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Will these heart palpitations that were triggered by cocaine use go away? Please help.
First, let me give you a bit of background information. I am a 21 year old male and I have been using cocaine for about 1 year. I would consider my use as recreational. Over the past year there would be months where I would not even touch the drug. Then, months when I was using, I would do about 6 lines on just one day of the week and wouldnt touch it for at least another week. However, this month, I have used once a week for 4 weeks. This is where my problem has started....
Last wednesday after being out almost all night using cocaine and drinking alcohol, I came home and began coming off of the drug. The next day, at about 5 pm, my heart rate shot up without warning to 120 beats per minute. Needless to say, I was freaked out but decided to wait it out and eventually it went down to 80 beats per minute.
However, every once in a while, I will think about it and it can cause the heart to go back up to the 120 beats per minute. I decided to go to the emergency room where they gave me a EKG and did some blood and urine work. They said the EKG showed an abnormal rhythm with my heart. The blood and urine work actually showed up negative for cocaine and everything else just 4 days after having used.
I left the emergency room with a diagnosis from the ER doctor. He said I have heart palpitations. They also told me that the effects of the cocaine could still be effecting my system even though blood and urine showed up negative for cocaine. It has been about 6 days since I used cocaine. I feel like I have swallowed a bunch of diet pills. I feel drained.
I am hoping that my heart palpitations will eventually stop. If not, I will be getting referred to a specialist to have an echogram done on my heart.
Please, if anybody has any insight on this matter, please help. Will my heart palpiations stop? Will the effects eventually leave my system? Did I just get a bad batch of cocaine? I'm desperate for help.
Last wednesday after being out almost all night using cocaine and drinking alcohol, I came home and began coming off of the drug. The next day, at about 5 pm, my heart rate shot up without warning to 120 beats per minute. Needless to say, I was freaked out but decided to wait it out and eventually it went down to 80 beats per minute.
However, every once in a while, I will think about it and it can cause the heart to go back up to the 120 beats per minute. I decided to go to the emergency room where they gave me a EKG and did some blood and urine work. They said the EKG showed an abnormal rhythm with my heart. The blood and urine work actually showed up negative for cocaine and everything else just 4 days after having used.
I left the emergency room with a diagnosis from the ER doctor. He said I have heart palpitations. They also told me that the effects of the cocaine could still be effecting my system even though blood and urine showed up negative for cocaine. It has been about 6 days since I used cocaine. I feel like I have swallowed a bunch of diet pills. I feel drained.
I am hoping that my heart palpitations will eventually stop. If not, I will be getting referred to a specialist to have an echogram done on my heart.
Please, if anybody has any insight on this matter, please help. Will my heart palpiations stop? Will the effects eventually leave my system? Did I just get a bad batch of cocaine? I'm desperate for help.
Do not worry, it just making things worst. You stopped, that is the main thing. You are only 21. Be happy it happened to you now and not later in your life when your heart muscle could have got a damaged. If you need an ultrasound, fine it won’t harm you; at least you will even know more about your heart. It is a fun experience! Good luck and congratulation to you: on not using more cocaine! Good for you! Spend that money on nice things for yourself, you would waste on the thing.:)
You will be OK! Let us know!
You will be OK! Let us know!
I have a similar experience that might help you. I'm 36 yof, and still feel the affects of drug abuse from my teens. I was on cocaine/crack for a year and then went on a 3-day binge when I had a sudden onset of severe palpitation that dropped me to my knees. I was 17 and I thought I was going to die. Scared to death, I went to the ER, they did all the tests and told me to quit using or I'll die, that he had seen people in autopsies from my drug of choice and explained the obvious damage to the internal organs. I never touched drugs again. The doctor said he thought I had experienced palpitations or even a minor heart attack, but they weren't too concerned as I recall, like the attitude was "Dumb teenager, you'll live."
The first year after I quit I started having severe anxiety attacks which included palpitations, albiet minor compared to that night, hallucinations started in a few years later and breathing troubles. They come and go throughout the years, but it's a part of my bad choices and I realize that the only power I have is to make good choices for my future. You are being given a chance to live and hopefully have a good life with minimal damage if you stop now. Good luck and take this wake up call as your get of jail free card. You might not get another.
The first year after I quit I started having severe anxiety attacks which included palpitations, albiet minor compared to that night, hallucinations started in a few years later and breathing troubles. They come and go throughout the years, but it's a part of my bad choices and I realize that the only power I have is to make good choices for my future. You are being given a chance to live and hopefully have a good life with minimal damage if you stop now. Good luck and take this wake up call as your get of jail free card. You might not get another.
