skipped heart beats

[bgartland]

i have been taking pred since November

This week i have been skipping heartbeats. Is this normal?

[piglette]

Several things can cause heart palpitations including medications.

[Fatsiajaponica]

Hi there, this happened to me and then settled down. It's a bit alarming isn't it? I did contact my GP who organised an ECG to measure my heartbeat which was fine. Shortly after it subsided anyway. I think it was either the pred interfering with my blood chemistry (which was all over the place because of the pred, issues with potassium, magnesium etc...). I was on high doses for a while, 60 mgs at one point but the palpitations came later at a dose of 17.5 I think. Or.. anxiety as I was feeling increasingly worried by the side effects of the pred I was experiencing.

I see that you were on 15mgs to start, did you go higher and what is your current dose? Are you reducing and how, these may provide clues for your GP. Best talk with your GP practice I would say and try not to worry too much, it's not that unusual. Take care.

[bgartland in reply to Fatsiajaponica]

Thanks for reply

I tapered down to 12.5 in December on doctors orders.

Since i have been getting these palpitations, i have decided to drop to 10 this morning, as i am feeling ok inflamation wise

Should i do that without consulting GP?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to bgartland]

You should be tapering further - a month is usually long enough at any dose before trying the next one. If 2.5mg is too much at one go - try 1mg at a time.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Not normal for most, but it can be a side effect of Pred so please talk to your doctor about it. All irregularities with heart need to be checked just to make sure it’s nothing more serious.

Please let us know outcome..

[bgartland in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks Lady, willdo

[Noni71]

I had to take Propranolol, a Betablocker, to help control my heartbeat. Now I’m on 5mg of Prednisolone I don’t feel the need to take them anymore but on advice from the pharmacist, I’m tapering down off those too.

[bgartland in reply to Noni71]

Thanks, good to know

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Normal no. Often happens? Yes.

Pred CAN lead to palpitations but so can PMR. I have atrial fibrillation that was caused by the underlying autoimmune cause of PMR symptoms damaging the sinus node which governs heart rate.

It does need to be checked out by your GP at least - though an ECG done at a time when it isn't actually happening will tell you nothing so don't let them dismiss your concerns.

If you have a smart watch, it can be used to monitor your heart rate and show any problems over a longer period.

[bgartland in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for the advice

[Kendrew]

Hi bgartland,

You've already received the advice you need, but just to say, that I too suffer from 'palpitations' and have a history of diagnosed ectopic beats (harmless but uncomfortable)

Over the years, I've periodically experienced episodes where it's felt like a 'change' or escalation in them has occurred.

Each time this has happened, I've been back to see my cardiologist, and every time I've had a comprehensive battery of tests to check everything thoroughly. So far, although they've felt really scary, they've continued to prove to be harmless.

I've learnt that even when I had the paramedics out to me and they could clearly see on the ECG I was experiencing a very irregular heartbeat, it still proved to be nothing serious, so I've been quite lucky so far, and taking propanolol has definitely helped.

That said, I can't emphasise enough, what others have already advised, and that is to do what I've always done when unsure, and that is to seek medical advice.

Your skipped heartbeats may well be nothing to be concerned about, but you can't know that for sure and with any issues with the heart it's always essential to get them checked out.

Try not to worry as stress & anxiety can definitely also trigger them, as I know only too well!

I hope you get sorted soon as I understand how alarming they can feel.

[bgartland]

Thank you for this, good advice again