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177337 tn?1310059899

Diltiazem for PVCS?

I just got back from my internist.  She is truly a wonderful compasionate doctor that really wants to help keep me as healthy as possible.  Of course all my blood tests came back perfect except that I was low in Vitamin D.
I was actualy hoping something was off so that I had a reason for the increase in these damn episodic pvc's that have been lasting for hours at a time.  She wants me to try a channel blocker called diltiazem on an "as needed" basis.  She said if I feel the pvc's and they are really bothering me, to take a 60mg tablet, break it in half and try to see if this will help settle them down.  She is having a lot of luck with this approach with her patients that experience symptomatic pvcs.  Has anyone tried this?   I really hope it works because if it does, maybe it can help others out there too.  I like the fact that I don't have to take it all the time.  This is not the time release version.  It is out of your system in about 6 hours.  
Jodie
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Avatar universal
I think what you've taken might be slow release. If you are to take it on a prn basis I think you would need an immediate release tablet to be effective
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177337 tn?1310059899
sorry about the typos!!!!
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177337 tn?1310059899
Give it some time.  When I switched from Atenolol to Cardizem (Diltiazem) I had a few weeks of strange episodes.  Some fast heartrates, episodes of pvcs (more than when on Atenool) but now they seemed to have settle down and I actually fell better too.  The beta blockers block the adrenaline so it takes a little while for your body to figure out what to do with it.  My doctor told me to expect my heart to be irritable for up to 30 days.
I am also now taking 120mg XR.  I take it before bed.  I hope it continues to do the job.  Good luck.  Again, don't get too frustrated because it will take some time for your body to adjust.
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Avatar universal
I started having PVC's in January. Have always had PAC's. My cardiologist put me on metoprolol 12.5 mg 2 times a day. I had taken it before for some near fainting spells and didn't like it because it made me feel so tired. So now he's put me cardizem..but said take it every day. No taking it as needed. So after my workout today my PVC's got worse. So I took the cardizem about an hour ago. Nothing yet. Still having some chest pressure and the PVC's haven't changed. The cardizem is 120 mg XR. I am only 48 and this is really getting me down
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1655526 tn?1330655629
I was taking 120mg and only took it twice. Like I said, there were communication problems between my cardio and ep. I was only supposed to take it when I had a SVT attack so it makes sense to take it when you have lots of pvc's,  and your dose is pretty low. Your body will let you know if it is okay.
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177337 tn?1310059899
yes, I was told to keep an eye on the blood pressure.  Mine can run rather low as well.
However, I was told to just take it if I was having an unusual amount of pvc's (enough to bother me).  So we will see.  I'm also supposed to break a 60mg in half.  What dosage were you taking?
Helpful - 0
1655526 tn?1330655629
I was also given diltiazem. I think there was some miscommunication between my ep and cardiologist who ordered the perscription. The cardiologist instructed me to take them daily, at night which I did. My blood pressure is somewhat low, 100/70 avg., and diltiazen lowers blood pressure. It went down to 70 something to under 50 and it actually casued me to have a panic attack and couldn't sleep. So I stopped taking them. When I talked to me ep to explain what the medicine did, he said I was just supposed to take them during a SVT attack.  Don't know what your blood pressure is, just know that diltiazem lowers it.
Helpful - 0
187666 tn?1331173345
Generally if I'm having a bratty heart day, it includes plenty of PAC's and PVC's as well as the PSVT and chest pain. Overall I don't  mind the PAC's and PVC's. The only time they really ticked me off were those months that they were coming hard and fast 15-25 a minute day and night. That was too much for me. I was a cranky person.  LOL  Mostly I use the Diltiazem for multiple PSVT times in a day and chest pain. That slows me down too  much.

Hope the med helps you. I think it's great.
Helpful - 0
177337 tn?1310059899
Thanks.  That sounds encouraging.  Although this would be for pvc's, not tachy or racing heartbeats.  I did reaffirm with her that she understood that but she said it should also help with pvc's and pac's.  I hope I don't get the headache, but I agree with you.  I'd rather have the headache than suffer through a few hours of relentless skips.
I do get the occasional PAT, but I take 1/2 of atenolol in the evening for that.  She said the Diltiazem shouldn't interfere with the atenolol.  It is such a small dose anyway so I'm not too worried about that.
Jodie
Helpful - 0
187666 tn?1331173345
I have Diltiazem for that reason. When I'm having a bratty heart day with lots of tachy and chest pain, I use one of those to calm things down. It's not quick like taking an aspirin for a headache but it does help. The only down side is Diltiazem gives me a wicked headache. If I took it every day like I used to, that side effect would wear off in a  couple of weeks. Still, I'd rather just take it when I have to and deal with the headache. At least it calms my heart.
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