Resting heart rate symptoms and conditions

I am telling the story of what has happened to my wife on YAZ.... My wife is a 23 year old female, previously in good health, 5'5", 120 lbs, and a non-smoker. In January 2008 she gave birth to our amazing daughter. She has rebounded back to the same shape as she was before birth. Well originally, she had the non-hormonal IUD implant for birth control. Her body rejected it and it had to be removed after about 2-3 months. After it being removed, the Doctor recommended she take this new birth control YAZ, because my wife had previous problems with hormonal birth controls. Well, my wife started taking YAZ. Late summer 2008, my wife began complaining about feeling tired and weak all the time. She went to the doctor a few times about it and they could not determine the cause. Well, in December of 2008, while working her job as an EMT on an ambulance, my wife began feeling light headed and weak. They put her on the cardiac monitor and found her resting heart rate to be 160 BPM. They immediately rushed her to the ER. The ER doctor immediately admitted my wife into the INTENSIVE CARE UNIT! After a couple days, they determined that she had micro pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in the lungs) that they believed were caused by YAZ and that blood tests showed no pre-existing condition that would cause it. They informed her that they were a known side effect of YAZ. Well due to her heart trying so much harder to push the blood around the clots, he heart became weekend and began heart failure. Her Ejection Fraction was at 30%, which is about equal to a 70 year old in heart failure. A normal ejection fraction is 65%. The heart is a non-repairing muscle. As a result of this condition, she was prevented from working by her doctor, she cant drive, and cannot be alone for fear that her heart will stop. Well, of course the FMLA has now run out (March 2009) and her work has informed her they don't intend on letting her come back and her Doctor will not allow her to go back. I am currently working overseas as a US Department of Defense security contractor just to try and make ends meet. Because of the current economy, I cant even come home to take care of my wife and daughter because we wont be able to afford to live. I encourage everyone to avoid this medication. Please don't let your life get ruined by this birth control. My wife is 23, may need a heart transplant, or may die at anytime and I cant even come home to take care of her. This medication has ruined our lives.

I am telling the story of what has happened to my wife on YAZ....

My wife is a 23 year old female, previously in good health, 5'5", 120 lbs, and a non-smoker. In January 2008 she gave birth to our amazing daughter. She has rebounded back to the same shape as she was before birth. Well originally, she had the non-hormonal IUD implant for birth control. Her body rejected it and it had to be removed after about 2-3 months. After it being removed, the Doctor recommended she take this new birth control YAZ, because my wife had previous problems with hormonal birth controls.

Well, my wife started taking YAZ. Late summer 2008, my wife began complaining about feeling tired and weak all the time. She went to the doctor a few times about it and they could not determine the cause. Well, in December of 2008, while working her job as an EMT on an ambulance, my wife began feeling light headed and weak. They put her on the cardiac monitor and found her resting heart rate to be 160 BPM. They immediately rushed her to the ER.

The ER doctor immediately admitted my wife into the INTENSIVE CARE UNIT! After a couple days, they determined that she had micro pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in the lungs) that they believed were caused by YAZ. They informed her that they were a known side effect of YAZ. Well due to her heart trying so much harder to push the blood around the clots, he heart became weakend and began heart failure. Her Ejection Fraction was at 30%, which is about equal to a 70 year old in heart failure. A normal ejection fraction is 65%. The heart is a non-repairing muscle.

As a result of this condition, she was prevented from working by her doctor, she cant drive, and cannot be alone for fear that her heart will stop. Well, of course the FMLA has now run out (March 2009) and her work has informed her they don't intend on letting her come back and her Doctor will not allow her to go back. I am currently working overseas as a US Department of Defense security contractor just to try and make ends meet. Because of the current economy, I cant even come home to take care of my wife and daughter because we wont be able to afford to live.

I encourage everyone to avoid this medication. Please don't let your life get ruined by this birth control. My wife is 23, may need a heart transplant, or may die at anytime and I cant even come home to take care of her. This medication has ruined our lives.

