Tachycardia (rapid heart beat)-- scared - Heart Disorders Message Board

tmapj · 04-20-2006, 09:44 AM

Hi and thanks for reading my post.

I've experienced 2 episodes of tachycardia. The first one was a reaction to geodon or effexor, or the combination of the two. I went to the hospital and was given the diagnosis of panic attacks/anxiety even though my pulse was constantly above 120, and even woke be up in the middle of the night because of chest pain and a pounding heart. I stopped both medications, and the tachycardia stopped shortly afterwards.

Two weeks ago, in an attempt to have a quick fix to my crippling psychotic depression, I took large doses of remeron (120 mg per day) amitriptyline (25 mg per day) and seroquil (125 mg per day) for a week or so. My heart rate had risen by the end of the week to the point of having pain again in my chest. My pulse hovered around 140. I went to the hospital again. This time they took me a little more seriously, since it was a continuing problem. They ran every test they could on me ( EKG, ultra sound, cardiagraph, stress test, etc.) took several blood and urine tests and monitored my heart over night. Everything was A-OK, I just happened to have a pulse rate that wouldn't go below 120. They dismissed me again with a Rx of xanax, and told me to follow up with a Dr. I did as directed.

Anyway, my heart rate went down with the xanax to a little above 100, but it stayed there for a week. Yesterday I went off the xanax. My heart rate once again went above 120 and stayed there, and the heart pain returned. One might think the best thing to do would be to stay on the xanax, and let things be, but my heart rate before this happened was 80, and I never had to take any antianxiety medication. At this point I'm wondering what the f*** is wrong and what the hell I should do. Every time I go to the hospital they dismiss me with the same diagnosis, but I'm 20 years old, and my blood pressure is perfect, and as severeal Drs and nurses have commented, "I shouldn't ever be having any pain in my heart".

Any insight or help would be appreciated.

whoever · 04-20-2006, 09:54 AM

Hi, I really don't know anything that would help you out... but my heart rate is always 100, always has been. I get a pounding heart beat a lot too, I have big blood pressure changes (usually low) which makes that happen with dizziness. I also have an anxiety disorder but I'm not sure that that's the cause, as it happens mostly when I'm lying down relaxed. I hope you find some help for it. Good luck!

missy101 · 04-20-2006, 11:50 AM

I have tachycardia that went undiagnosed for over 10 years. They kept patting me on the head telling me it was panic disorder. Finally, my rate went to 150 for over 5 hours. As I was in the ER my BP dropped to 50/30. FInally, they took me seriously.

I started taking a beta blocker that helped me with both the anxiety and tachy. I also now take klonopin. Both meds have improved my life in ways I cannot explain. Klonopin is in the same family as xanax but is longer lasting and usually taken daily. I think many tachycardias, arrythmias, and anxiety (as well as MANY MANY other ailments) are VERY related and intertwined. I also think it is a physical/physio problem...NOT all in our heads.

I would find a good cardio and a GREAT psychiatrist. They CAN help!!

ITrustMySoulNYC · 04-20-2006, 01:29 PM

Hey,
I have Tachycardia, I don't have "episodes", I have CONSTANT exteme tachycardia where my heart rate has NEVER been below 120 my entire life (or atleast the past 7-8 years where I have been monitored). I also don't have depression/anxiety. Because of that, I can't really give much advice on episodes of tachycardia, but I can tell you that you NEED a very good cardiologist. You should also look into the ingredients of the meds you are taking, as my guess is that they contain stimulants (anti depression meds usually do, therefore they make your heart rate go up). Especially if you took large doses of it like you said, it's a reaction to the chemicals.... don't do that, and maybe you won't get tachy

Maybe it could all go back to normal (80s) if you stopped taking the meds, which I know would be tough. If they put you on anti-anxiedty meds, you probably shouldn't just stop them cold turkey, it could be a jolt to your system, which could have caused your last episode. I'm not a doctor, but I've been to about a bazillion doctors and have researched like crazy. Get a good psych and a good cardio and make sure they work TOGETHER, so you aren't prescribed anything that could affect the other symptoms, unless you wanna be prescribed more meds ontop of more meds, etc etc.
Hope it all works out for you!!

missy101 · 04-20-2006, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ITrustMySoulNYC

Get a good psych and a good cardio and make sure they work TOGETHER, so you aren't prescribed anything that could affect the other symptoms, unless you wanna be prescribed more meds ontop of more meds, etc etc.
Hope it all works out for you!!

Exactly. During the years I was told it was all in my head and tried A LOT of different anti-depressant type meds...it was bad. When I brought the list of meds I had been on in the past years to my new psychiatrist..he said I am lucky they didnt kill me. Some of the drugs in combo and alone were quite bad for me. But because the tachy was never diagnosed...know what I mean??