Calcium Channel Blockers for Tachycardia

[Jack54]

Currently I have aggressive CAD, 6 stents and a history of an mi and a stroke. I may be having CABG fairly soon due to the max number of stents in my LAD (4).

7 years ago, I was diagnosed with tachycardia, explained to me as pathological rapid heart rate of unknown cause. I was placed on a beta blocker immediately. My resting heart rate was around 105 bpm.

Beta blockers have totally ruined my life, as well as they have save it. What irony...

My question is, can I find a CCB that can take the place of a beta blocker that will slow my heart rate down? I already take Norvasc, a CCB to try to reverse diastolic dysfunction. My LVEDP is 27 mmhg.

I am currently taking 20 mg of Coreg CR (controlled released), an ACEi, Plavix, Zocor (intermittently due to adverse reactions, same as with all statins) and Norvasc.

I react differently to many medicines than other people and as I get older the more unpredictable I am, when it comes to side affects of new drugs like antibiotics and heart medications, like ARBs, which I cannot take.

I am desperate to wean myself off of Coreg and start another CCB for the tachycardia.

Thanks for reading,

Jack

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

Jack,
Calcium channel blockers will slow down your heart rate but are not proven to decrease your risk of cardiovascular events in the post MI setting whereas beta blockers have been shown to decrease your risk of cardiovascular events. If you didn't have a history of coronary artery disease, a CCB would be a much more attractive option.  Because you have coronary disease, probably best to stick with what has been proven to decrease your risk of events -- the beta blocker.
I hope this helps.

[Jack54]

Thank you so much Dr. McWilliams.

I am 55, the mi was ~6 years ago. I really don't have a life because of fatigue and weakness, so I don't know if statistics, or a roll of the dice is best for me. I have two or three other goofy diagnoses, CFS and FM, reactivated EBV....

Again thanks so much for "your truth". I was expecting more of a butt kicking, but feel many things are possible from your tone. Now if I could just find an agreeable cardiologist :)

Great work you do here,

Jack