Beta Blockers and Palpitations

[Sue143]

Hello Again! I want to thank you so much for giving us the oppurtunity to ask questions here and somebody actually listens. I posted a question here recently how I started taking Toprol xl 25mg after having A-fib for the first time. I had a large increase in palps. from my normal of 1-10 a day(ocassionally more and sometimes none!), to 200-300 a day and one day I had 2000+. So they switched me to Atenol 25mg. I was ok with a small amount of palps. for 2 wks and then they started to get worse again. I had alot of them yesterday and they triggered tachycardia. I went to the ER and the Dr. there tells me that I would just like to think I would be better with no meds. but that I probably have just gotten worse over time. So I call my Dr. who is new to my case because of new insurance and he tells me "Beta- blockers will not do that." He told me to up my dose of Atenol to 50mg. I told him I was concerned because of all the palps and I think they will get worse. He says that can't happen. My resting heart rate at home is 60. How much lower can it go?
I've had palps for 6 1/2 yrs and they only got this bad after the a-fib incident and I started to take Toprol. I don't know whether to increase the dose and see what happens or stop the meds and see if they slow down again. I'm worried either way. He did say it doesn't look like I have WPW. They think my palps just coincidently got worse after the a-fib.
I see another Dr. next Thurs. as long as they don't cancel my appt. again.
Thanks so much! Sue

[sheryl1945]

I have to wonder along with you...why are some of us so very aware of our hearts and others not?  I've heard many people say they can't feel their heartbeat at all.  Not so with me!  Perhaps we're just sensitized to it?

[sheryl1945]

Hi hank...I find your posts very comforting.  The atenolol slows my heartrate beautifully...but I swear it's causing my pac's.  I never got pac's before I took this med.  My doctor and cardiologist keep telling me not to worry about it.  Sometimes I can cope, but now my obsession is back and I'm freaking.  I get so scared!  Wish I could get my mind off my heart.  Good luck to you; you are a very helpful person.

[sheryl1945]

I'm also on tenormin (atenolol); have been for about 8 years now.  I used to get the pounding heart after I ate; not now, and what a relief!  I don't get the pounding sensation at all really, unless I'm very anxious.  However, my pac's seemed to INCREASE with tenormin!  I'm just taking it one day at a time; my heart tests have all been normal (thank God).  I can get obsessive about my heart.  Good luck!  Glad you're more comfortable.

[sheryl1945]

I get skipped beats whenever I bend over.  I'm quite active (I'm a walker) and the walking doesn't seem to cause the skipped beats. Don't know why I get them when I bend over, but they sure do scare me.  Have had this condition now for 8 and a half years; all heart tests have come back normal, thankfully.  Just wanted to let you know you're not alone in your fear!

[GES]

Hi, to everyone.  Where do I start.  I am a 33year old male and I have been extremely active my whole life.  I am very athletic and I have an extremely stressful job.  I have had PVC's for approximately 8 years.  I have had all the tests, EKG, stress tests, echos, holter monitor.  I have noticed in the last year that the PVCs seemed to increase.  I am an avid runner and weightlifter and after I work out I get a lot more of the "skipped heartbeats".  My doctor put me on TRoprol 50mg once a day and it doesnt really help. I have been really fighting not to start on any heart drugs but the skipped beats are driving me crazy so I tried it. Does anyone get skipped beats during a workout? I get them when lifting weights and during a run.  My doctor doesnt seem too concerned.  It bothers me tremendously.

[jkf]

Thanks for responding.  That really fast eratic hearbeat really freaks me out too.  Ususally I feel a very long pause prior to it starting. A much longer pause than the pvc pause. That also freaks me out.  My doctor told me that because it happens so rarely that It doesn't warrant an ep study. The longest it has ever gone is about 15 minutes.  Most of the time it stops in less than 5 minutes.  Once or twice  year is enought of that type.  Thanks again.