Skipped beats - Heart Disorders Message Board

TexasCookie · 09-11-2004, 08:36 AM

For almost a year now I've been having my heart skip beats. Sometimes it happens a few times a day, sometimes all day long and sometimes not at all. I had an echo/stress done, cardiologist did an EKG and have been wearing what I think is called a king of hearts for the past 4 days, where I push a button when I feel something and then call it in and transmit the episode to the techs. This whole thing is very annoying and sometimes it just scares me to death when it goes on for ever and doesn't seem to want to stop.

I'm on verapamil 180 for my BP which is now always well below 120/80, and I take zantax 150 for heartburn and ibeuprofen as needed. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia several years ago also.

Does anyone else have these skipped beats and have you found out why?

Mary Lou

Machaon · 09-11-2004, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasCookie

I'm on verapamil 180 for my BP which is now always well below 120/80, and I take zantax 150 for heartburn and ibeuprofen as needed. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia several years ago also.

Does anyone else have these skipped beats and have you found out why?

Mary Lou

Did you have these skipped beats before you took Verapamil?

TexasCookie · 09-11-2004, 11:05 AM

As far as I can remember these started shortly after the verapamil. I also have a problem with losing hair like crazy and it drives me and everyone else in the house crazy. These things start and I get scared and they get worse and then I get on a crying jag and I really feel helpless. My daughter is a paramedic and says as long as my BP is ok and I'm not having chest pains I should be fine. She's here this weekend so I feel a little better.

Machaon · 09-11-2004, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasCookie

As far as I can remember these started shortly after the verapamil.

Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker. That means that it reduces the calcium ion flow within the calcium channel of the heart. In other words, less calcium gets to the heart.

I was on Verapamil for many years, three times per day. I found out that I had to take it at least 2.5 hours away from my other meds, or I would get all kinds of heart rhythm problems.

I also found out that I couldn't take a vitamin/mineral pill anymore, only a vitamin pill.

Also....... I could not eat or drink anything with calcium within 2.5 hours of taking the verapamil. If you are on the slow release, once a day, version, and if calcium foods or drinks are effecting you, I don't know how you would handle this. If I consumed too much calcium ANYTIME during the day, I would have all kinds of heartbeat problems. The most annoying was when my heart would beat very hard all day long. You could see the heart beating by just watching my shirt.

Quote:

I also have a problem with losing hair like crazy and it drives me and everyone else in the house crazy.

I also had daily hair loss. I looked it up and found out that most heart meds can cause this, including Calcium Channel Blockers like Verapamil.

Quote:

These things start and I get scared and they get worse and then I get on a crying jag and I really feel helpless. My daughter is a paramedic and says as long as my BP is ok and I'm not having chest pains I should be fine. She's here this weekend so I feel a little better.

You would have to evaluate how well the Verapamil was working for you. If it is doing the job except for a few skipped heart beats, and the doctor says that you are doing fine, AND you can accept the hair loss, you might decide to stay with it. Otherwise, discuss your problems with your doctor. There are other blood pressure meds out there, that might be better for you. Ace Inhibitors are supposed to be very good and are not an anti-arrythmic drug like Verapamil. I am not a doctor, so I have no idea what would be best for you.

Regards, and best of luck and health!