Hi there. Palpitations can be scary, even for those of us who are told they're perfectly benign. My worry about you is that cocaine does stress your heart out. I'm glad you'll be having the echo, and I hope everything is okay.
As to whether or not they'll stop, the very nature of palpitations seems to be their unpredictability. Cocaine will not help matters. Your heart is giving you a warning, hopefully before any irreversible damage, and I hope you'll use this chance to stop using. Sometimes people just need that scary wake up call. Sadly, some don't get it in time. Please, use yours wisely.
Best wishes to you.
As to whether or not they'll stop, the very nature of palpitations seems to be their unpredictability. Cocaine will not help matters. Your heart is giving you a warning, hopefully before any irreversible damage, and I hope you'll use this chance to stop using. Sometimes people just need that scary wake up call. Sadly, some don't get it in time. Please, use yours wisely.
Best wishes to you.
I don't see anywhere that he said he had quit using forever, unfortunately. Once they get addicted, it is almost impossible to stop permanently. You don't have to use every day to be addicted, I understand. To the OP, people have been known to DIE with only one use. I think you can get a rapid rate and constricted coronaries and can lead to massive heart attack and death. And I am not kidding.
Maggie , I am a mind reader. Haven’t you realized yet? ;)
You did quit, right xstalkrx ? I have a fate in you!
You did quit, right xstalkrx ? I have a fate in you!
You said it is almost impossible to stop permanently? I used for a year from age 16 to 17 and never touched it again, that was 20 years ago. You do have to change a great deal of your life like your friends, your life habits and why you started in the first place, so I'm not saying what you say is entirly wrong. It's not an easy process, but I find your sweeping "once an addict always an addict" type statement discouraging for someone who is newly realizing his own mortality.
HAHA! No, I will never touch it again. I only used about 2 or 3 times a month for a year as it was. There would be some months where I wouldnt touch it at all.
But recently, in the month of december...I used every friday.
As an update, I do feel a lot better. I don't have the anxiety that I once had and I am gaining my weight back.
However, the palpitations do come and go throughout the day. There has yet to be a perfect day. I am still afraid to exercise as well. My grandparents are trying to find insurance for me so that I can go to the doctor and cardiologist to have some more extensive work done.
But recently, in the month of december...I used every friday.
As an update, I do feel a lot better. I don't have the anxiety that I once had and I am gaining my weight back.
However, the palpitations do come and go throughout the day. There has yet to be a perfect day. I am still afraid to exercise as well. My grandparents are trying to find insurance for me so that I can go to the doctor and cardiologist to have some more extensive work done.
I remember when I was 19 I smoked weed and had a horrible panic attack. My heart rate skyrocketed up to 140-150ish and I was so freaked out I sustained it for hours on end. Eventually my heart rate went back to normal and I was released from the hospital.
Over the next year or so I'd have palpitations where my heart rate would increase in the 120-130 area throughout the day. During some panic attacks my heart rate temporarily skyrocketed to over 200.
Four years later I'm still here. I started eating only healthy foods and I exercise regularly. My palpitations have more or less gone away and I haven't had a panic attack in months.
If the doctors have not found anything physically wrong with your heart and you're satisfied with the tests they have done you might have an anxiety/panic disorder, you'd be surprised how many panic disorders are started by drug abuse.
Over the next year or so I'd have palpitations where my heart rate would increase in the 120-130 area throughout the day. During some panic attacks my heart rate temporarily skyrocketed to over 200.
Four years later I'm still here. I started eating only healthy foods and I exercise regularly. My palpitations have more or less gone away and I haven't had a panic attack in months.
If the doctors have not found anything physically wrong with your heart and you're satisfied with the tests they have done you might have an anxiety/panic disorder, you'd be surprised how many panic disorders are started by drug abuse.
I worked at a hospital for several yrs. and a few times young men in their early twenties were brought in who had strokes. I had no clue that cocaine/heroin can cause a stroke until a Neurosonologist told me that your BP when experiencing the "cocaine high" spikes in some people way beyond 200 syst. and even in young people it can cause serious problems especially when they are shooting up frequently and the BP spikes that high frequently, for some on a daily basis over a period of time.
Lots of them came in with severe arrhythmias, panic attacks, symptoms of a heart attack as in severe chest pain. All promised they'd never take cocaine or heroin again if they will come out alive from these horrible symptoms they were having.
If I were you I would stop shooting up or sniffing this stuff or you might regret it some day big time.
Lots of them came in with severe arrhythmias, panic attacks, symptoms of a heart attack as in severe chest pain. All promised they'd never take cocaine or heroin again if they will come out alive from these horrible symptoms they were having.
If I were you I would stop shooting up or sniffing this stuff or you might regret it some day big time.
I just went to the gym to try things out again. I didnt get the results I wanted...
I ran at a very slow 12 minute mile pace and my heart rate stayed around 170 beats per minute. That's a lot higher than it used to be. More alarmingly to me....It took 30 minutes or so for it to come all the way back down to my normal 72. It hovered around 120 for a good 15 minutes. Freaked me out. NO shortness of breath...I went to the fire station just now because it freaked me out and they said my blood pressure was slightly high... 135 over 96. Other than that, they said everything on my chest EKG looked great.
What is the chance that I actually damaged my heart permanently with this drug use? What do all the numbers point to? At rest my blood pressure is 132 over 75 and my resting pulse is anywhere between 68-72.
Oh god I hope this goes away. I wont be able to live without being able to workout and run.....Id rather die. Seriously.
I ran at a very slow 12 minute mile pace and my heart rate stayed around 170 beats per minute. That's a lot higher than it used to be. More alarmingly to me....It took 30 minutes or so for it to come all the way back down to my normal 72. It hovered around 120 for a good 15 minutes. Freaked me out. NO shortness of breath...I went to the fire station just now because it freaked me out and they said my blood pressure was slightly high... 135 over 96. Other than that, they said everything on my chest EKG looked great.
What is the chance that I actually damaged my heart permanently with this drug use? What do all the numbers point to? At rest my blood pressure is 132 over 75 and my resting pulse is anywhere between 68-72.
Oh god I hope this goes away. I wont be able to live without being able to workout and run.....Id rather die. Seriously.
1 Comments
How are you now??? I know I am late but curious!
Hi there. I am glad to see that you have stopped using Cocaine and hopefully, after experiencing Tachycardia, you will never touch it again!!!!
A resting pulse of 60-80 is normal. Anything above 100 is called Tachycardia. Try getting a prescription for a BETA BLOCKER. That will bring your BP down and slow your heart rate down, even while exercising. If it doesn't work, then their is something wrong with your heart and you should go for a stress ECG and Echo at a Cardiologist.
Good luck and let us know if the Beta blockers helped.
A resting pulse of 60-80 is normal. Anything above 100 is called Tachycardia. Try getting a prescription for a BETA BLOCKER. That will bring your BP down and slow your heart rate down, even while exercising. If it doesn't work, then their is something wrong with your heart and you should go for a stress ECG and Echo at a Cardiologist.
Good luck and let us know if the Beta blockers helped.
What you are describing sounds exactly like my anxiety. When I was anxious I could simply walk and my heart rate would be 130-140. When I was not anxious my heart rate would be at a much lower resting pace.
Anxiety has a profound effect on how quickly your heart beats. Get your heart checked out - if the tests come back negative you most likely have a panic/anxiety condition.
Anxiety has a profound effect on how quickly your heart beats. Get your heart checked out - if the tests come back negative you most likely have a panic/anxiety condition.
I don't agree with RideTheWalrus. I believe that you get SYMPTOMS first, then you start to PANIC about it and just make your symptoms worse.
I believe that all our Heart sufferers get anxious/panic at some stage, but it is because of some kind of a symptome and the fact that you only have 1 heart and without it you are in big trouble!!!
I believe that all our Heart sufferers get anxious/panic at some stage, but it is because of some kind of a symptome and the fact that you only have 1 heart and without it you are in big trouble!!!
oh god i am so worried...if this will keep me from working out at the intensity I once did.....oh man....
I am almost dead sure that a Beta-blocker will really help you to lower your BP and to bring your heart rate down again. Then nothing should be keeping you from working out as you normally did.
but, if you develop symptoms or still get Tachy, then you should seek medical advice.
but, if you develop symptoms or still get Tachy, then you should seek medical advice.
my blood pressure and pulse are PERFECT until I start working out or doing physical activity.
A normal stress heart rate is 130. If I were you I would schedule an appointment with a Cardiologist, just to make sure there are no permanent damage or something else that's wrong.
it is 130am ... my cardiologist appointment is at 930 am.....
i cant sleep. i am paranoid now that I might just die in my sleep or something.
i cant sleep. i am paranoid now that I might just die in my sleep or something.
im 21 years old....i hope i dont have to be on heart medication for the rest of my life.
god I hope this passes...
god I hope this passes...
oh my goodness! it is 09h31 in South Africa!
if you don't sleep until your appointment today, you might be so tired that you pass out during the stress test! try to go to bed now and try a bit of self-hipnoses: close your eyes, breath deeply. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Then tell you body to relax: start with toes, then work your way up and you will see that you will be much more relaxed and maybe even able to sleep a bit.
Let me know what Cardio said.
Will be thinking off you.
if you don't sleep until your appointment today, you might be so tired that you pass out during the stress test! try to go to bed now and try a bit of self-hipnoses: close your eyes, breath deeply. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Then tell you body to relax: start with toes, then work your way up and you will see that you will be much more relaxed and maybe even able to sleep a bit.
Let me know what Cardio said.
Will be thinking off you.
Hi,
I have/had the same problem with working out and bp spiking and heart rate skyrocketing. I have no answers, and when i was around your age, I didn't want to go on meds the rest of my life either.
It's late,... I hope you're asleep right now and don't even see this post till after your appt. Remember, there are bigger things in life than having to take a pill everyday. There are people with bigger problems who would be grateful if all they had to do was take a pill everyday.
However, I understand the worry.. heck, it's 4:38am where I am and I can't sleep... insomnia... it sucks. Take a deep breath... you've been given a wake up call so there must be a greater purpose to you being here.
I have/had the same problem with working out and bp spiking and heart rate skyrocketing. I have no answers, and when i was around your age, I didn't want to go on meds the rest of my life either.
It's late,... I hope you're asleep right now and don't even see this post till after your appt. Remember, there are bigger things in life than having to take a pill everyday. There are people with bigger problems who would be grateful if all they had to do was take a pill everyday.
However, I understand the worry.. heck, it's 4:38am where I am and I can't sleep... insomnia... it sucks. Take a deep breath... you've been given a wake up call so there must be a greater purpose to you being here.
"I don't agree with RideTheWalrus. I believe that you get SYMPTOMS first, then you start to PANIC about it and just make your symptoms worse."
Not always. Say your resting heart rate is normally 60, but your nervous because of what you've been through. You take your heart rate and find it's 86. The thought occurs in your mind 'Why is it that high?' 'What if the doctors missed something?' You dwell on it and release adrenaline which causes your body to increase your heart rate more.
Adrenaline prepares your body for flight or fight and even small amounts raise it. Now you take your heart rate again and find it's 104. You now think there's something seriously wrong with your heart. Your body releases more adrenaline which intensifies things and eventually culminates as a panic attack.
During panic attacks I've had heart rates in the 200-area. I had every test under the sun done. Stress test, echocardiogram, multiple EKGs, blood tests, all came back normal.
I'm not saying don't go to your doctor, that would be stupid. At first I went to many doctors and had plenty of tests done. Get your heart checked up thoroughly, if there's nothing wrong with it then you might be like me.
I went to the ER because of a drug trip which kick started my palpitations as well. My situation is eerily similar, that's why I write this...
http://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-symptoms.shtml
Not always. Say your resting heart rate is normally 60, but your nervous because of what you've been through. You take your heart rate and find it's 86. The thought occurs in your mind 'Why is it that high?' 'What if the doctors missed something?' You dwell on it and release adrenaline which causes your body to increase your heart rate more.
Adrenaline prepares your body for flight or fight and even small amounts raise it. Now you take your heart rate again and find it's 104. You now think there's something seriously wrong with your heart. Your body releases more adrenaline which intensifies things and eventually culminates as a panic attack.
During panic attacks I've had heart rates in the 200-area. I had every test under the sun done. Stress test, echocardiogram, multiple EKGs, blood tests, all came back normal.
I'm not saying don't go to your doctor, that would be stupid. At first I went to many doctors and had plenty of tests done. Get your heart checked up thoroughly, if there's nothing wrong with it then you might be like me.
I went to the ER because of a drug trip which kick started my palpitations as well. My situation is eerily similar, that's why I write this...
http://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-symptoms.shtml
Echocardiogram normal.
Stress test normal...except that my heart rate didnt recover as quickly as he had hoped.
I'll be taking Cardizem LA and he anticipates that I will not have to take this medication forever. He says that usually after 6 months, most people are fine.
Any experience with this medication?
Stress test normal...except that my heart rate didnt recover as quickly as he had hoped.
I'll be taking Cardizem LA and he anticipates that I will not have to take this medication forever. He says that usually after 6 months, most people are fine.
Any experience with this medication?
Hello. People die from using cocaine. Exactly what part of that isn't exactly clear? I would like to scare you and say you have endangered yourself foever, but the cocaine will work it's way out of the system. The palpitations suggest your heart has little tolerance of safety for this substance. It isn't just a "fast" heartrate. The heart doesn't fill with blood properly when it beats so quickloy., And the probability of ventricular fibrilation increases dramatically. That means you will end up on an autopsy table with your scalp reflected over your face and a strykler saw used to saw around your skull with a "V" notch in each side. Then they remove your brain, weigh it ans section it. The brain is replaced with crumpled newspaper. Oh, and they slit your scrotum and remove your testical's. If you think going through that is a great idea, go buy and use some more cocaine.
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