I just started taking Toprol XL 50 mg about a week ago. I feel a little confused though on the doctor's judgment. I have a slow pulse (tends to run in the forties) from running a few miles a day and have mild hypotension. I was dizzy, lightheaded, fainted a few times, blurred vision, shortness of breath, chest palpitations and chest pain. My pulse would go from 35 to 170 just by standing and walking ten feet. The doctors determined I have what is known as POTS Disease, even though i suffered some of these symptoms lying down. Although the Toprol is helping with my palpitations and chest pain, it makes my resting heart rate and blood pressure even slower. Doesn't that seem dangerous, seeing as it's already low for even an athlete? My symptoms seem to be remaining the same besides that (which I guess is good seeing as Toprol can cause my symptoms, therefore I thought my dizziness, etc. may get worse). It's causing trouble sleeping, vomiting, cold feet and fingers.

I took Yasmin for 3 years and stopped about 3 weeks ago in hopes of becoming pregnant soon. I am experiencing a rapid resting heart rate (100) and occasional mild chest pains. My blood pressure, however, is normal. I have also had a pain in my lower right abdomen below my hip bone off-and-on for a week. The first day it was sharp and lasted about 20 minutes and I thought it was ovulatory pain (and I guess it still could be). When it lingered, I thought it was my appendix, and now I'm a little confused as to what it is. It is mild and only happens for a few minutes a day. I'm just wondering if these things are all linked to the timing of stopping Yasmin. Has anyone else experienced any of these symptoms? I'm becoming paranoid about my health.

It is scary to read everyone's posts on this drug. I also had two shots of Kenalog within the past 3 months for a problem in my cervical spine. I had mild side effects from the first shot, but since the second one, the side effects have gotten more severe. I've gained 15 lbs (and I've been on a strict diet so there's no reason to have gained that weight). Also, after the second shot I had absolutely excruciating joint pain in my knees and ankles, my face is puffy, I have a hump on my back in between my shoulders, my resting heart rate is up at about 108, and I have random stretch marks on my thighs. I believe that all of these side effects are from the Kenalog because I've always been very healthy and in excellent shape and have never had health problems until now. My dr. did all kinds of blood tests and an EKG and everything came back normal, which also tells me the problems are from the drug. This shot was the biggest mistake of my life! My dr. is still insisting that my problems aren't from the shot and he wanted to do a third injection. I said ABSOLUTELY NO! I went and got a second opinion, and my new dr. said that all of these side effects are from the massive amounts of Kenalog that was pumped into my spine and I'm on a new treatment plan. I am against these types of injections. It has caused me more harm then good.

The health care system has failed me and led me to believe that I had many issues "inside my head." I was on yasmin since spring 07 and was fine for half a year until the symptoms one by one crept up. I too was experiencing the fatigue, the vomiting, the mood swings, the depression and anxiety. I've been known to be very laid back, very easy going, so when I had my first panic attack ever, I knew something was off.
Soon after, I started to experience heart palpitations, chest pains, shortness of breath. One day I was so freaked out I went to the E.R. with a standing heart rate of 142. When all the tests turned out clear, they told me that I should visit the psychiatric clinic. When they asked if I was on any medications, I told them I was on yasmin. The doctors looked at eachother with a confused look and asked me "What's yasmin?" Shows how much they know!
I was getting better overall until a few late-nite episodes had me waking up with my heart pounding and my thoughts racing. This happened two nights in a row which disheartened me since I thought I was slowly getting better. Then, I found this website, and everything made sense. I stopped taking the pill that night, and that night, I slept fine. It's been about three weeks since I've been off of yasmin and I'm 80% back to normal. I was at the point that I thought I would never laugh as loud or never smile as much as I did a year ago. The other day I caught myself with a huge smile for no reason at all . . . and that's when I knew I was on track to recovery.
I started to ask around and found out that many women have experienced very negative effects from yasmin. Last week, I told the woman whose office is next to mine and she proclaimed "I had the same thing too! So did my sister!"
The doctors won't believe you. Many of them are buttered up by the drug companies. Even my sister who's an RN told me that sometimes, you need to be your own doctor. And for symptoms of anxiety, depression, I would recommend 5-htp. It's a plant-derived natural supplement that increases the production of your seratonin. It's so easy to get misdiagnosed and placed on some other medication that has other adverse side effects.
Spread the good word, ladies. We must reach out to one another and take care of one another like sisters. Afterall, who else is there who we can rely on?

