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Question about heart medications
I am a 31 year old female with history of arrythmias pacs, pvcs, thousands per day which got horribly worse during and after pregnancy. Had a bout with atrial fib 15 hours long went into ICU and converted on my own. During which time the dr. told me to stay on my beta blocker atenolol 50 mg and added diltiazem 120 mg. I have done that for 2 years now and it seems like knock on wood no more arrythmia problems. I had read that these drugs werent that safe to take together and I started getting nervous. We are military and sometime I feel as if I get brushed to the side I needed some expert advise from you all. I really like some input about these two drugs and make sure that together they wont cause heart failure. Im the one who posted last month about a question about my slighty abnormal cardiolite nuclear stress test. Id really appreciate all your input Ive heard you all are the best and hope that if something else happens to my heart I can come have an evaluation with you all. Thanks Wailan
Excuse me for asking this in this forum, but I am brand new to this site so I need some guidance. Where and how do I post a question on this website regarding my particular concerns about my heart arrhythmias and/or my meds? Thank you to anyone who replies!
Dear Karie,
I am 42 years old [young...hehehe] and I just started taking Propranolol [Inderal] four weeks ago. I noticed a change the very first day. I am still on a very low dose.
I used to be heavier [198 pounds] and I noticed when I was heavy, I had TONS more heart arrhythmias, and they were more severe. I had a baby a year ago [she just had her first birthday last week]. Since her birth, and also going to a vegan way of eating, I have brought my weight down to 151 pounds and still losing more. [yeah!!] I hope this helps. Did I answer all your questions?
Love, Kristy
I am 42 years old [young...hehehe] and I just started taking Propranolol [Inderal] four weeks ago. I noticed a change the very first day. I am still on a very low dose.
I used to be heavier [198 pounds] and I noticed when I was heavy, I had TONS more heart arrhythmias, and they were more severe. I had a baby a year ago [she just had her first birthday last week]. Since her birth, and also going to a vegan way of eating, I have brought my weight down to 151 pounds and still losing more. [yeah!!] I hope this helps. Did I answer all your questions?
Love, Kristy
At what age did you start taking propanolol ? My b/p and heart rate run low due to mvp and so He had suggested a low dosage to start?
Did you notice a change the first day ? What about exercise: I powerwalk every day and concerned with breathing change, I have allergic asthma and make it difficult. Do you get tired more ? My girlfriend has high bp and at 50 she exercises daily but is so tired on a beta - blocker. Just looking for input.
My one question how and why and what makes a pvc change from 2 am month felt to thousands ? Weight change ? Thanks so much
Did you notice a change the first day ? What about exercise: I powerwalk every day and concerned with breathing change, I have allergic asthma and make it difficult. Do you get tired more ? My girlfriend has high bp and at 50 she exercises daily but is so tired on a beta - blocker. Just looking for input.
My one question how and why and what makes a pvc change from 2 am month felt to thousands ? Weight change ? Thanks so much
Hello Karie,
I too take Inderal (propanolol).
80 mg caps. retard - once a day.
Does wonders (for me, that is).
Tried a view others, but propanolol is ok.
You can ask your Dr. about it, and maybe it will work for you too! We do not all react the same of course, but it's worth trying.
Also I take magnesium-citrate 400 mg. in the morning after breakfast and two calcium-carbonate 500 mg. tablets before bed-time, and Karie, try lowering the anxiety.
Read books about the stuff, it really can help you A LOT!!!
I think you are a sensitive person, but you can learn to handle and live a happy life in spite of it.
-
Good luck, love ***Ianna***
I too take Inderal (propanolol).
80 mg caps. retard - once a day.
Does wonders (for me, that is).
Tried a view others, but propanolol is ok.
You can ask your Dr. about it, and maybe it will work for you too! We do not all react the same of course, but it's worth trying.
Also I take magnesium-citrate 400 mg. in the morning after breakfast and two calcium-carbonate 500 mg. tablets before bed-time, and Karie, try lowering the anxiety.
Read books about the stuff, it really can help you A LOT!!!
I think you are a sensitive person, but you can learn to handle and live a happy life in spite of it.
-
Good luck, love ***Ianna***
WOW! Ianna....80 mg. tablets of Inderal?? WOWEE ZOWEE! The 10 mg. makes me feel calmer and even a bit sleepy. It has also brought my heart rate down by 15 b.p.m. I can't imagine taking eighty mgs.! What heart conditions do you have? And how does the higher dose of Inderal make you feel? Hope to hear from you...
Kristy
Kristy
Dear Karie,
I was prescribed Propranolol and I've been taking it for a month for PAC's, PSVT, and A-fib. Boy...does it ever work well! I only take 10 mg. twice a day ...a very low dose. Sometimes I will add another 2.5 mg. by breaking a half of a tablet in half again - depending on my stress level. I would say that my heart arrhyythmias have decreased by 85% or more! I am elated!! I hope you can find success, too. I hope that someday I can be symptom free. Better yet...how about HEALED? grin grin
Love, Kristy
I was prescribed Propranolol and I've been taking it for a month for PAC's, PSVT, and A-fib. Boy...does it ever work well! I only take 10 mg. twice a day ...a very low dose. Sometimes I will add another 2.5 mg. by breaking a half of a tablet in half again - depending on my stress level. I would say that my heart arrhyythmias have decreased by 85% or more! I am elated!! I hope you can find success, too. I hope that someday I can be symptom free. Better yet...how about HEALED? grin grin
Love, Kristy
Hi Kristy,
No no, these are NOT tablets I take.
