[shellylabelle]

I started a calcium channel blocker last week and I am not sure if it has made much of a difference with my PVCs. I don't have the lethargy from the beta blocker, but I still feel the PVCs. The intensity of the thuds are not as strong now. At worst, I feel about 15 PVCs an hour.

I think that I expected a miracle with the new med. Am mentally tired and so frustrated. My husband just says, "It won't kill you."

My cardiologist's office said to call back tomorrow if I have not noticed an improvement. I have been told that the PVCs are caused by anxiety. I have them even when I am not anxious.

I just feel like nothing is improving. Sorry to be so down, but needed to vent.

[dr461]

I am frankly surprised, as Calcium Channel Blockers really are not effective in suppressing PVCs. That is a strange choice by your doctor. Beta Blockers are the normal drug of choice for ectopic beats.

[tom]

I believe calcium channel blocker have some effect on HR, not as much as Beta Blockers. When I first started my PVC's the Doc's considered Beta Blockade but that was immediately dismissed due my bradycardia. Calcium channel blockers were ruled out for the same reason. I do take a very small dose of an ACE inhibitor because of the effect it has on the heart during diastole(something associated wth athletes heart), not for PVC's. I do not have HN, so I have to watch out for orthostatic hypotension. I notice it sometimes when I bend my head way down to TEE up a golf ball while standing errect and then return fully upright. It's very momentary. Perthaps a calcium channel blocker was chosen for "the big picture".

????
tom

[DaniRae]

What gets me, is the docs telling you that your PVCs are all from anxiety. While I think anxiety can make them worse, I have not found that to be the cause of PVCs... hence why you have them with and without anxiety. I have found stress makes them worse, without a doubt but I think we have a tendency to have them either way.

[dr461]

Originally Posted by tom

I believe calcium channel blocker have some effect on HR, not as much as Beta Blockers. When I first started my PVC's the Doc's considered Beta Blockade but that was immediately dismissed due my bradycardia. Calcium channel blockers were ruled out for the same reason. I do take a very small dose of an ACE inhibitor because of the effect it has on the heart during diastole(something associated wth athletes heart), not for PVC's. I do not have HN, so I have to watch out for orthostatic hypotension. I notice it sometimes when I bend my head way down to TEE up a golf ball while standing errect and then return fully upright. It's very momentary. Perthaps a calcium channel blocker was chosen for "the big picture".

????
tom

CC blockers definitely do have an effect on heart rate (lowering it) but for PVCs, they are almost useless. This is my cardio doctor's opinion, not mine alone. He's rather conservative about prescribing any medication for uncomplicated PVCs, as the success rate is rather limited (according to his opinion, based on 30 year of practice as a prominent cardiologist). I'd agree with Tom on the "big picture--" primary use of CC blockers is blood pressure control, and any other is "off primary use FDA" recommendation.

[TYK]

Shelly,
I was on a calcium channel blocker - Cartia, it worked great for 5 years. I loved that drug. Give it a little more time and see what happens. I didn't experience any side effects and felt great. Maybe one PVC a day. My PVCs broke through but for 5 years I was one happy person. Good Luck

[dr461]

Originally Posted by TYK

Shelly,
I was on a calcium channel blocker - Cartia, it worked great for 5 years. I loved that drug. Give it a little more time and see what happens. I didn't experience any side effects and felt great. Maybe one PVC a day. My PVCs broke through but for 5 years I was one happy person. Good Luck

You are very lucky, as CCBs generally do not work for PVCs. Then again, Beta Blockers only work for some people. SO, consider it a 5 year gift--you're blessed that it worked that long.

[jkfrench]

My doctor also gave me Cartia (diltaezam) and told me to take it if my PVC's really start to bother me. I have also heard about other people having luck with that ccb. I haven't tried it yet because for PVC's to really bother me, they have to be in the hundreds daily without stop.

[dr461]

Originally Posted by jkfrench

My doctor also gave me Cartia (diltaezam) and told me to take it if my PVC's really start to bother me. I have also heard about other people having luck with that ccb. I haven't tried it yet because for PVC's to really bother me, they have to be in the hundreds daily without stop.

Really? I have taken a CCB for years for hereditary blood pressure issues, and have never found it effective. That may just be me--if it works, great! Certainly hope it does the job for you. I just know that BBs are first-line treatment for PVCs when people want meds to deal with the issues of repeated PVCs.

[tom]

Originally Posted by DaniRae

What gets me, is the docs telling you that your PVCs are all from anxiety. While I think anxiety can make them worse, I have not found that to be the cause of PVCs... hence why you have them with and without anxiety. I have found stress makes them worse, without a doubt but I think we have a tendency to have them either way.

Dannirae,
My scenario went like this. Sudden onset of PVC's brought on by vagal irritation, further exascerbated by anxiety. With anxiety/emotion/stress reaction being the root cause of the vagal rritation (my stomach was a mess). Cardiolgists hit on this right off because I was the classic case, extremely hgh vagal tone being the first clue. Never meant to imply that anxiety is the root cause of ALL PVC's, but thought it would be helpful to picture how anxiety works to make them worse, since evryone seems to agree on that point. I don't know if this means anything, but two of the three cardiologists who examned me were trained in India.(one my age, and the other much younger ... one in texas, the other in N.C.) Hope this helps ...

tom