Arrythmia symptoms and conditions

I am 43 and have now been on 4 different medications for HBP over the last 8 months. I have never taken pills regularly before. Now the most recent is Metoprolol Suc ER. After reading everything on this post, There is absolutely no way I am taking it.

Is there any HBP drug that does not have side effects?

Shortly after beginning Yaz, I began getting dizzy at random, messy vision, fainting spells and an arrhythmia. I spent 2 days in the hospital and none fo the doctors attributed any of the side effects to Yaz, but that was the only new thing in my lifestyle. I also had been having incredible abdominal pain in the upper right area where my liver is. I have always been incredibly healthy and I started taking this to help the PMDD. Instead I am afraid that I have a frigging pending stroke coming my way or blood clot hiding in my brain making me pass out. Im scared and incredibly angry that all I did was try to get some help and instead had my life and my family's well being threatened. I am fighting to get an MRI on my head just to be sure nothings in there. I know I sound paranoid but suddenly getting an arrhythmia and passing out at random is scary. I am afraid to hold my daughter because If I faint, she'd get hurt. Another thing is at the beginning, I would dry heave a lot, but my doctor kept telling me to stick with it. She is STILL telling me this. Im stopping it tonight and joining a class action suit.

I took Avelox April 2008 and my life changed after taking the first dose. I had read on the bottle it could cause dizziness, so when I began to feel intoxicated and feel like I was walking sideways, I wasn't too concerned. After I took the first dose, I had a preop appointment in the afternoon. The doctor asked me if I had ever been told I had a heart irregularity. He said it was an occasional skip and he wasn't that concerned. I have physicals every year at which time an EKG is done, I just had my physical mid February and my heart rate was perfect. The surgery was scheduled 1 week later. That morning I took the last dose of Avelox, as I was being wheeled in for surgery, the nurse watched me go into A Fib. Surgery was not going to happen and I was admitted to the hospital for 9 days. I was on a 24 hour monitor and my heart rate was changing so fast they couldn't even tell me what was going on. After many different drugs to control my rate I was discharged and scheduled for a cardioversion, hoping that would get my heart rate back in a sinus rhythm. It worked for about 20 minutes and I was again admitted to the hospital for four days and put on a new medication. I went from being completely healthy to A Fib, kidney and lung problems. As of today I am still dealing with all the above. I had a cardiac ablation in October, hoping that would fix the problem. I was doing OK for about 3 weeks and since then I am still in A Fib. Currently I am wearing a 24 hour monitor to record any events. I'm not sure what the next step is . . . I believe with all my heart that Avelox is responsible. My life went form being completely healthy and exercising everyday to being exhausted most of the time and even going to the grocery store is a tremendous effort.

Did Levaquin mixed with Asthma medicines kill my 32 year old daughter.
I believe she died of Cardio Arrhythmia.

Moderately high cholesterol and BP 150/90. Was put on Lipitor 20mg and after a week felt more fatigued than usual but nothing much more than this. Had stress test and angiogram which showed 60-70% block in one artery as well as arrhythmia. Cardiologist bumped Lipitor up to 80 mg which I took for 2 weeks. But by then I was suffering most of the effects described in these postings: aches and pains, giddiness, nausea, extreme weakness and fatigue. I took myself off Lipitor and even after one day my head started to clear aches started to diminish, though urine still a reddish color suggesting a lot more flushing out required. And, best of all, the arrhythmia reduced from moderate/severe to mild (which it always used to be before taking Lipitor). This drug is not for me. I'd rather take my chances without it and rely on strict diet, weight loss, etc. It is surprising that the possible side effects are so understated in the manufacturer's descriptions.

I am sorry to hear of the trouble and pain that you all are having!

