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Suggest Treatment For Severe Acid Reflux While On Lamictal And Alprazolam
Question: I am taking 15 mg of lansoprazole 24 hour delayd released at night. I noticed yesterday afternoon and evening I started to get heart palpitations and my heart rate at resting was 86-89. The heart palpitations were about every 5 mins at one point and even woke me up. I have been taking it off and on for a 2 week period the last few months for acid reflux. My question should I quit taking it and see or should I call my Dr?
I also take 150 mg 2x a day of lamictal and .25 mg alprazolam for seizures due to a hemangioma in my brain. I have only had one in the last 11 years. Thanks
I also take 150 mg 2x a day of lamictal and .25 mg alprazolam for seizures due to a hemangioma in my brain. I have only had one in the last 11 years. Thanks
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that your symptoms do not seem to be related to reflux or lansoprazole intake.
These heart palpitations could be related to different disorders:
- cardiac arrhythmia
- blood electrolyte imbalance
- anxiety.
Besides, alprazolam should not be taken for a prolonged time. It is a benzodiazepine and can cause tolerance and addiction. From the other hand it isn't effective against seizures. It can just help relieve anxiety, when used for a short time. But, when used for a long time, its effects decrease, because of tolerance. So, I would not recommend taking it any more.
Coming to this point, I would recommend consulting with your doctor for a physical exam and some tests:
- a cardiac ultrasound
- an ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring to examine your heart rhythm trends through the day and exclude possible cardiac arrhythmia
- complete blood count for anemia
- blood electrolytes for possible imbalance
- thyroid hormone levels for thyroid dysfunction.
If all these tests result normal, you should consider anxiety as a possible cause of your symptoms.
I would also recommend discussing with your doctor on the possibility to lower the dose of lamictal, as you have been seizure free for so many years. You can lower the dose up to 100mg twice daily (which is considered an average dose).
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that your symptoms do not seem to be related to reflux or lansoprazole intake.
These heart palpitations could be related to different disorders:
- cardiac arrhythmia
- blood electrolyte imbalance
- anxiety.
Besides, alprazolam should not be taken for a prolonged time. It is a benzodiazepine and can cause tolerance and addiction. From the other hand it isn't effective against seizures. It can just help relieve anxiety, when used for a short time. But, when used for a long time, its effects decrease, because of tolerance. So, I would not recommend taking it any more.
Coming to this point, I would recommend consulting with your doctor for a physical exam and some tests:
- a cardiac ultrasound
- an ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring to examine your heart rhythm trends through the day and exclude possible cardiac arrhythmia
- complete blood count for anemia
- blood electrolytes for possible imbalance
- thyroid hormone levels for thyroid dysfunction.
If all these tests result normal, you should consider anxiety as a possible cause of your symptoms.
I would also recommend discussing with your doctor on the possibility to lower the dose of lamictal, as you have been seizure free for so many years. You can lower the dose up to 100mg twice daily (which is considered an average dose).
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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