Benicar, PVC's,

[mike171]

Dear Doctor, I am a healthy 36 year old male. About a year ago I was put on high blood pressure medication, Benicar 20mg a day. I have never had any types of heart issue and in the last year have developed or started to notice regular PVC's. I have had them checked out and they are PVC's and they drive me nuts because they make me feel real uncomfortable. Could the PVC's be caused by the benicar? I also was put on 20mg of Paxil 6 months ago for anxiety I think due to thinking there was a problem with my heart from feeling the PVC's all the time. The PVC's would come and go for the past year, but now seem to be getting worse and worse.

[1506]

I was wondering how you came out with this problem,  know its been awhile since you asked it.  I took benicar too, and started having terrible pvc's, 23,000 a day. They never said it was the benicar but I was in the hospital a week, and they didn't give it to me anymore.  Searching online I am finding some links to heart arrhythmia and benicar.  I now am supposed to get a heart ablation for the pvc's.

[autumndays]

If you read the less than 1% or so of patients taking medicines...from the package insert occasionally in the medication container) there are cardiac side effects. Your dose is a low one but the PVCs (if it is PVCs) need to be checked out by a physician. Maybe he could try another med and see if they go away! Keep us posted.

[Jerry_NJ]

This Community is not supported by medical doctors, not to say there are none ever, but in the vast majority of the cases you will get a response from a fellow patient who may have some helpful experience to share.

While PVC is not one of my problem, I will offer my opinion that a BP medication, likely a beta blocker, will not cause PVC.  I also think it will not do much to reduce them.  I think you should talk to you doctor about ant-arrhythmic drugs such as Propafenone and Rythmol as a possible aid in managing your PVC.