I’m 39 and for the last 12 months or just over I started experiencing palpitations , not so much heart racing but be a normal day then I’d have like a few seconds of a wave of panic/anxiety feeling and in feeling my pulse my heart would beat normally and then pause a couple of seconds then pound into action again . Last year it happened on a couple of occasions but gradually went without me worrying or even noticing although I did go docs to be on the safe side had bloods done and quick ecg and all normal and days after all was ok .
However this year they returned and this time were more aggressive so having loads in one go and lasting for up to 10 mins and even waking me at night but with attending a&e they were happening but only now and then and due to this the hospital found nothing wrong and sent me on my way writing to my doc . I attended doc and had another ecg which was normal and a blood test to check all including thyroid which was normal , but I told him they were uncomfortable and I couldn’t bare it , not sleeping couldn’t relax or enjoy a normal day without waiting for the next attack , he put me on 10mg of propranolol 3 times a day but just before I started taking the drug they started going away again but I never put drugs to one side and started taking them and they did return a day or so after which is lucky I did take drug after all , I woke in the night took 10 mg immediately and after 40 mins they settled . I ran out of the drug after 2 weeks and I think they did help a little but told doc I needed a diagnosis and something better , he has put his opinion down to VEB which I agreed due to the symptoms, anyhow I’ve now been on 80mg slow release of propranolol and they seem to have gone and I’m not sure wether it’s due to the drug or that they have done there usual disappearing act for a bit and due to return .
Sorry to have waffled I wanted to paint the whole story
My question is anyone else on slow release 80mg of propranolol for the same and how have they worked ?
I take mine at 18.00pm after tea
Many thanks
Dan
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Patchesnendusty1984
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So, your doctor has diagnosed you with Ventricular ectopics without seeing evidence on an ecg?
Why did he think they were from the ventricles and not the atrium?
If you haven’t had any ventricular ectopics recorded i think You would benefit from a Kardia for ~£100 which would enable you to take a 2 lead ecg whist actually experiencing symptoms.
If they happen during the night that suggests they are vagally induced.
My understanding on anti arrhythmia drugs is that flecainide is better for paroxysmal arrhythmia.
I have not taken either but others on here would have.
I’ve had 2 ECG’S and he’s looked and there normal , it is a simple case of them happening when I’m nowhere near medical places or just intermittently, just so happens every time I’m on ECG nothings happening , due to the Covid 19 and me being at whits end I asked to try propranolol knowing it does help of some sort and he said he would try me on them at 10mg x3 a day which did slightly but then I phoned again after running out saying I wasn’t really happy with them working 100% and wanted to try something better so he has put me (1 week now) on 80mg slow release and I’ve not had one yet .
I have them upon relaxing
Watching tv
Lying in bed
Driving
Whilst active I don’t really feel them but when relaxing when they happen it can be anything from 1 or 2 every few minutes to a load for over 10-15 mins .
As already mentioned I woudl invest in a Kardia device that can record a simple ECG trace on your phone. You can then use it when you have symptoms and show the recording to your Doctor later.
I have one I have a smart band that does it but I’m free of them at the min but if I have anymore ( god willing I don’t) I’ll try it , but I have got one that can take a 90 min reading or nightly .
I’m going to keep on the 80mg though as I feel it has helped somewhat
Are you talking about a device which takes your pulse? Or an actual ecg trace ?
If you have one that takes a trace, why have you not captured something?
If this was me I wouldn’t want to take propranolol at this stage. Find out what’s happening first.
It took me years to find out, as like you and many others, the arrhythmias don’t happen when tested. Something was caught For me eventually but I didn’t really know what was happening until I bought a Kardia and could pick it up at that crucial moment it was happening,
Because prior to the medication I’d not heard of the device and I wanted to try something to try live a normal life instead of having these everyday so hence the medication , my doctor has said the mediation I’m on now is to see how I get on and if I still have them then more tests will be done and mentioned a 24 - 48 trace reading at home which I activate when I feel them and my wife looked into finding one we could buy myself so we bought one , the one I have measures blood pressure oxygen level pulse and it does ecg with readings straight to my phone via 90 minute reading or one I attach to my chest for 24 hour . It also gives a explanation for the abnormal reading should there be one .
But yeah as I said they stopped happening a week before the device was bought so I’ve not been able to use it for any happening as of yet .
I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing these problems. I too have experienced this in the past where my heart appears to briefly pause and then comes back with a thump! I had these checked out at the hospital by wearing a 7 day event monitor. What happens is that every time you experience a heart beat irregularity you press a button on the monitor and then record the date and time this happened and what you were doing at the time and also how it made you feel. The data is then analysed and in my case it was put down to what are called ectopic beats. These are harmless but still causes anxiety. A 7 day event monitor is better if your symptoms only last for a few minutes a day.
Good luck and I hope you get it sorted.
Best wishes.
Hi there
I started to suffer with ectopic and palpitations I August last year which would last for 4 to 5 hours at a time. Went to a cardiologist privately as NHS waiting was six months had all the tests and was told they were benign Palpitations and ectopic beats and wouldn’t harm me but was given Bisoprolol 2.5 mgs a day which did help for a while then they came back with a vengeance. I started taken Magnesium citrate 300mgs a day and after a couple of week no more ectopics ( look up Sanjay Gupter a York cardiologist on You Tube re ectopics and Magnesium supplements.
Unfortunately I had very severe side effects from the Bisoprolol and have got to come off it for which I am having even worse side effects and it’s going to take me the rest of this year to wean off.
You are also taking a beta blocker but please be warned if you want to or have a stop taking it You may get withdrawal symptoms.
I now have a loop of plant in my chest which is a small device under the skin and when I do get ectopics or palpitations it is recorded on a device which I download once a month and the information is sent direct to a computer at the local hospital and if there is any severe abnormality I would be called in. The implant stays in you chest for three years and is not noticeable unless you are very slim and after that time you can either have it renewed or removed if everything is ok. Maybe this would be an option for you.
My wife has zinc and magnesium b6 vitamins tablets at home , you think I’d be ok with them with propranolol?
If so I might start taking them .
Thank you 😊
Propranolol is a beta blocker the same as Bisoprolol I have no problems just make sure you take it at least 2 hours before or after your propranolol I usually take mine about 1 hour before I go to bed and it has stopped most of the ectopics I was getting during the night. I buy magnesium citrate or taurate It is a little more expensive then just the ordinary magnesium and it takes a couple of weeks to get into your system but I found it really helped my palpitations and ectopic beats. I have now been on Magnesium Citrate for about 8 months and have no side effects.
There are many people on this site who also have ectopics and take magnesium and praise how much it has helped them.
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