irregular heartbeat

dlws · 06-01-2003, 09:37 PM

One thing I have noticed a couple times since taking Met - (little over two weeks now) is that my heart feels like it gets off a beat or flip flops! It's a little nerve racking - I have felt it in years past and even had it checked out. Nothing wrong with my heart. The last time I noticed it was the other night. I only ate a few bites of food w/my dose. Could it be I didn't eat enough to go with the medicine and had a sugar issue going on?

Pukus · 06-02-2003, 12:58 AM

I have never had this happen while on met, but prior to starting, I had the "flip-flop" feeling in my chest. It took trips to the ER before they could catch the PVCs that I was having. Everything else was fine with my heart and the nurse just said that some people learn to live with the occasional skipped beat. My GP put me on 25 mg Metoprolol every night just to keep it regular.

I have wondered if the fluttering was caused by IR or was PCOS/hormone related. Anyone else ever have this?

MariFlame · 06-02-2003, 11:25 AM

I've had this problem for a long time now. (once related to my low thyroid) It comes and goes, but one time it got so bad I thought I was having a heart attack.
My Cardiology says I just have a "sensitive heart" and my adrenalines go high just because. This condition has a name but I always forget it.
They got bad recently again when my Endo started me on 1000mg of Met. But I later learned they were due to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) side effects with the new Metformin medication in my system. Endo had me decrease dose to 500mg until my body got used to the new drug, and so far so good.
Check this thread for advice on how to avoid low blood sugar when taking met.

http://www.soulcysters.net/showthrea...852#post307852

My Cardiology also prescribed a pill to help with my irregular/fast heartbeats but I'm still not sure if I want to take it.
Good luck!

christyz · 06-02-2003, 12:41 PM

This kind of question is really out of the scope of a forum of this kind. Whether it is the 'senstive heart' from year's past or something else caused by the met is for your Dr to determine. I hope you will speak with him about this.

Good Luck, Mari.

Kate721 · 06-04-2003, 07:35 PM

Well, my very unmedical thought on the heart issue is that I personally think you might need to look a little further than the Metformin for your answers to the heart flutters.
It seems that a lot of women with these problems also tend to have bizarre heart issues.
Just my observation from my personal research while trying to figure my own health complexities.
The problem is hard to catch and many women get misdiagnosed.
The condition refered to as a sensitive heart as posted

>>My Cardiology says I just have a "sensitive heart" and my adrenalines go high just because. This condition has a name but I always forget it. <<<

I believe might be called a hyperadrenergic syndrome. That's what my cardiologist has written on my chart.
He says he has no clue what happens. He calls it a natural hyperactivity in my body. Even at rest I'm capable of doing over 100 on the pulse, which of course, over time, is terrible for our other organs.
And, having blood sugar abnormalities also ties in with a rapid heart beat and pressure problems along with the excess of androgens doing their part to create organic trouble. And with Pcos, that's part of the big problem, the excess androgens.
If you are having heart Palps you need to bring this problem to the attention of your endocrinologist immediately.
It could be a sign of something in need of medical attention.
Our bodies begin with often subtle warnings and if we grab hold of the abnormalities early on we can have reasonably healthy lives. Again, just my personal opinion from living with a few troublesome medical problems and trying to sort things out.
I've only been on Metformin since December. There's a lot I am still learning.
Hope all stays well.
Kate

P.S. as posted>>>Nothing wrong with my heart.<<<

Technically, there's nothing wrong with my heart too.
I show fine on the echo cardio and I do extremely well on the tread mill stress test on a good day.
On a bad day the Cardiologist won't even let me get on the treadmill so we have no clue what my heart would do.
My problems began with subtle clues in my early 30's
I am now 47 and the problems got out of hand when my female problems got out of hand.
I curently take both a Beta Blocker and an Ace Inhibitor and a Diuretic along with Metformin to help keep things under control.
Take care with wise counsel and stay well.
Best of luck to you.

MariFlame · 06-04-2003, 09:03 PM

Kate,
The heart condition you're talking about sounds like mine.
I just started having the fast palpitations again today after taking 1000mg of Met for almost two weeks now, and again I don't know if they're side effects from the medication. Even though I've had them in the past before Met.
I'm so confused!

I'm eating so it can't be low blood sugar.

My Cardiology recommended these tablets called "TOPROL-XL" 25mg to control palpitations but I'm still a little scare about taking them. I read once you start taking them you can't stop because you might get a heart attack. My Cardiology told me the doce he prescribed was very low and that I could stop it any time without problems, but I'm still a little nervous about taking them. I'm waiting to see my Endocrinologist in two months to ask his opinion and see if I can take these pills with my Metformin medication.

When you had your palpitations... did you always had them or did they come and go like with me? Mine usually last for a short period of time, sometimes up to two weeks, and then they go away. I didn't had them for almost a year and now they're back.

I'm so confused!!! >_<;

*hugz* ~Mari

Kate721 · 06-05-2003, 04:13 PM

Mari, The big thing that is important is to have both your specialty Doctors in good communication with each other. I make sure both the RE and the Cardiologist are in understanding of meds and treatments.
I am on both Metformin and Toprol XL.
I feel both meds work in harmony and I don't think my on going problems are from those meds.
Neither do my doctors.
Mainly because, like you, my problems existed well on their own for years before either Toprol or Metformin cam on board.
And, much like you, my BP and Pulse issues have been up and down and crazy for years.
I almost had a cardiovascular disaster in my early 30's because of the up and down tendency of my vitals.
I was getting pre-oped for my Tubal and they kept telling me I was a nervous nelly with white coat syndrome.
So I went to the Acupuncturist for stress management and poof, I do fine with the BP and Pulse and get okayed for surgery.
So the day of surgery I get Valium I.V. and I am feeling calm calm calm, and the minute they get the anesthesia into my body my BP and Pulse go crazy and I had to be rescued by the Anesthesiologist. It was then they decided that I had a real case of High Blood pressure and I was started on my meds.
So this stuff is a real health menace because it is so insideious and inconsistent.
I now discuss my hypertension with the Anesthesiologist and when I have surgery they make sure my meds are on board and generally I do fine with surgery.
If some one gets put on a beta blocker to avoid heart problems, they don't have a heart attack because of the med if they stop it.
They run into trouble because the condition is no longer being controled. The heart attack or even heart failure happens only because it was going to happen with out the proper medical intervention.
And, heart failure is a more likely prospect than an actual attack.
I ran around with heart failure all last summer until my condition was so bad I was about to explode. I think the day I arrived at the Cardiologists office I was clocking something like 200/125 and a Pulse of 130 or something horrible like that.
I take 200mg. of Toprol XL these days in addition to an Ace inhibitor and HCTZ. A lot of times just a Beta Blocker will not do the trick and then they add the Ace meds which actually help to protect the heart.
My pulse was hanging up over 100 for days on end last summer.
About day 10 I was always a basket case. Any pulse over 100 is considered a technical Tachycardic Heart and needs medical attention.
Along with the Hyperadrenergic Syndrome I also have Tachycardic Hypertension listed.

your post>>>I'm so confused! I'm eating so it can't be low blood sugar.<<<<<

The thing with Blood Sugar that I have discovered is that most of the time we don't know what's low unless we are keeping track of our sugar levels on those little home glucose monitors.
When I recently got serious about testing my glucose levels because I always felt bad, I was appalled at what I felt was normal and what I felt when things were droping and what symptoms I had even at 70!
One day I got down to 39 and totally freaked myself out.
I called the Endocrinologist and I was told that I needed to get serious about my protein intake.
I was recently told by my Osteopath again about the protein and his words to me were this....your life depends on it....
Yes, that kind of thing will certainly make you think and reasses the perfect diet plan one assumed was working.
And, when my sugar problems are crazy, well, of course, there goes my flip floppy heart rate too.
I suppose there is a real medical reason as to why Hypertension and Diabetes go hand in hand as comorbid illnesses.
And I'm not even a Diabetic yet.
My sugar never even gets close to 200.
These are very very complicated real medical problems.
You can find more information by researching Syndrome X.
I think the web site for the American Heart Association might have some good links.
You can also get insight from researching Endometriosis and other female reproductive mysteries and autoimmune disorders.
I personally wouldn't be without either my Metfromin or my Toprol.
If I have any side effects I will deal with them but honestly, looking at what might be side effects, I think I have more destructiveness from the conditions of my body than any of the meds.
Although, one huge problem that attends Toprol at the higher doses is that it can make one very very tired.
I don't have near the physical energy I used to have being on so much Toprol.
However, my Cardiologist started me at 50mg and, well, this is where I wound up.
Sometimes we just need to payattention to the needs of the body.
Hope this helps.
If you have other thoughts or questions drop me a line.
It's tough dealing with these multiple mystery maladys.
Hang in there,
Kate

eternal · 06-06-2003, 12:54 AM

I had a bad episode of extra heartbeats last spring after taking 2 cortisone shots a week a apart. I initially thought it was the cortisone lowering my potassium levels and causing these extrabeats, but my doctors kept insisting that this was unlikely

. So I wore a holter monitor, and it showed that I was having PAC's (premature atrial contractions). Then I thought maybe my increased dose of Glucophage (1500mg) was responsible because they started shortly after starting that dose. It may have been a combination of the new dose of Met, and the excess cortisone trying to "settle" in my body. My primary doctor prescribed Toprol XL 25mg (which was later increased to 50mg tabs) and it helped, but it left me feeling too tired/drained.
They eventually calmed down some. Now I only take the Toprol when I get a long episode of them. I mainly feel them during AF, or when I do some kind of work or exercise using my arms a lot, or bending/stooping a lot.

