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What Causes Irregular Heartbeats After Consuming Alcohol?
Question: Hi. Went out last night and had too much alcohol to drink. My heart rate now feels irregular. My BP is 133/85 and my heart rate fluctuates beyween 120 and 102bpm. These readings are from a home "Omron" device to measure VP and heart rate.
I have taken .5mg of Xanax and 50mg of metoprolol about 30 min ago. But the rate still feels irregular and also shows as irregular on an app I have downloaded to check the rhythm.
Is there anything else I can do to steady the arrhythmia ( anything I should absolutely NOT do?) Perhaps more Xanax for the anxiety or a warm shower. I'm not close to any major medical facility so I want to do anything I possibly can to try and manage this at home. Thanks.
I have taken .5mg of Xanax and 50mg of metoprolol about 30 min ago. But the rate still feels irregular and also shows as irregular on an app I have downloaded to check the rhythm.
Is there anything else I can do to steady the arrhythmia ( anything I should absolutely NOT do?) Perhaps more Xanax for the anxiety or a warm shower. I'm not close to any major medical facility so I want to do anything I possibly can to try and manage this at home. Thanks.
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I passed carefully through your question and would explain that your symptoms are related to atrial fibrillation caused by "Holiday Heart Syndrome".
You should know that excessive alcohol intake can cause short circuits in the heart’s electrical rhythm, increase in levels of free fatty acids in the blood, and loads in adrenaline and other stress hormones. Alcohol may also lead to electrolytes imbalances (particularly with sodium) which can trigger cardiac arrhythmia.
These are some mechanisms that explain this clinical situation.
Usually the symptoms resolve spontaneously after 24 hours and there is no need to go to the ER for medical conversion of the atrial fibrillation (especially if you have a normal heart structure and function resulted in your previous performed resting ECG and cardiac ultrasound).
I recommend taking plenty of fluids to remain well hydrated and avoid physical activity of caffeine intake. I would also advise again 50mg of metoprolol (you can take up to a maximal daily dose of 200mg of metoprolol) in this clinical situation.
Another dose of Xanax would also help in this clinical scenario.
If your symptoms do not improve or even worsen during the next couple of hours (palpitations,shortness of breath, dizziness, etc.), I recommend going to the ER for a physical exam and some tests:
- a resting ECG
- a chest X ray study
- complete blood count and electrolytes.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask me again if you have any other questions!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I passed carefully through your question and would explain that your symptoms are related to atrial fibrillation caused by "Holiday Heart Syndrome".
You should know that excessive alcohol intake can cause short circuits in the heart’s electrical rhythm, increase in levels of free fatty acids in the blood, and loads in adrenaline and other stress hormones. Alcohol may also lead to electrolytes imbalances (particularly with sodium) which can trigger cardiac arrhythmia.
These are some mechanisms that explain this clinical situation.
Usually the symptoms resolve spontaneously after 24 hours and there is no need to go to the ER for medical conversion of the atrial fibrillation (especially if you have a normal heart structure and function resulted in your previous performed resting ECG and cardiac ultrasound).
I recommend taking plenty of fluids to remain well hydrated and avoid physical activity of caffeine intake. I would also advise again 50mg of metoprolol (you can take up to a maximal daily dose of 200mg of metoprolol) in this clinical situation.
Another dose of Xanax would also help in this clinical scenario.
If your symptoms do not improve or even worsen during the next couple of hours (palpitations,shortness of breath, dizziness, etc.), I recommend going to the ER for a physical exam and some tests:
- a resting ECG
- a chest X ray study
- complete blood count and electrolytes.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask me again if you have any other questions!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
How muchmore Xanax?
Any way to speed up the recovery process. Have been inable to sleep all noght so also feeling quite exhausted. Anything i can eat or dronk to help the arrythmia stop ? Am really not feeling great .
Any way to speed up the recovery process. Have been inable to sleep all noght so also feeling quite exhausted. Anything i can eat or dronk to help the arrythmia stop ? Am really not feeling great .
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
I would recommend taking another 0.5mg of Xanax.
Drinking just water will be more helpful than other foods or drinks.
It will help increase your renal filtration and reduce your alcohol levels in a short time.
Hope to have been helpful!
Greetings!
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
I would recommend taking another 0.5mg of Xanax.
Drinking just water will be more helpful than other foods or drinks.
It will help increase your renal filtration and reduce your alcohol levels in a short time.
Hope to have been helpful!
Greetings!
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Would taking a warm shower be too risky fiven that the heartbeat is all over the place. Also dor headache- ok to take advil ( ibuprofin) ? Rhis seems to be taking a bery long tome to resolve itself??
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
I would not recommend taking a warm shower as it may trigger low blood pressure and possible fainting.
Advil could help for the headache.
If your symptoms do not improve by the above recommended measures after an hour, I recommend going to the ER for some tests. You may need to be treated in an ER service.
Hope to have been helpful!
Let me know about everything!
Brief Answer:
My answer as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Occasional tingling in both arms does not indicate anything serious. May be related to anxiety or electrolyte imbalance.
Nevertheless, if your symptoms do not improve after the next hour, I recommend going to the ER for the above mentioned tests.
Keep me informed on everything!
I remain at your disposal if you have any other uncertainties!
Regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
I would not recommend taking a warm shower as it may trigger low blood pressure and possible fainting.
Advil could help for the headache.
If your symptoms do not improve by the above recommended measures after an hour, I recommend going to the ER for some tests. You may need to be treated in an ER service.
Hope to have been helpful!
Let me know about everything!
Brief Answer:
My answer as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Occasional tingling in both arms does not indicate anything serious. May be related to anxiety or electrolyte imbalance.
Nevertheless, if your symptoms do not improve after the next hour, I recommend going to the ER for the above mentioned tests.
Keep me informed on everything!
I remain at your disposal if you have any other uncertainties!
Regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Occasional Tomgling sensation in arm is normal inder the corcustamces?
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