I have suffered with taking diltiazem(180 mg ER) AND metoprolol (50 mg ER) for atril fibrillation for the past two and a half years. The side effects have been debilitating.. Both drugs have the same side effects and together and one or the other or both create what I can only describe as chaotic turbulence in my chest and pain in my left arm when the second drug kicks in.. My cardiolgist now wants me to add a blood thinner (xarelto) to my meds menu.
My doctor put me on Diltiazem 24 hr. ER 180 mg. It seems that the chest pains are less frequent, but I still get the tight in the chest and breathing issues I had on the beta blocker. Do calcium channel blockers cause lung thightness? My BP was still around 130/90 2 weeks into the Diltiazem. We are checking again when I finish the bottle. Meanwhile, lots of aches and flue like sypmtoms. I always feel sick and tired. I sleep 9 hours a night, but wake up with anxiety attacks around midnight.
First time, adenosine failed twice to bring down 180+ pulse. Diltiazem given, and worked. Sent home with extended-release 120mg diltiazem. Experienced breakthrough arrhythmias and eventual return to tachycardia 170bpm that lasted 8 hours before heading to the ER again. Given fast-acting diltiazem 60mg, which seems to be working so far, although I'm still experiencing arrhythmias. Cardiologist preliminarily diagnosed AVNRT and recommended ablation asap.
Looking to safely taper off of my calcium channel blocker diltiazem extended release capsules. I have been on them a little over one year. My blood pressure is perfect and was perfect prior to my heart surgery. The only reason I am on them is because I had a large tumor in my heart and once I had my open heart surgery I developed post-op SVT, afib, a-flutter and my heart rate has skyrocketed over 200 beats per minute several times.
I had four episodes already this year even I took medicine Diltiazem (180 mg) everyday. The good thing is I can terminate it by taking extra Diltiazem (250 mg) and lay down for 30 mins.
My doctor told me my problem is left ventricular fascicular tachycardia, which is an uncommon tachycardia. My tachycardia is very sensitive to Diltiazem (calcium channel blocker). The doctor tried Adenosine, but it never works. If they inject Diltiazem, my tachycardia would terminate immediately.
No significant changes were observed in any of the values in patients taking either diltiazem hydrochloride (180 mg/day) or beta-blockers (15 mg of pindolol or 60 mg of propranolol daily). The decrease in HDL-cholesterol levels and increase in triglyceride levels reported in 1978 to be associated with use of propranolol, and with the concomitant use of hydrochlorothiazide and propranolol, was not found.
Don't worry about your liver on 10 mg twice a day. Unless, your liver is already failing.. you're golden. If only 10 mg helps you not to wake up racing, that is a blessing. I carry 10 mg tabs to take as needed. I have been known to take an extra 10-20 tabs a day at times. I call them PEZ because I thought they did nothing. I took them on top of a regular long acting propranolol dose. Haven't had to since adding the diltiazem and flecainide to the beta - blockers.
Abt 2 months ago cardio doc increased diltiazem to 240mg ER from 120 mg,(for irregular heartbeat) added xarelto 15mg as I had an episode of heart arrythmmia and palpitations. I am also on pravastatin 20 mg. I find diltiazem/xarelto interaction in only one place. Abt 10 days ago, started having diarrhea or several loose bm's per day. If this continues should I call the cardio doc re this problem or go see gastro doc?. I have had pancreatitis in past so have a gastro doc.
Again thank you for your reply. The diltiazem XT 180 mg was discontinued about five weeks ago for my Husband and the symptoms continue. Every time he changes position he turn red from head to toe. As a result of this symptom he has shortness of breath, fatigue and a drop in his BP. We have been to many Dr's with out a Dx. We are waiting for results of urine studies from the Endocrinologist.
t take care of the high HR. I take both Metoprolol and Diltiazem, 50 mg and 240 mg respectively. They seem to work well together. Maybe you can take a lower dose of Metoprolol along with the Diltiazem, perhaps at a higher dose.
Your post implies you nightmares are gone now that you are off of the BB... the CCB may also have that side effect.
Two weeks ago my Cardio doctor changed my medication from Cardizem LA to Diltiazem CD. I know it's the generic brand of Cardizem. Anyway he raised my dosage from 240 mg. to 300 mg. For a whole week I had some terrible side effects. I blacked out once while sitting at my computer and then I came close to blacking out on a daily basis. I also felt off balance. I ended up going to my primary doctor, not for this, but for something else. I guess it was a follow up appointment.
I had surgery last Friday and ever since then I've had an irregular heartbeat. I'm at a lost of what could be causing this.
Let me explain what had happened. Shortly after I woke up from surgery there were several doctors and nurses poking and prodding me and asking me how I was feeling. I felt fine except I was having a hard time waking up. When I finally did come to they told me my heart was beating irregular. They said it was fine during surgery, only afterwards.
I've been on verapamil SR 180 mg b.i.d. for 4 years now for PVCs. I do have some fatigue and brain fog and have had episodes of chest pain that might or might not be related to the drug (had cardiolite treadmill and stress/echo recently to rule out significant CAD).
The two side effects that nearly everyone has, from what I've been told, are mild pitting oedema and constipation. I have both.
The paramedics gave it to me twice (I believe 6 mg each time) and the Emergency Room doctor gave it to me two more times (I believe 6 mg and then 12 mg) -- a total of four times during one episode. Adenosine stopped my heart briefly, except for a little blip, but the rapid heart beat immediately returned. Others praise adenosine; it did no good at all for me. I am now taking Diltiazem (120 mg), and I don't think it is working.
He also put me on Diltiazem ER, with instructions to take three 30mg diltiazem fast acting, 30 minutes apart for an episode (which I just had this evening).........I add a 7.5 mg Tranxene, and that seems to help end it.......I'm nort an anxious person, but it's my opinion that my brain just automatically goes into that state when my heart is beating that fast and erratic.........
BP is relatively normal. I take indapmide for that (From my regular doctor). In fact when my cardilolgist put me on diltiazem, he took me off indapamide. That didn't last long. The diltiazem did nothing for my BP. It went back up (Only talking +/- 140/90), so let me add bavk the indapamide. So, that is not an issue. Just the MVP/ diltazem issue.The pulse can stay n the 60's for awhile. At most during the day, in the 80's. (Of course, that is only when the rythym is normal).
Hi, I'm a 33 year old male, not overweight, not diabetic, I've been dealing with tachycardia for some time now. It comes and goes. I found that 50mg of Metoprolol twice a day would mostly control it, but as a 33 year old man, I began to notice major erection issues since being on it. Talked to my doctor, they want me to start 120mg a day of Diltiazem. I'm a little nervous about it, but they assured me it's no more potent a medication.
i am 24 and am now on diltiazem lowest dose. i am very symptomatic to meds. i was on metoprolol and i had bad asthma with it. so recently i was switched. well i am a nursing student ready to graduate and am pretty fond of the heart and conduction, so i am affraid of things like clot formations and the fact that the medicine isnt stopping the flutters. if i up my dose i get very dizzy and feel like i have motion sickness like the floor is moving from under me. its really odd, anywho...
I was on metoprolol up until a week ago but was having frequent dose increases due to my svt breakthroughs on the med. I was up to 150 mg bid. I was also getting severe fatigue from the med. My cardio changed my med to verapamil 240 mg qday. I have noticed I'm still tachy 120's at times and up into the 150s. The worst part is I'm having horrid headaches and otc meds don't touch the pain.
I just spent 9 days on cardiac ward with hr in 180/190 every time I got up, in afib.. Finally they cardio converted and it straightened out.They tell me when the meds are stopped my heart will speed up... I'm taking bisoprolol and diltiazem and eloquis.. none of them slowed my heart while in hospital...
I guess I'm just curious if others here have stopped meds for this test and had an substantial increase in heart rate... I know what will be will be...
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