I took Chantix for about a month. It lessened my cravings to smoke, but I started getting heart palpitations really bad. I ended up in the ER one day and the Dr. told me that he had never seen that side effect. He looked up the side effects in his palm pilot, and found that it was the very last side effect in the list. I decided to get off Chantix to see if that would help. Well now I'm going to be on Toprol for the rest of my life. They won't say for certain whether it was the Chanitix that caused it or not. Coincidence? I'm not sure. All I know, is that my heart was completely fine before it, and now if I am an hour late taking the Toprol my heart goes insane. My cardiologist has no clue what happened (I've been to two). I'm only 33 years old, and taking this medication for the rest of my life.
Has anyone experienced heart palpitations after starting Chantix?

I a 49 year old male. A little while ago I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. My TSH was at 43. I have been taken Synthroid for a little over 3 months. I started with 25mcg and was recently increased to 50mcg since my TSH was still at a high 15. I also thought it prudent, since I had gained a lot of weight over the last year and a half, to also diet and exercise a little. In the last 5 weeks I have lost 32 pounds. (I was about 80 pounds more than I liked). I have more energy, have not lost anymore hair than normal, and my hair is not brittle. I have episodes of Atrial Fibrillation since I was 30 and occasional "heart flips" ever since. Since taking the Synthroid I have not experienced these "flips" at all. I sleep well. My blood pressure was High in the past and was taking two meds for it. Since taking the Synthroid (I'm also guessing the weight loss, diet and exercise has also helped) I am down to one med and I now have a BP of 110/65 with a resting heart rate of 64. By the way..I am taking the generic form of Synthroid.

Maybe I'm not crazy after all. I'm a 55-year-old female who has been taking Advair for close to 5 years. I have adult onset asthma and was using Albuterol to control it until my allergist placed me on Advair. It does a great job on my asthma, but at what price? During that time I've gained weight regardless of my diet and exercise regimen. I feel like I haven't slept in years and I'm convinced that it will eventually kill me because that makes everything else so much more difficult to deal with. I'm having major hair loss, hoarseness (I really miss singing), heart palpitations, extreme fluctuating blood pressure, heartburn, lethargy, blurred vision, twitching muscles. I finally decided that I had to change something and I found this website last week. I quit Advair cold-turkey. Probably not the right thing to do, but I was really on the brink. It's been nearly a week and I'm having extreme dizziness, terrible vision problems and awful headaches, but I am persevering.

I just took my first pill of Toprol XL. Looks like I'm going to be in a world of hurt. I went running in prep for the police academy and after that my resting heart rate was 113 - 126. Did an ekg and it said my right atria was enlarged. Doctor gave me the Toprol but now I don't know if I really want since I'm already suicidal. If I don't respond in a week you'll all know I'm six feet under. Ha

I started this drug on 2/15/08 and by today 2/25/08 I couldn't handle it. I have a resting heart rate of 135 bpm without any exertion. I've been to my doctor three times in the past week due to symptoms. Fatigued, unable to sleep at night, restlessness in my arms, fever and rapid heart rate. I was beginning to think I was going crazy. I'm 41 year old female who has been relatively healthy until I was put on this drug. The last 10 days have been awful. I'm glad I found this site.

My doctor switched me to another drug today, which she claims doesn't have any effects on the heart rate. I'll keep you posted.

Shortness of breath, foggy headed, joint pain, weight gain, stiff neck, clicking sounds, loss or flexibility of joints, tired. Felt old! Went on Toprol-xl for maintenance only. Never had high b/p. Talked with a friend, then found this web sight. Guess I'm not alone. Guess it's not me! Changed doctor now, one that will listen. She urged me to go off it and monitor my b/p. Took about 2 weeks, been off for a total of 3 weeks now. Feel great. Most symptoms are gone. No more inhaler and feel better. Clear headed again. Blood pressure is now high though. Don't know if it's me or the drug. Don't know if drug has done any damage. Had an ekg done. Dr. said heart is working to hard now. Wants to do a complete stress test. My wife and I are worried if its the Toprol-xl wearing off, or not. Anyone else had an ekg done. Does Toprol-xl damage your heart? Need answers. Looking for feed back. I'm only 53. Never had health problems before. Thought I was just growing old!

