Should I Take Diltiazem?

Updated

Beginning about 15years ago, I became aware that I was having palpitaions, later diagnosed as PVCs. It appeared to me that they were slowly becoming more frequent over this time period, but dramatically increased about 2 months ago. Approximately 30% of my beats were PVCs when I wore a monitor for 48 hours about two weeks ago, but no tachicardia. 15 years ago I was only having periods of frequent PVCs about twice a year, and they only lasted a couple hours each time. Way back then, a doctor prescribed atenolol (sp?) for another condition. Upon taking it I immediately started having continuous periods of PVCs that lasted the entire three days that I took the medication. (I discontinued.) During this recent long period of PVCs, I was prescribed a small dose of Metoprolol (Met) daily -- 12 mg twice a day, later reduced to 6.5 twice per day. It wasn't apparent to me that the Met was helping my PVCs, plus I began having periods of lightheadedness upon standing and even during period when on my feet for awhile. I monitored my resting heart rate regularly while on the Met, and it got as low as 38 beats per minute, and was commonly in the low 40s in the evening after sitting awhile. Since discontinuing the Met, my heart rate has increased somewhat, but continues to be in the low 40s sometimes, and my mean blood pressure is about 113/60 based on about 40 readings. (However, my cardialogist says my heart rate is actually more rapid because I'm not counting the PVCs as beats.) Now 120 mg of diltiazem in one dose daily has been prescribed. I'm very leery about taking it given my bad experiences with heart rate and blood pressure lowering medications, and because of the fact that my blood pressure appears to be low at times without the med. My sistolic number is in the low 100s sometimes, but not typically. I have told my cardiologist all this, but he seems to be extremely rushed, and I wonder how much really "sinks in." Is the prescription appropriate?

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1

To clarify, in the second sentence by "over this time period" I mean over the past 15 years.

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Hello, Johnny! How are you?

The Diltiazem is in a different class of medications than the others were, it is a calcium channel blocker, so there is a good chance that it may work better for you, without causing such problems.

Side effects may include nausea, dizziness, headache and stomach pain.

Are there any other questions or concerns?

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Thanks Verwon. Even if it doesn't cause lightheadedness and increased PVCs, I wonder if I should take it because of my sometimes low blood pressure and low heart rate -- if I'm counting the beats right. Maybe my blood pressure wouldn't be considered low, but from what I've read it is. I've read precautions from reputable websites saying that people with low blood pressure shouldn't take it. However, the educational sheet I got with the prescription says nothing about this.

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