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What Causes Increased Heart Rate And Pain In The Ribs After Smoking Marijuana?

Posted on Fri, 9 Jun 2017

Question: I use mariguana from last 10 years and
so. from last few days i feel a cute pain under my left rib and do feel increase heart rate.please advice

Answered by Dr. Dr Sameer Maheshwari (43 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Time to stop Mariguana

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome.
This is Dr Sameer, cardiologist.
Localized pain is rarely cardiac. But you need to evaluate it. You should go for TMT(Tread Mill Test) & a 2D Echo.
Mariguana & other opioid(category of drug) can cause spasm of arteries of heart & can sometimes cause heart attack. It also causes sympathetic stimulation & thus a increase in heart rate.
So please try to stop taking it. Long term use is really harmful & you should care for your health. I can understand that after taking it for so long it becomes very difficult to stop it. But you can decrease its use gradually & than stop it. You can also meet a councillor to help you overcome it.

I wish a good health for you.
Thanks & take care

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr Sameer Maheshwari (23 minutes later)

Thanks for your response. I have reduce the intake to very small quantity i take only two small joints in a day and will leave it completely soon.Please advise me and medicine to reduce its effect iam 36 old married male.

Regards XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Dr Sameer Maheshwari (11 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up answer

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Welcome back.
Its good to hear that you have decreased the intake & will gradually stop it.
Your chest pain does not look like cardiac pain at present & you should do the tests i advised to rule out underlying cardiac disease.
Till than you can take pain killer like Tab Ultraset twice daily. If the heart rate is persistently high(>100/min) than we advice for a medicine to decrease the sympathetic flow. The medicine is Metoprolol to be started 25mg once daily & can be increased till 100mg under your doctor supervision. But keep checking your bp while you take this drug as it also has antihypertensive effect (decrease bp).
Also remember to stop Metoprolol 2 days prior to TMT.
If you have any more question, I'll be happy to help.
Thanks & take care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Dr Sameer Maheshwari (22 hours later)

Thanks for your response. Please advise me any medicine to counter path the bad effect of THC (weeds) so that i can use both of them and than nothing and end all.
Today i had my 2 d echo its all good shall i go for TMT also?

Doctor advice me ciplar la-20mg twice a day.

Regards XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Dr Sameer Maheshwari (14 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up answer

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Welcome back.
Its good to know that echo is fine. I will still recommend you for TMT. Echo just rules out current status of heart, TMT rules out any possibility of underlying blockage in heart vessels.
As i told you about Metoprolol (to decrease heart rate), similar drug is Ciplar-LA(propanolol). It is used to control heart rate & bp. Continue taking it, it will be beneficial to you. But as i told you earlier also, you need to stop Ciplar-LA 2 days prior to TMT & restart it after the TMT.
If you have any more question, I'll be happy to help.
Thanks & take care

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana