hopesprings2
07-04-2008, 03:41 PM
fast heart rate /skip beats/low b/p?medications?any one have fast heart rate /skipping beats and low b/p?
what meds do you take? Anyone take cardizem for this?
im chicken to take it since it is a blood preasure med and mine is already low?
what meds do you take? Anyone take cardizem for this?
im chicken to take it since it is a blood preasure med and mine is already low?
Sponsor
fancis
07-04-2008, 05:52 PM
Hi,
I have fast heart rate (resting fast and also PSVT). My bp is usually 90/60 during the day, lower at night. I take 25 mg Toprol 2x a day and it has slowed my hr but not lowered my bp at all (phew). I'm always careful about standing up slowly, etc anyways just in case. I also make sure to drink lots of cold water.
I have fast heart rate (resting fast and also PSVT). My bp is usually 90/60 during the day, lower at night. I take 25 mg Toprol 2x a day and it has slowed my hr but not lowered my bp at all (phew). I'm always careful about standing up slowly, etc anyways just in case. I also make sure to drink lots of cold water.
aether4
07-04-2008, 07:20 PM
I have postural tachycardia - higher heart rate when sitting up and standing, when standing it can be anywhere from 120s to 160s... maybe higher. My blood pressure is low. I can only get 90/60 or higher if I take medication to make it higher or when I have tach in excess of 140bpm. In my case it is low blood pressure, low blood volume, and vasodilation causing the tachycardia.
Find out why your blood pressure is low. Take measures to correct that - up blood pressure and blood volume and that may help correct the heart rate. Meds that do help with that and are typically first ones tried are fludrocortisone and midodrine. Many people take both a beta blocker and those two meds to off set the lowering effect the beta blocker has.
Find out why your blood pressure is low. Take measures to correct that - up blood pressure and blood volume and that may help correct the heart rate. Meds that do help with that and are typically first ones tried are fludrocortisone and midodrine. Many people take both a beta blocker and those two meds to off set the lowering effect the beta blocker has.
hopesprings2
07-05-2008, 12:18 AM
Hi,
I have fast heart rate (resting fast and also PSVT). My bp is usually 90/60 during the day, lower at night. I take 25 mg Toprol 2x a day and it has slowed my hr but not lowered my bp at all (phew). I'm always careful about standing up slowly, etc anyways just in case. I also make sure to drink lots of cold water.
That is low
however im so glad to talk to someone who knows what this is all about.Does this medication work for the fast rate?Does the doctor think it is safe for your blood preasure to be this low?
I have fast heart rate (resting fast and also PSVT). My bp is usually 90/60 during the day, lower at night. I take 25 mg Toprol 2x a day and it has slowed my hr but not lowered my bp at all (phew). I'm always careful about standing up slowly, etc anyways just in case. I also make sure to drink lots of cold water.
That is low
however im so glad to talk to someone who knows what this is all about.Does this medication work for the fast rate?Does the doctor think it is safe for your blood preasure to be this low?
hopesprings2
07-05-2008, 12:21 AM
I have postural tachycardia - higher heart rate when sitting up and standing, when standing it can be anywhere from 120s to 160s... maybe higher. My blood pressure is low. I can only get 90/60 or higher if I take medication to make it higher or when I have tach in excess of 140bpm. In my case it is low blood pressure, low blood volume, and vasodilation causing the tachycardia.
Find out why your blood pressure is low. Take measures to correct that - up blood pressure and blood volume and that may help correct the heart rate. Meds that do help with that and are typically first ones tried are fludrocortisone and midodrine. Many people take both a beta blocker and those two meds to off set the lowering effect the beta blocker has.They dont seem to tell me why my rate is fast or skipping.Just toss meds and see i guess.You all make me feel better.Im so thankful to talk to you all.Since my b/p is already low im chicken to talk the b/p meds lol
but the skipping and fast rate is not nice either.
Find out why your blood pressure is low. Take measures to correct that - up blood pressure and blood volume and that may help correct the heart rate. Meds that do help with that and are typically first ones tried are fludrocortisone and midodrine. Many people take both a beta blocker and those two meds to off set the lowering effect the beta blocker has.They dont seem to tell me why my rate is fast or skipping.Just toss meds and see i guess.You all make me feel better.Im so thankful to talk to you all.Since my b/p is already low im chicken to talk the b/p meds lol
but the skipping and fast rate is not nice either.
hopesprings2
07-05-2008, 12:25 AM
I have postural tachycardia - higher heart rate when sitting up and standing, when standing it can be anywhere from 120s to 160s... maybe higher. My blood pressure is low. I can only get 90/60 or higher if I take medication to make it higher or when I have tach in excess of 140bpm. In my case it is low blood pressure, low blood volume, and vasodilation causing the tachycardia.
Find out why your blood pressure is low. Take measures to correct that - up blood pressure and blood volume and that may help correct the heart rate. Meds that do help with that and are typically first ones tried are fludrocortisone and midodrine. Many people take both a beta blocker and those two meds to off set the lowering effect the beta blocker has.This is great info.thanks so much
however why b/p meds for this not other medications?
Find out why your blood pressure is low. Take measures to correct that - up blood pressure and blood volume and that may help correct the heart rate. Meds that do help with that and are typically first ones tried are fludrocortisone and midodrine. Many people take both a beta blocker and those two meds to off set the lowering effect the beta blocker has.This is great info.thanks so much
however why b/p meds for this not other medications?
aether4
07-05-2008, 03:39 AM
This is great info.thanks so much
however why b/p meds for this not other medications?
In my case, I take midodrine - it is a vasoconstrictor that also raises blood pressure. I have some issues with blood pooling and this helps. By helping my blood pressure raise my heart gets the message that it doesn't need to work so hard and lowers it's rate. Sometimes it just helps a little, but usually it makes a difference in me actually being able to stand. I'm considering making an appointment sooner and asking about fludrocortisone to help my blood pressure and volume issues more.
If ok'ed by your doctor, try fluid and salt loading to increase your blood volume and pressure. Gatorade, if you can drink it, can help. Or just salt all your food - make sure to eat foods high in potassium or take a supplement as a higher salt diet will make your body lose potassium.
I'm not sure why my doctor hasn't mentioned a beta blocker for me. Maybe because no one has listened to my concerned over my HR or maybe it's because my BP will fall very low already (40s/30s sometimes, but typically 50s/30s when supine). Also, if my BP issues aren't controlled and I were to take a beta blocker it might cause me to start fainting regularly - I also have some bradycardia, very noticeable when I do faint.
And yes, occasionally I do feel my heart skip beats. My understanding is that these are likely just PVCs, harmless unless you get a long episode of them, and that they are somewhat typical in people that have tachycardia. I only feel them when my BP is very low and my heart rate is in the low to normal resting (supine) range - they usually wake me up night.
To be sure of what is going on, request a holter monitor or a longer event monitor.
however why b/p meds for this not other medications?
In my case, I take midodrine - it is a vasoconstrictor that also raises blood pressure. I have some issues with blood pooling and this helps. By helping my blood pressure raise my heart gets the message that it doesn't need to work so hard and lowers it's rate. Sometimes it just helps a little, but usually it makes a difference in me actually being able to stand. I'm considering making an appointment sooner and asking about fludrocortisone to help my blood pressure and volume issues more.
If ok'ed by your doctor, try fluid and salt loading to increase your blood volume and pressure. Gatorade, if you can drink it, can help. Or just salt all your food - make sure to eat foods high in potassium or take a supplement as a higher salt diet will make your body lose potassium.
I'm not sure why my doctor hasn't mentioned a beta blocker for me. Maybe because no one has listened to my concerned over my HR or maybe it's because my BP will fall very low already (40s/30s sometimes, but typically 50s/30s when supine). Also, if my BP issues aren't controlled and I were to take a beta blocker it might cause me to start fainting regularly - I also have some bradycardia, very noticeable when I do faint.
And yes, occasionally I do feel my heart skip beats. My understanding is that these are likely just PVCs, harmless unless you get a long episode of them, and that they are somewhat typical in people that have tachycardia. I only feel them when my BP is very low and my heart rate is in the low to normal resting (supine) range - they usually wake me up night.
To be sure of what is going on, request a holter monitor or a longer event monitor.
fancis
07-05-2008, 10:25 AM
Hi Hopesprings,
My medication does help control my hr. My resting hr was always high and walking around during the day it would be 140ish with no real exertion. It's now much better controlled. However, I can really feel when it's time for my next Beta Blocker dose. My hr gets a bit higher 1/2-1 hour before a scheduled dose, after taking my scheduled dose it will go back to a normal level within the hour or so. I've had very few breakthrough PSVT episodes while on my Toprol and they are short episodes. I was scared to start on the Beta Blocker also because of my low bp. The first week (maybe 2) I felt tired, sluggish, lightheaded, etc. I hung in there and now really don't have side effects from it. Sure I get tired during the day, but who doesn't? Can't necessarily blame the BB. :-)
My cardiologist is fine with my low bp, my primary doesn't like it that low. I've always had low bp and it's never been symptomatic. The Beta doesn't seem to lower it, if it does it's not by much. Like I mentioned before, I'm very careful to stay well hydrated (I hear cold water is better to raise low bp) and careful when I sit up, stand, etc. I do have dizziness from time to time walking around but that could be a few other problems I have. I eat several small meals/snacks a day. I make sure that I eat plenty of foods that are high in potassium and magnesium and do feel that this makes a difference. Any time I've been in the ER for heart related issues first blood tests they mention are for potassium and magnesium levels. I do add salt to some of my foods to keep my bp up.
My medication does help control my hr. My resting hr was always high and walking around during the day it would be 140ish with no real exertion. It's now much better controlled. However, I can really feel when it's time for my next Beta Blocker dose. My hr gets a bit higher 1/2-1 hour before a scheduled dose, after taking my scheduled dose it will go back to a normal level within the hour or so. I've had very few breakthrough PSVT episodes while on my Toprol and they are short episodes. I was scared to start on the Beta Blocker also because of my low bp. The first week (maybe 2) I felt tired, sluggish, lightheaded, etc. I hung in there and now really don't have side effects from it. Sure I get tired during the day, but who doesn't? Can't necessarily blame the BB. :-)
My cardiologist is fine with my low bp, my primary doesn't like it that low. I've always had low bp and it's never been symptomatic. The Beta doesn't seem to lower it, if it does it's not by much. Like I mentioned before, I'm very careful to stay well hydrated (I hear cold water is better to raise low bp) and careful when I sit up, stand, etc. I do have dizziness from time to time walking around but that could be a few other problems I have. I eat several small meals/snacks a day. I make sure that I eat plenty of foods that are high in potassium and magnesium and do feel that this makes a difference. Any time I've been in the ER for heart related issues first blood tests they mention are for potassium and magnesium levels. I do add salt to some of my foods to keep my bp up.