help needed with heart palpitations

Question

I have been prescribed atenolol because of heart palpitations. Another reason for the medication is because of anxiety. I was using (and abusing) ativan (I am in recovery now) so the doctor switched me to the beta blocker to see if it would help with the anxiety and it did. Over the years I have taken as much as 50 mg 3 times a day. I am now at 25 mg 2 times a day which seems to work well enough. Other than the anxiety, which I now take antidepressants that emotionally do clear the anxiety, what else physically could be the cause? I still do have the palpitations (I have learned to live with them, no actually they drive me crazy) and the doc doesn't want to increase the bb because of low blood pressure. The echo looks good. I am 56, atrial chamber is borderline enlarged; mild lv diastolic dysfunction, and ef is 60%.

This discussion is related to Different Diagnoses.

Mike999827 · Answer

Hi, thanks for your response.  I think I mentioned that I am taking an antidepressant that oddly enough has "cured" me of the palps.  Oddly again it is one that usually has side effects of making people a little more hyped up (Wellbutrin), but for me its like my heart has gone to sleep.  When my pulse is taken, it still is fast 90+ but I don't feel it ever like I use to even when I lay on my side in my chest region or on my ear...not a sound.  I consider myself pretty lucky.  Thanks again for your response.

dolphin8808 · Answer

Many times there is no reason for palpitations. With a normal echo and EKG the docs tend to shrug their shoulders and tell us to have a nice life. Sometimes it can be due to a blood imbalance... Other times it can be due to stimulants or other drug side effects. 

For many of us, there is no reason. They just happen and usually once they start, they are here to stay. So do not stress over them. Your heart is healthy, it just likes to misfire once in awhile.  I am in the same boat but do not take any medications for the palps.

One day you may wake up and they are gone and they may never come back, or you may have them everyday for the rest of your life, neither mean much. Many times it is just a matter of mentally accepting them and moving on. 

Good luck to you!