I am a 19 year old female who has taken Singulair for allergies for about 8 months. As I sit typing this, I am wearing a 24 hour Holter monitor to rule out any serious heart problems. I have been experiencing a high resting heart rate, feeling my heart pounding, fatigue, anxiety, irritability, and pains in my chest/upper back. I went to the ER on Dec 12 because my heart rate was so high, and they found no apparent cause for it, they said "Oh, no, it's fine to take the Singulair". I then followed up with my PCP and she said the same thing, "Yes, it's fine to keep taking it". She was testing me for hyperactive thyroid, and they did blood work that turned up nothing. I will hopefully get the results of the Holter this week and I am hoping they will be clear. I believe that my symptoms are from the Singulair and last night was my last dose. I feel relieved to hear others experiencing these same symptoms, as I was starting to become anxious that I had a very serious or permanent illness. I will update after I am off the Singulair for a while.

All I have to say is that if you start Yaz and have any kind of leg cramping--see your doctor and insist they make SURE it's not a DVT. I started Yaz last Spring. I am 41 but I'm a fitness fanatic who doesn't smoke or drink. I have a very low resting heart rate and exercise all the time. One would think I'd be a likely candidate for success on Yaz.

I went to my regular doctor in July because I had had a leg "cramp" at night and wanted to make sure it wasn't anything serious. My "cramp" was not the usual tightening of the calf muscle. It was an achy cramp at the side of my calf. I hadn't experienced anything like it previously. My doctor assured me it was muscular so I ignored it and went on to have two or three more episodes over the next few months.

My last "cramp" happened 3 or 4 days before I had what I originally thought were abdominal pains. I woke up early one morning thinking I had the worst gas I'd ever had. I tried all day to make myself feel better (walking on the treadmill, drinking lots of water). Finally that night I went to the ER since I was supposed to board a plane the next morning and wasn't sure what was wrong.

After many tests, I was diagnosed with a blood clot in each lung. I was hospitalized for 5 days and am now on blood thinners. From what I've learned, athletes can be at a greater risk for DVT than the general public since low heart rates and dehydration can mean less viscosity in the blood.

Needless to say, I'm not a big fan of Yaz. I think the hormones combined with the diuretic wreaked havoc on me. I have a hard enough time staying hydrated as it is without taking a diuretic. Little did I know I was putting my life at risk by taking that little pill.

I started taking Diovan about 9 years ago. At the time my doctor prescribed it because the medicine I had been on (Lotensin) was causing me to hack and cough (which was keeping me up all night long).

I started out at 80mg & then 3 years ago my bp began creeping up. I was then prescribed a 80mg dosage with 12.5 diurectic. I am now taking one 160mg/12.5 & one 80mg/12.5 pill each day.

Since I have been on Diovan I have experienced significant, yet unexplained weight gain (approximately 150 lbs), drastic hair loss, insomnia, itchy skin and more recently, brittle teeth (2 of which have broken off).

Over the years I have been blamed by the doctors for not taking control of my weight. Yet with swimming 4-5 days a week, walking & using an elliptical machine, and changing my diet (and eliminating processed/bleached food) I could only get down to 220lbs.

At this point, I do not know where to turn for advice. The doctors use more meds to mask the side effects of other meds & I have yet to find one that doesn't play into that mindset.

After only taking one dose for a UTI my blood pressure went from 117/74 to 140/110 with a resting heart rate of 120. I could not sleep and my legs kept shaking. I felt very anxious and nervous. My doctor knows that I have problems with my nerves, and then decided to give me this stuff? Can't wait until they open so I can give them a call.

I'm glad I read this site and I can suspect the medication instead of something else being wrong with me.

I took mucofen for bronchitis, and within one hour of taking the pill, my heart was racing (resting heart rate of 95 when I am normally 55-60). I was jittery, anxious, restless, felt just miserable. I didn't take any more of the medicine, but it took a full 24 hours to wear off. I do tend to have very strong reactions to medication, but this was very distressing. Use with caution.

