my health problem. I have begun to take chelated magnesium, fish oil and vitamin B-complex. Is there a book you recommend on this subject? Like you, I am eating more fruits & veggies. I am replacing red meat for tofu (I've got some great recipes). I just finished making some macrobiotic cookies for my children and they really liked them. I still eat salmon. These palps I have are changing my life in many ways. Some good and some bad. It's just so scary but I live. It is what I keep telling myself whenever I am having a bad episode; to LIVE. I have three kids to raise, you know. After I wore the Holter Monitor for 24 hrs. and the results came back the cardiologist told me to take Toprol XL (which works 80% of the time in most patients) or get an ablation. The beta blocker would be the lesser of the two evils. I asked him point blank if he thought I could die from this condition. He told me the Echo came back normal and there is nothing wrong with my heart. After much discussion I went against the BB. I, also, walked out of that office thinking, then why is my heart doing all these funky beats? I know my heart is telling me to start taking care of myself. Stress can be a killer. It's best to stay calm. I was relieved to find out that there are a whole bunch of us out there with the same symptoms and we are not alone. Just think, if all the tests came back okay, let's make that our peace. Doctors have so many tools to diagnose health conditions. If our symptoms were life threatening, they wouldn't send us home and say live (or die)with it. I am still interested in more information about alternatives. I appreciate all the websites you've provided on this forum. You've been awesome to me. Thanks!
Thanks for that upbeat, glad to hear you are much better, i remember you earier in the year when you were having a rotten time just like me but we are all here to tell the tail.Thank god for this site as at my worsed this site was a god send as it gave me comfort knowing we are not alone.It's funny but when i'm having less pvc's i rarely come on maybe because i want to forget about it.When i'm not having them so much i'm back to my normal self, happy go lucky great to be alive person, well guess i appreciate life more when i'm going through a good patch,the worsed for me was when i couln't walk far for 3 months way back in Jan 06 as i was getting pain and breathless with mine it was constant bygeminy never felt pain before with bygeminy rythm i've not heard many people that do on here but my cardio said that there are some that do have pain but it's not common something to do with not enough oxygen in my case. i don't get pain with single pvc's which is what i'm getting now so i feel better, getting about makes all the difference.wish you all the best.oh before i gojust want to say, i went to the doc's and he was filling out a form to do with my op, he ask me if i drank i said "yes i drink one glass of red wine twice a week is that ok"?. He said "my god that's nothing" then i said but they are pint glasses doctor,"(joke) well he saw the funny side of it.take care all.
Hello to all! I am new to this site. I happened upon it when I did a google search on chocolate and arrythmias. Reading all of your comments has made me feel so much better in knowing that I am not alone. I began experiencing arrythmias near the end of 2005 (I think). I didn't go to a Physician as they seemed to come maybe once a month and I was in denial. I was finally forced to face the truth when I had a long episode (30 minutes) during a class I take. I was sent to an E.R. and went through a gamut of tests. My EKG, cardiac enzymes, and stress echo were all normal. I listed my symptoms to the cardiologist and he felt it was probably PSVT's. My heart rate will all of a sudden become very slow and then just "take off". This leaves me feeling very faint, and I have to say, more than a little scared. He wrote a prescription for verapamil for me which I did not fill. I did not fill it because one of the side effects is a decrease in blood pressure. I run a low pressure of 100/60 and feel that I don't want to take anything that would cause it to go lower because that also increases dizziness.
I quit drinking coffee, don't drink sodas, and don't drink alcohol. I had another episode the other night which caused me to get out of bed (4:30 a.m.). It lasted 2 hours!...uggh!! I was able to semi-control it by the use of vagal maneuvers (coughing, and cold water to the face). I am now going out to the store to pick up some magnesium which I hope will help...thanks for the help.
I am sorry that so many of you are experiencing the same thing, but it truly helps me in knowing that I am not alone. Thank you so much for sharing.
Jeanithbug
I quit drinking coffee, don't drink sodas, and don't drink alcohol. I had another episode the other night which caused me to get out of bed (4:30 a.m.). It lasted 2 hours!...uggh!! I was able to semi-control it by the use of vagal maneuvers (coughing, and cold water to the face). I am now going out to the store to pick up some magnesium which I hope will help...thanks for the help.