The common thread is the the DOCTOR didn't tell of the dangers and side effects. This is not at all unusual. I am employed as a Certified Pharmacy Technician for one of the largest HMO's in the country and have also worked for retail pharmacies. If I have learned anything at all it is this; ALL QUESTIONS REGARDING MEDICATIONS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO A LICENSED PHARMACIST!! Day in an day out I see doctors, PA's and RN's who are all but clueless as to drug interactions, proper uses, side effects, even proper & safe dosing! Countless times the Pharmacist will catch and error and not only save the patient from a potentially fatal mistake but also save the doctor's license, yet they are not given the respect they deserve. These people go to college for 7 to 8 years and study every possible aspect of pharmacology. Our society puts such God-like faith in doctors and fails to realize, they have only studied pharmacology, if we are lucky, for a couple of classes for one semester. Graduates now, at least in my home state are earning the degree PharmD (Doctorate of Pharmacy).

Please, please, PLEASE, don't say "Oh, I have no questions, my doctor told me" or "If I have questions, I'll ask my doctor." ASK A PHARMACIST!!! Granted, even the best trained pharmacist can't predict ALL potential problems but their knowledge is far superior to the vast majority of doctors!

Another point to consider; doctors are greatly influence by "drug reps", salespeople from the pharmaceutical companies that tout a new "drug du jour" every week, bombarding the docs with free samples, promotional gimmicks while wining and dining them so they will push (prescribe) THEIR product over the competitors' or any older but just as effective medication that most likely costs less too!

Again I wish only the best to all of you and my heart goes out to you who are suffering.

Susan

I've had a problem of chronic stress for the past few years. During the past 10 months, I've made 7 visits to the ER because I felt symptoms of a heart atack. Each time I went in, it was EKG, ultrasound, cat scan or IMR, blood workup, oxygen, stress test, etc. I was in the ICU once, for 24 hours. Each time, the results were negative. This past visit (1 month ago), they detected an arrhythmia. This prompted the ER doc to prescribe the drug Metoprolol Succinate ER 25 mg tabs. I am to take it for 3 weeks, then see my GP. Since returning, the heart beat is irregular and somewhat harder than before. It's uncomfortable laying down in bed so I sleep in the living room, sitting up. In addition, I'm taking anticonvulsants (Keppra and Lamictal) and food supplements. I'm due to go in a week and this really has me concerned. I'm wondering if everything is working against each other. I signed medical releases with all four of my doctors but they don't communicate as I had asked them to. The side effects are: constant headaches, ringing in the ears, hallucinations, mental confusion, bipolar/depression, joint pain, weakness in muscles, spasms, panic attacks, increased stress, vision problems, plus thoughts about high medical bills. Any thoughts about this? I don't expect you to respond to this but my email address is:****** Thanks for considering what I've shared with all of you.
Well, I've been having

I have had episodes of arrythmia for the past 20 years. I had my second cardio conversion about 10 weeks ago. My doctor prescribed Toprol to control the arrythmia before (25mg) and after my cardio conversion (12.5mg). For the past six weeks I've been experiencing extreme discomfort in my chest from what I though was heartburn or some form of GERD. After reading these posts, I'm convinced it was caused by the Toprol. I've been taking it in the morning and strangely this was when the heartburn was the worst. Reading these posts allowed to put two and two together. Today I skipped the Toprol--and no more heartburn today. I've had no problems with the arrythmia since my cardio conversion. (I also take a low dose (50mg) of flecainide daily.)

Guest 39074,

Your experience very common to many other women's here and in other forums. It took me 1.5 years to add up everything I was experiencing as well as to develop an arrythmia, chest pain and heart murmur.

I got my period within 28 days of going off of Yasmin but it is different for each woman based upon her own hormones and body.

Don't worry about the increase in discharge. That is most likely the shedding of your uterus. I had the same thing when I came off the hormones. Assume that you do not have any discomfort otherwise to ensure you do not have a Yeast infection. Those are common with hormone changes.

See the "forums" section here as well. AT the top of this page, a link to them. There is a really informative site that has been created for many women survivors of Yasmin. I think the url is there so you can copy/paste it into your browser.

Best of wishes to you,
Jasmine

To flowerbabies,

thanks for your response. the pain I felt was more like all-over tremendous pain so much that even the shower water on them was painful and so much pain that I wish I could have removed them. It has since desisted though I haven't gone back to the shower but it was following two last days of this terrible aching/pain under my left breast -and while it feels like it is coming from my heart (under my left breast), I don't have a diagnosis for that?