GroovyLisa · 06-06-2003, 01:38 AM

Ladies,

Here I will quote the information sheet given to me from my pharmacist about Met:

"WARNING: Metformin can rarely cause a condition called lactic acidosis, which can be fatal. Seek immediate medical attention if you develop any of the following symptoms of lactic acidosis: unusual tiredness or fatigue or severe drowsiness, muscle pain,breathing trouble or rapid breathing, unusually slow or irregular heartbeat."

God bless,

Lisa

Kate721 · 06-06-2003, 01:16 PM

as posted>>>>>Seek immediate medical attention if you develop any of the following symptoms of lactic acidosis: unusual tiredness or fatigue or severe drowsiness, muscle pain,breathing trouble or rapid breathing, unusually slow or irregular heartbeat<<<

For any of you who have ever been in the throwes of an extreme blood sugar drop you will also recognize those very same symptoms as the warning signs of Hypoglycemia.

While the rate of Lactic Acidodis is relatively low on the occurance scale when dealing with Metformin, the reality of a Pancreatic Dysfunction for which the Metformin is usually prescribed, holds a higer percentage of people who are suffering from hypoglycemia due to pancreatic dysfunction and Insulin Resistence.
I personally would be inclined to pop a glucose tablet in my mouth and get my glucose levels tested with one of those handy little home glucose test kits.
Falling Blood sugar is a life threatening condition too. And low blood sugar is one of the very real medical conditions for which Metformin is the remedy. So given the tendency for women with PCOS to develop Diabetes, I would think that considering the prediabetic problems of falling blood sugar might be right up there in importance with considering the Lactic Acidosis warnings.

Those same symptoms also can signify a colon emergency if youv'e been constipated.

Or Heart failure if you have attending hypertension with your PCOS because again, PCOS tends to exist with other systemic disorders such as Diabetes and cardiovascular problems.
And, as we all know, It isn't long after getting diagnosed with either diabetes or hypertension, that in a few years the companion of diabetes or hypertension, which is the other disease of the one, will come along and require attention and care.

So yes, those warning signals are imortant.
Paying attention can save your life.
Take Care Ladies,
Kate

Michele70 · 06-06-2003, 06:11 PM

I was diagnosed with lactic acidosis after taking Metformin for my PCOS. I was very lucky that it was caught early enough not to do any serious damage!

MariFlame · 06-06-2003, 06:18 PM

Michele,
Could you please share with us your experience? What were your symptoms, how long were you taking Met, how were you diagnosed with Lactic Acidosis?

I mentioned Lactic Acidosis to my Endo last time I saw him but he didn't seem worry about it.
I want to make sure my palpitations are not related to this.

Also, are you taking anything in place of Metformin to treat your PCOS now?

Thanx! *hugz* ~Mari

Michele70 · 06-06-2003, 07:19 PM

Hi Mari!

I was on 500mg of Met for about four months and per my docs orders started to increase the dose for 1000mg per day. It was during that increase that I began to get very ill. The very first thing I noticed was extreme fatigue. So much so that I would just lie on my bed and could not get up even when my daughter needed me. My heartbeat also seemed to be much slower than usual and I suspect that my blood pressure was very low as well. I would also get very flushed and dizzy. I did have bouts of muscle pain and cramping especially during the nighttime.

I did research on the side effects of the Met and found the info about Lactic Acidosis. I called my OB/GYN right away and she saw me the next day. She confirmed my layperson diagnosis and immediately took me off the Met. I could have stayed on the lower does, but she felt that at that level it would not work for me or most other people. Besides, I did not have any relief from my PCOS symptoms or lost any weight (which was the main reason she put me on Met in the first place) while on the medicine.

We opted not to try another type of insulin regulator for now and just see what happens. I also want to mention that once I stopped taking the Met I felt a thousand times better almost immediately! I don't think I even realized quite how sick I was.

I hope this helps some. My experience with Met is very unusual but I do want others to know what can happen when you are one of those rare cases. I wish you the best of luck and don't hesitate to ask if you have any other questions!

christyz · 06-06-2003, 07:33 PM

Hi Michelle...I am so glad you shared your story. People often worry about LA, but being rare, it's tough to find someone who has actually been there. By sharing your symptoms, you may well help another woman who is wondering why she feels so awful. Your story also helps to re-enforce that knowledge is powerful...you may have saved your own life.

I'm sorry you had to go through that, and hope that you're new meds help. Thanks for posting!

MariFlame · 06-11-2003, 08:43 PM

Michele,
Thank you SO MUCH for the info and taking the time to share your experience!
I decreased my Met dose again from 1000mg to 500mg since I was too worry about side effects and confused if they were related to Lactic Acidosis or not.
I did a search on it after reading your experience and every site I found with info seemed to have different symptoms... (?)
Last time I checked my blood pressure was fine.
I've been feeling very tired lately, but I don't think more than normally for me. I still have my palpitations... but those also came and go before Met.
I did started getting some light period like cramps recently. Like the ones you get when your period is approching.
Were yours belly cramps and how bad were they?
Also, I've been urinating a lot more frequently lately... (?)

Still confused... >_<;

*hugz* ~Mari