Hi everyone, i have been having a rapid heart rate for quite some while now. I am sure it is due to anxiety. I do have a chronic health condition called Ulcerative Colitis. Inflmmation of the colon. www.ccfa.org for details. I do have MVP as well. Ever since i started prednisone i have always felt wired, this eventually sent me to the ER cause i had a panic attack. While int he ER my heart rate was 170. They gave me ativan through IV and it slowed down. `I do bleed with my colitis but have not in a while, my blood counts are all good. They have done complete labs on me as well as MANY EKG's which all come back normal. I had an echo done as well while i was admitted to the hospital for my chronic condition. It was fine. Just seems like now i am scared about public places becasuse i always think my HR is to fast. I have an appointment with a cardioligist dec 4th. I went to a clinic to see about getting something for my anxiety, ofcourse my HR was up so they did yet another EKG. sinus tachardia. they gave me some valium to help relax me, they seem tot hink its because of the steroids i am on which i am now tapering. When i wake up i feel anxiety, i think it is just thinking about how the day will go ect.l The dr in the clinic said she could prescribe me something to slow my HR but since i am on steriods that may be whats causing it so she said the meds could slow my heart rate to low once i am on the prednisone. so i am seeing the cardiologist. Any advice? also i just ate a rather large meal and soon after that my HR just started booming. any advice would be nice. thanks, Shawn

i forgot to mention that during the rapid heart rates i get i feel my heart skip beats.

any advice at all??

Shawn,
I don't have a lot of experience with prednisone other than taking a couple courses of it (shingles and ear surgery.)
Of course, the best class of drugs for tachycardias are the beta blockers which WILL slow your heart. BUT since they are potent antihypertensives, they will lessen the effect of high blood pressure andd water retention that prednisone usually causes.
I don't think prednisone and beta-blockers are contraindicated.

I think a titrated doseage of a beta bllocker could give you waht you want. Just keep monitoring your heart rate and blood pressure. Something like atenolol 50 mg. once per day might be a good place to start. Mention it to your doctor and see if he concurs. If your heart rate goes too low, you can split the pills to 25 mg.

Getting off prednisone is a GREAT idea if it is possible...the long term useage of this potent steroid can have really horrific consequences, especially on the joints and adrenals.
It is a wonderful antiinflammatory but really must be used only when REALLY needed and for as short a time as necessary and no longer.