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What Causes Skipping Heart Beats And Tingling Sensation Down Left Arm?

Posted on Thu, 9 Oct 2014

Question: I was in a bad accident last November. I'm almost off of my pain medication. I have been feeling like my heart is either skipping a beat or temporarily stopping for a beat. Sometimes I can take a quick deep breath and it will interrupt it. It typically happens at night before bed. Last night it was even bigger and after it happened I felt a tingling sensation down my left arm for a couple of seconds. I have never smoked not do I drink alcohol or have ever had a drink of alcohol. 33 years old

Answered by Dr. Vipul Prajapati (14 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
detail required

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,

Thank you for your query.

I need more details to be better able to help you.

Firstly do you have these symptoms since accident or you developed them after some time?

Are there any other symptoms except skipping of beat like breathlessness, pounding sensation in heart, chest pain, sweating, tremulousness, feeling of attack, sadness of mood, loss of interest, sleep disturbance, irritability etc....

Sometimes after accident due to stress or due to injury itself chemical changes occur in body which result in anxiety. Your symptoms corelate with anxiety but heart conditions need to be ruled out. Thus first step would be to get an ECG done.

I would suggest that you consult a psychiatrist for detail history and mental status examination.

There are many medications like antidepressants, benzodiazepins like lorazepam, clonazepam, diazepam etc that may help you.

Awaiting your response.

Thank you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Vipul Prajapati (1 hour later)

Thanks for your quick reply. I was in a hunting accident and fell 15 feet. Severely broken legs and severely broken arm. I've had 10 surgeries to repair. The symptoms started when I was in a rehab facility. The nurse there dismissed it as a PVC but there were no tests ran. I do suffer from severe anxiety and panic disorder. I currently take 300 mg of Wellbutrin daily. I also take 10-12 mg of oxycodone daily and hopefully in another month or so will be fully weened from that medication. I understand anxiety does play a role in these symptoms. I've been told I have a healthy heart and "clean blood". That's one reason I healed so quickly and they were able to save my legs from amputation...they were bad. I'm currently walking without assistance. The thing that concerned me most about last night was the episode seemed larger and I had the tingling in my left arm. I also know pain medications could effect the heart as well.

Answered by Dr. Vipul Prajapati (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Need to change medication

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,

Such major accidents, followed by multiple surgeries commonly results in anxiety and stress.

Even you are taking bupropion 300 mg, you have symptoms of anxiety.
So if you were in my clinic, I would prefer to change medication like desvenlaflexine, venlaflexine, paroxetine etc.. which has good result in anxiety.

You can also use Benzodiazepins SOS basis.

Discuss with your treating doctor about this medication and also about psychotherapy.
Pain medication is needed in such major injury it has not much side effects related to heart, it has side effects related to GIT.

Thank you

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj