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Why Are My Heart Palpitations Not Decreasing?
I have been having palpitations for several months. I saw a cardiologist who performed an EEG, Holter monitor test for 24hours. I was prescribed Propanolo 25mg daily. I have been on it for about 3weeks now. But the palpitations has not gone away completely. My diagnosis is Anxiety. I need it to go away. Please help.
Mon, 28 Sep 2015
Greetings. Welcome to HCM and thank you for your question. I understand your concern.
Propranolol is a beta-blocker, one of the oldest, that is particularly important and useful in palpitations or rapid heart rate due to anxiety. It is a good thing that the greatest part of palpitations are gone now. Anxiety (in all forms, including fear and panic attack) is characterized by increasing levels of adrenalin in the circulation, hence the rapid heart rate and extrasystoles (skipped heart beats). If propranolol is not working, and you also need this palpitations to go away, then a consult with a clinical psychologist or a psychiatrist would be in order. If these phenomena are affecting your quality of life or work, I would recommend you to discuss with him/her about the possibility of adding drugs to the therapy. I am referring to the combination between a sedative (class of benzodiazepines) with an anti-psychotic drug (for mood stabilizing features). These drugs would help both in reducing the stress from anxiety when it is present, and in preventing other episodes from happening. This would be accompanied with normal adrenalin levels and, therefore, with the abolishment of palpitations.
I hope I was of help.
Regards,
Dr. Meriton
Propranolol is a beta-blocker, one of the oldest, that is particularly important and useful in palpitations or rapid heart rate due to anxiety. It is a good thing that the greatest part of palpitations are gone now. Anxiety (in all forms, including fear and panic attack) is characterized by increasing levels of adrenalin in the circulation, hence the rapid heart rate and extrasystoles (skipped heart beats). If propranolol is not working, and you also need this palpitations to go away, then a consult with a clinical psychologist or a psychiatrist would be in order. If these phenomena are affecting your quality of life or work, I would recommend you to discuss with him/her about the possibility of adding drugs to the therapy. I am referring to the combination between a sedative (class of benzodiazepines) with an anti-psychotic drug (for mood stabilizing features). These drugs would help both in reducing the stress from anxiety when it is present, and in preventing other episodes from happening. This would be accompanied with normal adrenalin levels and, therefore, with the abolishment of palpitations.
I hope I was of help.
Regards,
Dr. Meriton
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