taking Amitriptyline with ectopic beats

[Deary63]

Hi iam just wondering if anyone is taking Amitriptyline that suffers with ectopic beats , only my doctor prescribed Amitriptyline to help me sleep, but said I should check with cardiologist when I saw them, but I forgot 🙄 to ask...So iam a bit worried about taking them ...

[Padayn01]

How bad are the ectopic beats?

[Deary63 in reply to Padayn01]

Ive had them everyday for 30 odd years ....some weeks worse than others but haven’t had a decent nights sleep in 5 years ..don’t like taking pills, but I think the lack of sleep doesn’t help fluttering etc

[Padayn01 in reply to Deary63]

Oh no so sorry to hear that, do you just suffer with ectopics or do you suffer with AF aswell? 30 years is a long time and a decent night sleep for 5 years is just not fair, I know that lack of sleep plays up on the heart you must try and get a good night sleep somehow

[Deary63 in reply to Padayn01]

Do you know the amount of times I’ve been to Barts over the years , they have just always said there not dangerous what ever iam having,!

Not on any medication but they have given me flecainide if I get them bad , but I haven’t used them

Thank you for you message

[bantam12 in reply to Deary63]

I was prescribed Amytrip for pain but after reading the possible side effects decided not to take them, have enough problems without adding more 😆

[Kaz747]

What dosage of Amitriptyline were you prescribed. I take 10mg and my EP, GP, sleep specialist and pharmacist have all said that’s a tiny level and won’t impact anything. When used for depression/anxiety the dose is much higher and can be dangerous if you have heart problems. I was prescribed it for postherpetic neuralgia and the sleep specialist recommended staying on it.

[Deary63 in reply to Kaz747]

Hi Kaz747 yes it’s 10mg. Sorry for my ignorance but I see a lot of you putting your EP what is that? 🤔

That’s good know though thank you .

[Kaz747 in reply to Deary63]

Electrophysiologist - cardiologist that specializes in the electrics of the heart.

[Angie06]

I've taken amitriptyline for sleep, 10mgs nightly and also flecainide 50mgs ×2 daily with no side effects. Also had ectopics from anxiety but went back into a regular sleeping pattern (6hrs nightly) and the ectopics slowly tailed off when the sleep improved so maybe worth giving it a try after speaking to your cardio.

[Deary63 in reply to Angie06]

Sounds good Angie, I will pluck up the courage to take them , just hate taking any pills, I know is stupid ... thank you

[Polski]

You may benefit from taking a magnesium supplement (but not magnesium oxide, and not if you have kidney problems) If they give you diarrhea then take less and change to a different kind. Magnesium citrate is often a good one, or magnesium taurate or glycinate. Keep it up for at least six months. You may see an improvement in your sleep and the quantity of your ectopics.

[Padayn01 in reply to Polski]

Is that how long it takes you get the benefit of a magnesium supplement?

[Polski in reply to Padayn01]

Apparently we absorb magnesium slowly, and use it a lot (and get little from a modern diet, because of the way food is grown etc today), so if we are really short, as is likely if we suffer from AF or any of a number of other health problems, it will take time to fully restore our reserves. Magnesium is important in over 300 processes in the body. We need it!

NB The body tries to ensure there is always enough in our blood, so a blood test is not a reliable test of how much we have in total.

[Deary63 in reply to Polski]

Hi Polski I have taken Magnesium for a while as a cardiologist once told me to take them and I help the muscles in your heart 👍

[marcyh]

I was on amitriptyline in the past (low dose for sleep) so it's on my med record but I had gone off by the time I was dx with AF. My cardiol brings it up periodically and checks if I'm still off, always saying he's glad I am. But he told me recently if I really needed it, he would allow it. Risks vs benefits I suppose, and I'm sure it depends on the dosage as well.

[Deary63 in reply to marcyh]

Thanks for message .. good to hear from someone in same boat .. all the best

[Bigbilldup]

Hi Deary63, yes, it's a tricky one - I was prescribed Amitryptaline over two years ago after developing severe tinnitus which stopped me sleeping. I asked my doc if I should continue on it now I've developed Afib and ectopic beats (good name for a band?!) but she suggested I come off it - don't really know how it affects the condition?

[Deary63 in reply to Bigbilldup]

Thank for you message , iam still undecided about taking them 😬