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Taking Ativan And Verapamil For WPW. Suggested To Take Buspar. Should I Consult Cardiologist?
Question: I am a 62 yr old female who has WPW from early childhood until I had it ablated at 44. I have been stable on Ativan and Verapamil until my psychiatrist left the area. The new Doc. doesn't seem to understand and has taken me off ativan and put me on Buspar, and it is not working. I have a very rapid heartrate now , over 110, shpuld I see a cardiologist?
SInce I have Had the WPW ablated, is there a medication better than verapamil, I am Taking 180MG a day and I was on 4 - 6 mg of Ativan Daily. Since I have been taken off the Ativan I only sleep until about 3 a.m. and I awake with a pounding rapid heartrate. What is the probabbility of my WPW finding a new circuit? My brother is an MD nad he tells me it is possible. I also had an angiogram before the ablation and the Doc who did it says the right side of my heart does most of the work because I had another congentail anonmoly where a ventricle in the left side did not grow????
I am not under the care of a cardiologist now. Please advise. Thank you so much.
SInce I have Had the WPW ablated, is there a medication better than verapamil, I am Taking 180MG a day and I was on 4 - 6 mg of Ativan Daily. Since I have been taken off the Ativan I only sleep until about 3 a.m. and I awake with a pounding rapid heartrate. What is the probabbility of my WPW finding a new circuit? My brother is an MD nad he tells me it is possible. I also had an angiogram before the ablation and the Doc who did it says the right side of my heart does most of the work because I had another congentail anonmoly where a ventricle in the left side did not grow????
I am not under the care of a cardiologist now. Please advise. Thank you so much.
Hi,
The recurrence rate of arrhythmia in WPW syndrome is 5 to 6 % after successful ablation. I understand from your last sentence that you have got some congenital heart disease, most probably Ebstein's anomaly, which is very commonly associated with WPW syndrome.
As your brother rightly told, a new circuit is a possibility, but not a frequent occurrence.
Verapamil is not a good option in case of WPW syndrome. It is better to avoid all calcium channel blockers(verapamil) and beta blockers. Amiadorone is a preferred drug if the heart rate goes high.
If you were well adjusted with ativan, I don't find any need of change in medication(to Buspar). I feel it is better to take the medication with which you were comfortable and symptom free. Once you are on some drug like ativan for long time, if you leave it suddenly, you may have some withdrawal like symptoms. Early morning tachycardia(rapid heart rate) may be because of that.
I personally feel it is better for you to be under the care of a cardiologist.
Hope I have answered all your concerns. Let me know if I can help you further.
Good luck!
The recurrence rate of arrhythmia in WPW syndrome is 5 to 6 % after successful ablation. I understand from your last sentence that you have got some congenital heart disease, most probably Ebstein's anomaly, which is very commonly associated with WPW syndrome.
As your brother rightly told, a new circuit is a possibility, but not a frequent occurrence.
Verapamil is not a good option in case of WPW syndrome. It is better to avoid all calcium channel blockers(verapamil) and beta blockers. Amiadorone is a preferred drug if the heart rate goes high.
If you were well adjusted with ativan, I don't find any need of change in medication(to Buspar). I feel it is better to take the medication with which you were comfortable and symptom free. Once you are on some drug like ativan for long time, if you leave it suddenly, you may have some withdrawal like symptoms. Early morning tachycardia(rapid heart rate) may be because of that.
I personally feel it is better for you to be under the care of a cardiologist.
Hope I have answered all your concerns. Let me know if I can help you further.
Good luck!
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Mohammed Kappan
Answered by
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