These are slow-release capsules.
It's new.
Instead of taking 2 or 3 times a day a tablet of 10 or 20 mg.you take only one capsule in the morning after breakfast. Does not make me sleepy or groggy. It helps prevent migraines as-well.
I have a healthy heart the Doc said.
Slight MVP.
Bit of high blood-pressure.
Lots of palps and PVC's; now less because (I think) of propanolol and magnesium and calcium-intake. Bp.is ok too now.
Less sugar, salt, caff. no smoke, no chocolate (I cheat)etc.etc.
And I learned to handle stress a bit better.
This Forum has helped a lot.
But I still am very sensitive to a lot of stimuli.
I have to take care.
Anxiety is just around the corner, lurking....
-
Take care - ***Ianna***
No no, these are NOT tablets I take.
These are slow-release capsules.
It's new.
Instead of taking 2 or 3 times a day a tablet of 10 or 20 mg.you take only one capsule in the morning after breakfast. Does not make me sleepy or groggy. It helps prevent migraines as-well.
I have a healthy heart the Doc said.
Slight MVP.
Bit of high blood-pressure.
Lots of palps and PVC's; now less because (I think) of propanolol and magnesium and calcium-intake. Bp.is ok too now.
Less sugar, salt, caff. no smoke, no chocolate (I cheat)etc.etc.
And I learned to handle stress a bit better.
This Forum has helped a lot.
But I still am very sensitive to a lot of stimuli.
I have to take care.
Anxiety is just around the corner, lurking....
-
Take care - ***Ianna***
Hi,
I have been on Inderal before and it worked for a while but then the arrythmia came back. I ended up on atenolol and diltiazem while in the Icu unit of the hospital. I went into atrial fib. I was really concerned because I didnt think that you were suppose to be on a beta blocker and a calcium channel together. I wish there was someone else out there that could tell me that they were on the same thing because Im wondering if they have any side effects. Thanks Wailan
I have been on Inderal before and it worked for a while but then the arrythmia came back. I ended up on atenolol and diltiazem while in the Icu unit of the hospital. I went into atrial fib. I was really concerned because I didnt think that you were suppose to be on a beta blocker and a calcium channel together. I wish there was someone else out there that could tell me that they were on the same thing because Im wondering if they have any side effects. Thanks Wailan
You are so smart to ask these questions about your Health. What wonderful support is offered here. I am 34 and filled a perscription for propanolol and wondered if there is a difference by taking generic ? The Inderal was suggested at a low milligram to be taken as needed. Do you have any heart symptoms ? Do you stay away from caffeine, alcohol AND OTHER heart triggers ?
thanks for sharing
thanks for sharing
Dear Wailan,
Sorry to hear about your the problems you have been experiencing with your heart. In situations such as yours, we typically treat people with beta blockers(atenolol) alone and do not use calcium channel blockers (diltiazem) unless people are unable to tolerate the beta blocker for some reason. The reason for this is that beta blockers have been studied extensively and have been shown in multiple trials to be safe, effective and improve outcome. Many of the calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem have been studied less and do not have the type of outcome data that beta blockers have. With that said, I see many people who are on a beta blocker and a calcium channel blocker and do just fine. I think asking your doctor about increasing the atenolol and stopping the diltiazem is a good idea.
I would also recommend being evaluated further for asymptomatic episodes of atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation increases one's risk of having a stroke and most people are placed on coumadin or aspirin based on their age and other risk factors. Ask your doctor about this and he or she may want to perform an echocardiogram along with a holter monitor study. Hope this helps.
Thanks for your question,
CCF-MD-KE
Sorry to hear about your the problems you have been experiencing with your heart. In situations such as yours, we typically treat people with beta blockers(atenolol) alone and do not use calcium channel blockers (diltiazem) unless people are unable to tolerate the beta blocker for some reason. The reason for this is that beta blockers have been studied extensively and have been shown in multiple trials to be safe, effective and improve outcome. Many of the calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem have been studied less and do not have the type of outcome data that beta blockers have. With that said, I see many people who are on a beta blocker and a calcium channel blocker and do just fine. I think asking your doctor about increasing the atenolol and stopping the diltiazem is a good idea.
I would also recommend being evaluated further for asymptomatic episodes of atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation increases one's risk of having a stroke and most people are placed on coumadin or aspirin based on their age and other risk factors. Ask your doctor about this and he or she may want to perform an echocardiogram along with a holter monitor study. Hope this helps.
Thanks for your question,
CCF-MD-KE
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