cardizem and lanoxin

[Birky]

I was put on these after surgery due to a problem with the electrical system of my heart. Has anyone been on these and when can you be taken off? I was on a betablocker prior to surgery which also alleviated the migraines which I am now getting. I call my Cardio and said to stay on them since I had tachacardia and brachardia(I'm sure spelling is wrong} For some reason I thought I would not have to be on anything but coumadin and baby aspirin. I guess I am wondering if this is something that is permanent or could be gone since the heart should be healed. How would they know? Thanks, I guess today is a bad heart day.haha

 

[Georgia]

Bad weather day, bad heart day, achy incision day . . .

I'm on a slew of drugs - my heart was enlarged. Doc says they won't think about taking me off any until a year out. I take lanoxin, and ACE inhibitor, a beta blocker, lasix, and misc. other stuff.

 

[Birky]

medications

medications

I don't think my heart is enlarged. I was never told that. I know what you mean about a poopy day. I really am hoping to get off of some of these. I wonder if they take you off cold turkey or gradually wean you off. The only bad thing about the betablocker that it did make me tired. Had to take it at night. How do you feel otherwise? Do you have a lot of energy? My husband had a really bad insulin reaction last night. It really scared me since this is the 1st time it happened so I guess I am dealing with alot right now. I can't wait to talk to the Cardioligist in regards to this stuff. Illinois weather is crappy. Thanks for your reply,

 

[Les]

I've been on beta-blockers Atenolol and Digoxin ever since the first AVR in '93. Tried to wean off them several times and there is just no way for me. I don't feel tired ( other than being 50!) and am able to function normally, but I have had to up the Atenolol dose over the years to compensate for the good 'ol liver efficiency. I have asked, ( every 6 months I visit the cardio ) about the long term effects and, where the ceiling is on the dose, when I lapse into a coma? Of course, they just smile and invoice me on the way out the door.................

 

[Georgia]

I generally feel good. Didn't notice that the beta blocker made me feel tired this time. When I took it for tachycardia and irregular hearbeat in the early 80's it made me really tired and I hated it. My doc switched me to channel blockers when they came on the market. I think the difference this time is that I was so deconditioned due to my heart that "in comparison" I feel better.

Overall I feel like a new person. But with ups and downs. And I anticipate feeling better when maybe the amount of toprol (my beta blocker) can be reduced (my heartrate is coming down so I think maybe it can be cut back after my Dec. appt).

I hope you get feeling better. I suspect that the second surgery (wires) took a lot out of you coming so soon after the ohs. Give it time.

Take care

 

[Birky]

medications

medications

Barrett, What happened when you tried to go off of them? I know they tried taking me off the betablocker and when they did, my blood pressure kept going up and so did my heart rate. Had to go back on. My blood pressure does run higher than before the surgery so I guess we will have to discuss this. I am thankful that I am now on a monthly check for the INR. Going to look into home testing. I might wait awhile for that since I haven't been on the coumadin for very long. Thanks for your replies,

 

[Nancy]

Joe's been on Digoxin (Lanoxin) for what seems like forever. He's been off it, but he gets tachy and his afib and aflutter act up. He's also had it build up in his system, so every once in a while he gets the level checked., maybe a couple of times per year. He was on Cardizem for a short while, but was taken off, I guess it interracted with some of his other 14 or so medications, and a few of his medical problems.

He also has a pacemaker to control his bradycardia.

 

[Les]

Marcia,
Whenever I attempted to cease, my reactions were similar to Joe's ( above post) especially, while running. Even with .25 Dig and 100mg Atenolol a day, I still get flutters, pre-beats, all sorts of things like that while running or sometimes even at rest. With no beta-blockers, it just gets worse and I get a strange tightness sensation in my chest. Isn't painful, just very uncomfortable. Most days are better than others. It's always something.......

 

[JimL]

This is my experience with Lanoxin, which certainly could involve other factors I'm not aware of.

I was on Lanoxin after surgery. My card just told me to stop taking it several months after surgery. I decided to gradually wean myself off of it, so I switched from taking one pill a day to taking one every other day. The day after I skipped the first pill convinced me I wasn't ready to get off Lanoxin yet. I was about 30 minutes into a 150 minute drive when I felt like I was going to black out from the arrhythmias.

I waited almost a year longer before stopping the Lanoxin. Then I did it even more gradually, one pill today, a half tomorrow, a whole pill, then a half pill, etc. This time I had no trouble.

I think Lanoxin is a good medicine without the drastic side effects of others. I wouldn't be in a rush to get off of it.