Palpatations after taking too much cough meds.

[kari366]

I was wondering if anyone ever had this happen to them. My son is 21 and he has had a cough for 5 weeks now, he has no insurance and many kidney issues, so he didn't want to run up anymore bills to the doctors office, he decided to take robitussin, when 2 didn't work, he went to 4, and when that didn't work he went to 8, he then decided to take delysum and robitussin together, and maybe that would stop him from coughing. It didn't stop him from coughing, but he ended up in the ICU unit of the hospitol, his heart rate was 153 resting, and other issues too. Now he's out, but he still is very dizzy, and constant heart palpatations and when we take his pulse, it's usually between 125 and 150, I'm not sure what to do, the doctor at the hospitol said this should resolve within 2 days, but it's been 4 days now, and it isn't getting any better.  Should I take him to a electophysiologist (spelling?), I have a really good one, but I don't want to put him through this if it's going to go away soon.  

[Momto3]

Cough and cold medications are notorious for setting off extra beats and tachycardia.  UGH!!  My doctor advised me to avoid them if at all possible.  

If he continues to feel dizzy, etc, you may want to suggest he visit an Urgent Care.  Or, do you have a family doctor that he could see?  

[Bromley]

I am sorry to hear about all of this. I think the first thing I would do is call the doctor that saw your son at the hospital. I would do this immediately. He or she said that the problem should resolve in 2 days and it hasn't. What does the doctor recommend? If the doctor isn't available, ask his RN.  Does the RN think that the situation requires another visit to urgent care or the emergency room? If not, do you fully understand and agree with her reasoning?

If neither the RN nor the doctor is available immediately and/or you are not given an adequate reason for not going back, I suggest finding another doctor either at an urgent care facility or an emergency room. These symptoms are distressing, and at discharge the doctor thought that the problem should resolve itself in two days. Apparently he did not make a correct assessment, or did not give you adequate follow up instructions.  Since you can not understand the significance of what is happening, it is probably better to err on the side of safety, and let the doc figure this one out.