"left atrial abnormality,incomplete right bundle block..... i have no idea what all that means,came across something that mentioned heart disease and also another report that mentionion arrythmia"...

I am absolutely confused about how so many of the Doctors are advising these physical results are all caused from Anxiety? Is that possible? How is it then that the Doctor doesn't explain more to you about what it means? What was the test that they conducted?

Would someone be willing to provide an overview of what the Linden Method offers?

hi, to the guest that asked about chest pains and whether i found out that caused them..i haven't found out exactly but when i saw my GP today i asked for a copy of tests that i have had done. the results for the ecg came up as follows.
ecg sinus rythm,left atrial abnormality,incomplete right bundle block..... i have no idea what all that means,came across something that mentioned heart disease and also another report that mentionion arrythmia (sorry about the spelling) my doctor never explained what these things were as he said my irregular heart beat was "just anxiety" so have had no follow up since. Whatever it is i know i did not have it previous to yasmin because i was on a heart moniter when i was pregnant with my daughter and they found nothing??

Well I been taking toprol for a month and a half, I have realized that its helping me so far! For the last 4 years I been having this flutter in my chest, heart racing, and chest pains. I go to an emergency room, they tell me, "Oh your having an anxiety attack", and I just knew that something was going on, because the way I felt. So, now 4 years later, I'm diagnosed with SVT, a type of Arrythmia. The only time my blood pressure goes up is when my heart races, other than that its not high at all. How they found out I had SVT, is while I was at the ER, they caught it on the monitor. I'm hoping that this medication will help me, so far so good. Sometimes, I do get anxious, but thats a part of the anxiety I think!? Only thing I have noticed is when i go to bed, I am asleep, and the next morning I feel like I been beat up while sleeping. I'm restless.

Reynauds (cold hands & feet), weight gain, joint pain, just plain feeling lousy! Over two years had gradually ramped up from 12.5 to 50 mg.. Since January tapering down, presently at 12.5 mg., on the way to zero.

As of this writing, it hasn't hit the main stream media in the U.S. yet, but earlier today the Brittish press was reporting the fact that in the U.K., doctors are being told to STOP prescribing Beta Blockers. Toporol is a Beta blocker.

Almost everyone corresponding here (including me) apparently has had problems with Toporol. But before whipping out their prescription pads, how many of your doctors have ever asked you anything about your diet, and things like stress in your life which effect your own individual requirements for nutrients and trace minerals??? Probably next to none, because nutrition has not been a part of their medical training.

I am not going to claim anything more than the following might be something you ought to look into.
By any chance has your doctor ever suggested that you take calcium? Even if they haven't, in recent years, calcium has become the darling of the supplement and food industry. Calcium enriched this, and calcium fortified that; it's become a food industry mantra. Calcium is good and very necessary, but simply taking Calcium is not enough. Ca needs helpers if it is even going to do YOU any good. Calcium needs the presence of Magnesium in the proper balance. It also needs the presence of the sunshine Vitamin D. It also needs an acid environment to be properly absorbed. Minerals frequently work in tandem. An excess in one mineral can cause a deficit in another.

Anything in the form of a pill, capsule, tablet, or caplet is something that I dispise having to take. But two days ago, when I woke up in the early morning noticing an attention getting arrythmia, I recognized that I had been neglecting what I shouldn't have been for too long. I got up and took a dose of Ca, balanced with a dose of Mg in the ratio of 2:1, and within a couple hours, there was no further fluttering, and I haven't noticed any irregular fluttering since. Just remember, whatever the cause of my heart's hop, skip, and jump may not be the same cause as that of your's.

Basicly, the heart is a muscular pump whose action is regulated by electrically charged minerals in solution called electrolites. When those electrolites are out of balance, it doesn't work like it should. Period.

Back in the sixties it was noticed that people living in hard water regions (high levels of Ca & Mg in their water supply) had less heart disease. Those living in soft water regions (lacking minerals), had more heart disease. This is not rocket science.

The most frightening side effects I have ever had from a med. Biaxin XL for severe sinus infection. Stomach very sick,headache,muscle aches, increase in blood pressure. The scariest of all, profuse sweating started on 4th day. I cant seem to do anything without sweating.I also take beta blocker for arrythmia.
So at first I thought it was heart related. Pharmacist
tells me Biaxin Xl is very very potent and has more side effects than we know.It can raise bp and cause severe sweating and hundreds of other things. I am stopping today with or without Dr.'s approval. Supposed to take another 5 days. Insane

To be honest, I liked this medicine since I took it the firs time because my arrythmia stopped, BUT the libido is gone out somewhere else. The problem number 2 is that if I don't take the metroprolol, I have heart problems, and one advice: Don't ever stop taken the pill once your Doctor give it to you because you will have a real hard experience, he he.

I don't like medicine, before I knew I had and ASD in my heart I used not to take even pills for the flu, now my life has changed a lot, I can't still get used to be an "open heart operated", but I'm happy I'm alive and that the problem stopped.....even I was a little bit old when I knew I was just feeling worse and worse..... I'm 30 years and my heart problem just began.

Good luck, sorry my english, my name is Alina from Mexico.

To my fan fare;

Guest, #12328

"U have to be an idiot to write things like that to people like us who r really suffering because of pred. Obviously u have found the wrong website. Now go find yourself a SHRINK."

Thank you, blatent insults obviously show superior
intelligence and mental stability.
Far be it that anyone post a question or point of view based on their own experiences or independent thought that just might not "follow the crowd" so to speak.

ericgoberman,
"So Jules, 5 mg a day for a few weks and you're the expert ?"

Just so you know, I have taken as much as 60 mgs a day off and on throughout my life.
My daughter was on life support for almost a month due to asthma/pneumonia and was given 500mgs of prednisone a day.
I have sincere gratitude to prednisone for helping her survive.

And most importantly, psychosomatic DOES NOT MEAN IMAGINARY!!!
"Psychosomatic denotes a PHYSICAL DISORDER that is caused by or notably influenced by the emotional state of the patient. The word "psycho" comes from the Greek meaning breath, spirit, soul, mind. "Somatic" refers to the body, or "soma" in Greek, referring to the physical."
Soma in biology refers to the body of an organism.

To all those suffering from the horrific side-effects and those that were offended, I sincerely apologize. I should have re-worded my post.

Where I was coming from;
I could literally post hundreds of studies that show the reality of the power of mind and the power of suggestion alone on the side-effects, healing, and survival of hundreds of people.

During my 3rd year in Pre-med, many of us students started having chest pains, arrythmia's, perfuse sweating etc....guess what we were studying at the time????

While I applaud reassuring others that they are not alone in their side-effects and suffering, I personally feel that there might be certain individuals, like me, that are just starting their drug therapy that might be terrified or dissuaded in taking it because of some of the posts here. (I had a terrible time even swallowing my whopping 5 mgs.)
And yes, I even personally believe, and I repeat, PERSONALLY believe that reading about terrible side-effects of any drug can trigger the placebo effect, or side-effects that can be psychosomatic.

ALL DRUGS HAVE SIDE-EFFECTS!
For me; What it all boils down to is; the risks of any drug versus the benefits....ie...chemo has terrible side-effects, but what are the profound effects of the disease without it??????

Hi,

My experience with this drug is a slow down in circulation. Since I have been on this drug I have experienced cold hands (which I have never had before) most of the time! I am 55 years old male that went tachycardia a couple of years ago and also have some arrythmia or PAC's with exercized induced LBBB.

RC,San Diego Calif.

Possibly started my arrythmia six months ago

I took Zocor for a week, and felt weird - out of breath and kept awake at night with ringing in ears - I also developed or seem to have developed some sort of arrythmia or palpitation which hasn`t gone away even though I have stopped taking it - I am going to try alternatives ie lecithin and Red Yeast Rice

I took prescribed Losec (omeprazole) to control occasional heartburn for two years. After taking 20mg per day for 2 to 3 days I notice an occasional skipped heartbeat. I stop taking omeprazole and within 1-2 days this side-effect goes away. Two weeks later, I take omeprazole and go through the same cycle. I have thus experimented for two years before switching to zantac. There is no doubt in my mind that Losec causes temporary arrythmia and heart patients should be thus warned.