I am sorry that so many of you are experiencing the same thing, but it truly helps me in knowing that I am not alone. Thank you so much for sharing.
Jeanithbug
sorry, the last post was addressed to you too, but it didn't post your name for some reason. Hang in there, sometimes three is a charm.
There is one more thing I'd like to add. While the cardio supplements helped eliminate the sensation of PVCs, I think the minerals found in them have almost completely eliminated the anxiety/panic attacks as well. It was a vicious circle that appears to be broken.
There is one more thing I'd like to add. While the cardio supplements helped eliminate the sensation of PVCs, I think the minerals found in them have almost completely eliminated the anxiety/panic attacks as well. It was a vicious circle that appears to be broken.
Hello, it has been awhile. And I am very happy to relate that I have had such a wonderful absence of the "sensation" of the PVCs. They are still up there, and sometimes it is bigeminy, but I don't feel them. Wow. So it's been nice not to think of them.
I'm sorry to hear that after going through an ablation, it didn't quite do the trick for you. And yes, only a sufferer knows what it is to live with such an enemy every day.
I don't think there is any standard labortaory test out there to tell that you are deficient in vitamins or minerals. So how do you know? I guess trial and error (just like they use with prescription medications, lowest dose and raise it, or try a different medication!). I just did the same with vitamins and minerals.
But after awhile found that there was a difference between synthetic vitamins and minerals and those from whole foods. You know, the difference between vitamin C as ascorbic acid and eating an orange! There are so many cofactors in an orange that makes the vitamin C work better.
I sure don't want anyone to chase something that doesn't work, but the Standard Process cardio supplements (and even increasing my iodine levels) worked for me. SP uses "whole food" supplements. I only want to suggest that everyone keep trying, something, because at 20,000+PVCs/day, if I feel better, I hope and pray the same for everyone else.
I'm sorry to hear that after going through an ablation, it didn't quite do the trick for you. And yes, only a sufferer knows what it is to live with such an enemy every day.
I don't think there is any standard labortaory test out there to tell that you are deficient in vitamins or minerals. So how do you know? I guess trial and error (just like they use with prescription medications, lowest dose and raise it, or try a different medication!). I just did the same with vitamins and minerals.
But after awhile found that there was a difference between synthetic vitamins and minerals and those from whole foods. You know, the difference between vitamin C as ascorbic acid and eating an orange! There are so many cofactors in an orange that makes the vitamin C work better.
I sure don't want anyone to chase something that doesn't work, but the Standard Process cardio supplements (and even increasing my iodine levels) worked for me. SP uses "whole food" supplements. I only want to suggest that everyone keep trying, something, because at 20,000+PVCs/day, if I feel better, I hope and pray the same for everyone else.
Hi Everyone and Angie!!
More good stuff for you!!
Use of taurine and arginine
http://george-eby-research.com/html/taurine.html
http://george-eby-research.com/html/taurine-l-arginine-arrhythmias.html
1. Make sure you do NOT take Mg in glutamate or aspartate form.
2. AVOID MSG or free glutamate- this will increase palps.
3. Watch the ratio of Mg and Ca.... some indication of too high Ca is what is causing our problems and it may be best just to use Mg for awhile.
4. some folks may have Candida- fungal infection causing arrythmias.... here is something that helps.
Potassium and Mg in Afib... I think I might have posted this elsewhere.
http://magnesiumresearchlab.com/Mg-and-Potassium-in-Lone-Atrial-Fibrillation-9-11-03.htm
This is BEAUTIFUL Stuff, guys.
More good stuff for you!!
Use of taurine and arginine
http://george-eby-research.com/html/taurine.html
http://george-eby-research.com/html/taurine-l-arginine-arrhythmias.html
1. Make sure you do NOT take Mg in glutamate or aspartate form.
2. AVOID MSG or free glutamate- this will increase palps.
3. Watch the ratio of Mg and Ca.... some indication of too high Ca is what is causing our problems and it may be best just to use Mg for awhile.
4. some folks may have Candida- fungal infection causing arrythmias.... here is something that helps.
Potassium and Mg in Afib... I think I might have posted this elsewhere.
http://magnesiumresearchlab.com/Mg-and-Potassium-in-Lone-Atrial-Fibrillation-9-11-03.htm
This is BEAUTIFUL Stuff, guys.
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