I had two abblations a month apart to fix Wolff-Parkenson-White Syndrome that I was born with. I am a 31 yr MWF. The Toprol XL 50mg helped lower my fast racing heart rate (resting heart rate 100-140)after surgery, but I and my husband have noticed several side effects:
5-10 pound weight gain, even with drinking 80-90+ ounces of water a day with a good diet.
VERY moody.
tired all the time.
hard to wake up in the morning, even after taking a three hour nap in the middle of the day.
no drive to do anything, not even sex.
very vivid dreams.
But my heart rate is normal now, 65-80 bpm while at rest. I will be going off this medication in 2 weeks. CAN'T WAIT!!!

I have been on Toprol XL 50MG for 6 months for Right Ventrical Outflow Track Tach (RVOT) am 46yr male.

Side effects:

1. Weight gain (180 to 195) despite dieting
2. Tiredness
3. Very Low heart rate (Resting heart rate is now 40)
4. Just started having Vertigo (Extreme dizziness when sitting up)
5. Chest pains
6. Familiar Tremors have stopped (This is a benefit)

The RVOT symptoms have subsided but I'm not sure that it is worth it.

I've been on 90mg of prednisone for about a month and a half for nephrotic syndrome and have had some of the more common side effects like the round face, some weight gain, dizzy spells, and some others.

I started to feel better after about 3 weeks on the drug then I started to get a weakness in my legs almost to the point that I can't support my own body. I know that prednisone causes muscle weakness but this seems excessive. I have to keep myself from falling nearly every time I try to walk, even short distances. My doctors are looking into it just to make sure it's not something else but I think it's the drug.
Has anyone else had this problem and does it get any better? As far as my blood work goes, I'm not dehydrated and my potassium levels are fine so we know that is not the problem.

Also, I'm starting to have some heart problems. Before the prednisone my resting heart rate was in the 60's now it's in the upper 90's and even goes up into the 100-120's. And if I even walk to the bathroom it goes into the 150's. And my blood pressure is extremely high. Anyone else dealt with this. It's worrying me and my primary doc seems really worried about it but my kidney specialist just wants me to wait it out and stay on the high dose as long as I can.

I'm at the point where my kindey specialist says if I go off the prednisone it could lead to kidney failure but my primary doc says that if I stay on such a high dose I'm at risk for a heart attack.

My unabashed opinion - do whatever you can to get yourself OFF Advair - then, off of Corticosteroids, too. I'm a 39 year old, 5'2", 95lb. , athletic woman. First daignosed with Asthma when pregnant with first child, 6 years ago. Immediately put on Azmacort throughout remainder of pregnancy, and beyond. OK, diagnosed with Preecclampsia during labor (dangerously high blood pressure), then, severe post partum depression. Also, kept feeling like I was blacking out or fainting. Continued for months, until I requested an MRI - diagnosed with "WORST SINUS INFECTION THEY HAD EVER SEEN". Ok, finally a bit better - then, started having severe Anxiety / Panic Attacks - Many times to ER. Therapy and anidepressants prescribed. Knew that Paxil and Celexa felt REALLY bad - weaned myself off. THat resolved those. Next - multiple repeated sinus infections. And, since all colds go directly to my chest, which causes my Ashtama - that was bad. Put on ADVAIR about two years ago, after my second child. Since then, I've had:

Meningitis (unknown source)
Shingles
Repeated Infections
Headaches
Arthric joints
Urinary Tract Infections
Pain / Weakness in Arms
Heart Palpatations
Mood Variations - severe bad moods
and, much more

NOTE: prior to my first experience with steroids - I've NEVER taken any medication - not even Antibiotics (for 25 years)

Last week, I just had it. I had already instructed my Dr. to lower my dose of Advair to 100/50. I had been on 250/50. I was on that for over a month, but still felt awful. Most notable side effect was nervousness, and anger. Just instructed him to put me on Flovent 44. (One of the components of Advair). Two days later - nervousness has stopped significantly. Also, much lower resting heart rate. I'm going to an Osteopath next week. I want off of everything, soon!