I often have thousands of these PVCs a day. I have had this condition since 1978 and I'm 67 years old now. It does affect the quality of life. Doctors are not very sympathetic, especially if they have never experienced these irregular beats. They just say they are benign. But that doesn't help you to cope. I read a study that said people benefited from Acebutolol. I asked my cardiologist if I could try it and he said that it was an older drug but worth a try. I am on 400mg twice a day and it has been like a miracle. I might get an occasional PVC in a month, but most of the time I am not aware of any at all. Previously I had like 10,000 or more a day. It might be worth a try to ask for Acebutolol. God bless.
Hi. I have had an irregular heart beat, PVCs for over 30 years. I've been on many different beta-blockers. Few helped. In recent years was put on Bystolic. At first it seemed to help decrease the PVCs, but then they came back almost as bad as before. Then I read a study online that involved participants taking Acebutolol, up to, I think, 1600mg per day. The drug dramatically decreased the number of PVCs patients had. So I asked my cardiologist about trying this drug. He said it was an older drug, but agreed it was worth a try. I was getting up to 15,000 PVCs a day and was miserable. He started me on 200mg twice a day. This lessened the PVCs but not enough. So he increased it to 400mg twice a day. It has been over a year since I have been on that dose and I can say honestly that it was like a miracle. I get virtually no PVCs at all, maybe 1 per month. I would highly recommend asking your doctor about trying Acebutolol. It has been a life-saver for me, with no major side effects. It does decrease your BP, too. I hope it works for you. God bless.
oh yeah I have a very sensitive system and now I know why - ANS dysfuction/failure and some dr should have picked up on that years ago - I want to try Cymbalta since it's also for neuropathy, but it's SO expensive
Hey thanks! Thats what my dad said, he has taken Lexapro for his anxiety and he told me if his dose is too high he feels really strange but as long as they keep it lower, it works good. I am going to try it this weekend when I hav esome time off school, in case I get side effects. I will proably start the Bystolic Friday and the Leaxapro Saturday or Sunday....that way I can tell what side effects go with what...you know how it is for us POTS people, I tend to be sensitive to meds and get a lot of side effects. The joys of having POTS and heart problems:)
Thanks! That is what the doctor told me, he said that Bystolic should be easier on my body and not make me as tired. My metoprolol seemed like it was really working, then things went right back to the way they were last week. I hope that I have the same sucess with Bystolic as you did!
Oh sorry, he didn't switch my heart meds because of the Lexapro, he just said that he felt the Metoprolol wasn't working well for the PVCs. The Lexapro is just for the anxiety:)
I took Lexapro for about a month and at first it worked, but it felt like I was a zombie (hope that makes sense) kind of zoned out - I assume that's what it's supposed to do? dr never told me anything.
I didn't notice any help with anxiety/depression issues though and when my month was done, I didn't go back. Still woke up with nightmares, panic attacks etc.
btw...I was also taking Zebeta and ProAmitine so that could be why, not sure how some meds interact with others, mention it to your dr :)
I have been taking bystolic since September and so far it's worked better than the atenolol I was taking. It actually helps with PVCs and the atenolol really didn't, in fact it seemed like it had quit working. I have had fewer side effects with bystolic.
maybe you should ask why next time but I'm wondering if your dr had to change you heart med to put you on lexapro but I dont know for sure.