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Suggest Medications For Rapid Pulse And Chest Pain
Question: My 27 year old wife recently went to the ER after having a rapid pulse and chest pain. She was on the XXXXXXX diet and was taking phentermine. It has been 6 days since she stopped the diet and medicine and her heartbeat after going up the stairs in our apartment is 140. Is this ok or should we be concerned?
Brief Answer:
Consult your doctor if tachycardia keeps disturbing your wife.
Detailed Answer:
Hello! Thank you for asking on HCM! Regarding your concerns seems that all your wife's complains are related to phentermine. This drug exerts its weight lowering effect by increasing norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine release in the body, thus reducing appetite and burning stored fat. But acting that way phentermine produces tachycardia, and possibly chest pain. So a close cardio-vascular monitoring is needed during its use. When the drug is stopped abruptly it may appear withdrawal symptom so you have to be careful. Consult immediately your doctor if phentermine discontinuation scheme was not adviced by him. My recommendation is that if tachycardia keeps reappearing for more that a few days, then you should consult the doctor for a better evaluation and a possible heart rate-controlling treatment (at least temporarily).
Hope to have been helpful! Greetings! Dr. Iliri
Consult your doctor if tachycardia keeps disturbing your wife.
Detailed Answer:
Hello! Thank you for asking on HCM! Regarding your concerns seems that all your wife's complains are related to phentermine. This drug exerts its weight lowering effect by increasing norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine release in the body, thus reducing appetite and burning stored fat. But acting that way phentermine produces tachycardia, and possibly chest pain. So a close cardio-vascular monitoring is needed during its use. When the drug is stopped abruptly it may appear withdrawal symptom so you have to be careful. Consult immediately your doctor if phentermine discontinuation scheme was not adviced by him. My recommendation is that if tachycardia keeps reappearing for more that a few days, then you should consult the doctor for a better evaluation and a possible heart rate-controlling treatment (at least temporarily).
Hope to have been helpful! Greetings! Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
It was the ER doctor that instructed her to stop taking phentermine. She was only on it for 3 days.
So you would consider a heart rate that goes from 78 bpm resting to 135-140 bpm after going up approximately 16 stairs Tachycardia? Is it possible this is her normal heart rate?
If the medicine is out of her system why would she still have Tachycardia?
XXXX
So you would consider a heart rate that goes from 78 bpm resting to 135-140 bpm after going up approximately 16 stairs Tachycardia? Is it possible this is her normal heart rate?
If the medicine is out of her system why would she still have Tachycardia?
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Escalating discontinuation is very important.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
(1) I agree with the ER doctor to discontinue phentermine as it is a psychostimulant drug with unfavourable profile, causing many side effects and addictions if it used for more tha nfew weeks. BUT, it is important t operform an escalating withdrawal of the drug, as it may cause many unpleasant effects.
Did you follow a careful and gradual schedule in stopping the drug??
(2) 140 bpm is of course tachycardia and saying that I didn't mean anything else, but sinus tachycardia which is a normal reaction of the heart in response to many stimuli (physical exertion especially in an overweighted person, stressful situation, stimulant substances or drugs, etc). The fact that I wanted to emphasize is if tachycardia (palpitations) reappears frequently out of proportion of the normal stimuli.
(3) Heart rate is a dynamic parameter and is normal to change from 78 bpm to 140 bpm in response to stresful stimuli. There is nothing to worry about.
I am repeating again, ONLY IF tachycardia (palipations) becomes disturbing medical help would be necessary to control heart rate.
(4) If withdrawal symptoms are present abnormal sinus tachycardia could be present though the drug has dissapeared from the body.
Hope to have answered you raised questions!
I wish the good health to you and your wife! Dr. Iliri
Escalating discontinuation is very important.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
(1) I agree with the ER doctor to discontinue phentermine as it is a psychostimulant drug with unfavourable profile, causing many side effects and addictions if it used for more tha nfew weeks. BUT, it is important t operform an escalating withdrawal of the drug, as it may cause many unpleasant effects.
Did you follow a careful and gradual schedule in stopping the drug??
(2) 140 bpm is of course tachycardia and saying that I didn't mean anything else, but sinus tachycardia which is a normal reaction of the heart in response to many stimuli (physical exertion especially in an overweighted person, stressful situation, stimulant substances or drugs, etc). The fact that I wanted to emphasize is if tachycardia (palpitations) reappears frequently out of proportion of the normal stimuli.
(3) Heart rate is a dynamic parameter and is normal to change from 78 bpm to 140 bpm in response to stresful stimuli. There is nothing to worry about.
I am repeating again, ONLY IF tachycardia (palipations) becomes disturbing medical help would be necessary to control heart rate.
(4) If withdrawal symptoms are present abnormal sinus tachycardia could be present though the drug has dissapeared from the body.
Hope to have answered you raised questions!
I wish the good health to you and your wife! Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
My wife is 27 years old, 5'5" and 139lbs. She isn't in great shape but not in horrible shape either. Would you consider 78 bpm to 140 bpm to still be within the normal tachycardia range for this type of stimuli (walking up 16 steps of stairs)?
Thanks a lot for your help.
Can I please get a response to my last question? Thanks.
Thanks a lot for your help.
Can I please get a response to my last question? Thanks.
Brief Answer:
Everything seems to be ok
Detailed Answer:
Hello again XXXX!
Taking into account your wife's age jumping gradually from 75 to 140 bpm during physical exertion is quite a normal reaction of her heart. I would like to let you know that theoretical maximal heart rate that a person can reach during exertion is calculated as: 220-age. So within that range everything is normal if the heart rate increases gradually and proportional to physical strain. Concerns are raised only if unexplained persistent tachycardia appears out of proportion to physical activity, expecially at rest. The last doesn't seem to be the case of your wife. So I conclude that everything is ok. The only advice I will give is to never use again those apetite suppression drugs as they may cause heart damages especially to the valves.
Feel free to ask me whenever you need.
My best wishes! Dr.Iliri
Everything seems to be ok
Detailed Answer:
Hello again XXXX!
Taking into account your wife's age jumping gradually from 75 to 140 bpm during physical exertion is quite a normal reaction of her heart. I would like to let you know that theoretical maximal heart rate that a person can reach during exertion is calculated as: 220-age. So within that range everything is normal if the heart rate increases gradually and proportional to physical strain. Concerns are raised only if unexplained persistent tachycardia appears out of proportion to physical activity, expecially at rest. The last doesn't seem to be the case of your wife. So I conclude that everything is ok. The only advice I will give is to never use again those apetite suppression drugs as they may cause heart damages especially to the valves.
Feel free to ask me whenever you need.
My best wishes! Dr.Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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