Update since my last thread + query about Fluxotene and PVCs

[Eva]

Hello all and sorry this is a bit long!

First, since I started taking Fluxotene (generic Prozac) on 7/7, my over-all well sense of being and my moods + concentration improved :thumbup:.

To those who missed my thread, here it is if you like to read and/or respond to it .

http://www.valvereplacement.org/for...itation-and-procrastination.......&highlight=

After my surgery, I had a few PVCs. [I use a stetoscope to detect them, which is one of Al's brilliant and wise recommendations.]

After one month of taking Fluxotene, my PVCs increased. I related them to being tired those days! Now, two months later, they have much increased. I looked up Prozac on Mayo Clinic, and one of the side effects is palpitations!

I took Prozac brand name before and after my surgery but I did not notice increased palpitations. So, could this be due to the generic (to which many I am sensitive to) or just a co-incidence?! I will need to switch to the Brand name to find out.

1. Did anyone know that anti-depressants cause palpitations? and so Toprol? I did not!

2. Did anyone know that Toprol causes confusion? loss of short memory (which could be only to sensitive people like me, as I hate to cause an unnecessary alarm)?!

3. Could my confusion and loss of memory had been due to Toprol? I started it in May 09 and my symptoms started in September 09!

4. Will it be worth it to switch to Brand name Prozac and increase my Toprol if necessary? or
5. stop it gradually and maybe I can stop Toprol later? and
the elimination of both may eliminate my brain fogginess and others!

Sorry this is long!

I am asking questions which my cardio should have answered when I saw him before going on my cruise as I was worried about my PVCs, but he did not!!!!:mad2::mad2::mad2::mad2: He asked me to see my PCP (re Fluxotene) who recommened I saw my cardio re PVCs. And this is how he is when it comes to medication he did not prescribe!

I think I should fire him again. He has an ego issue! On top of all, he charged my insurance $875 for echo + $75 for 10-secs EKG (which did not help him to make recommendations re PVCs as it was too short:rolleyes2 + $175 for consultation. What consultation! He asked me to go after the cruise to his office and have a holter monitor as he was a bit sarcastic when I mentioned they were toooooooo many. He did not even listen to my heart that day!

Maybe I should fire all my UCLA doctors! I only wanted all my records to be in one place.

I am shy to go back to the cardio who treated me after the surgery! He partially left UCLA for a higher position at Cedar Sinai. Maybe I could use this as an excuse! or

6. shall I find a cardiologist in my South Bay area and save myself the 45 mins. driving to UCLA/Beverly Hills?!

7. How important do you think that I stay with UCLA doctors who can have easy access to any of my record?!

Any advice to confused Eva? You were and are my angels on earth :angel::wink2:

Thanks in advance and God bless.:smile2:

 

[ottagal]

Hi Eva,
Thanks for the information on meds and how they can affect our heart etc. It is always difficult to make these decisions when considering a change of doctors. However, you must have confidence in and feel comfortable with your doctor as he/she is the one who will be seeing you for follow ups. Listen to your gut, hopefully it will provide you with an answer. I am sorry that you are dealing with this dilemna and that I don't have all the answers.
God Bless.

 

[nngbwh]

I don't know what to say. Sorry to hear you are going through this. I wish all the best to you and hope that you will work things out.

 

[Michelle D]

I'm not sure what to tell you about the prozac situation but most drugs cause PVCs in me. PVCs are no big deal, so all the cardiologists tell me. I always tell them that the PVCs are driving me crazy and they tell me not to worry about them. So I'll say most aren't sympathetic to PVC suffers. Well good luck to you.

 

[Duffey]

Eva,
I was on Toprol for awhile after replacement. My heartrate was high, and I had many pvc's. To make a long story short, I weaned myself off of it. Many will say this was a tad bit reckless. Well, I can be reckless. Nevertheless, my cognitive and emotional issues improved, and in this life, if I have to chose between cognitive, emotional and physical maladies, the physical problem will likely get less attention paid to it.

I understand your unhappiness with the cardio. You need to have a cardiologist that you trust, and you feel you can confide in. Perhaps you should shop around. Access to your records would rank low on my priorities. If you can find one in the Bay area that you like, then I'd switch.

I can't help with the generic vs name brand, but I suggest that you keep track and if one seems to cause fewer side effects, then switch to the other.
I hope this helps a little bit.
Mary

 

[Jkm7]

I can only speak for myself but it would be more important to me to have a doctor with whom I had a good working relationship and I could trust to answer my questions and listen to my concerns.

Any doctor can get any records they need or want. You can get them. Request copies. You might have to pay a copying fee but have to provide you with them upon request.

 

[Lily]

I don't think I have any advice; only sympathy. I'm nearly in a similar boat, Eva. My cardio (also in LA and about 3 hours from my home) is changing specialites so I need to find a new one too. I have several recommendations, some up in LA and some in SD, but I feel like I'm looking for a needle in a haystack. Meanwhile, I have an excessive PVC issue also.

My local family doctor strongly wants me to have a cardio closer to our home, in case of an emergency. That does seem a good reason.

Oh, I've only been on a generic Toprol for a few days and I definitely feel a bit thick-headed. I'm hoping it will resolve; sometimes little side effects do.

 

[Luana]

Eva,
I would say call the pharmacy that you get your meds filled at and ask the pharmacist about side-effects and/or possible interactions. The pharmacist is usually a very under-utilized resource and often a better source of what the drug might be doing than your doctor.

 

[Eva]

Hi Eva,
Thanks for the information on meds and how they can affect our heart etc. It is always difficult to make these decisions when considering a change of doctors. However, you must have confidence in and feel comfortable with your doctor as he/she is the one who will be seeing you for follow ups. Listen to your gut, hopefully it will provide you with an answer. I am sorry that you are dealing with this dilemna and that I don't have all the answers.
God Bless.

Thank you, dear friend.

I hope my gut will lead me to a decision! Thanks for listening and reading.

God bless.

 

[Eva]

I don't know what to say. Sorry to hear you are going through this. I wish all the best to you and hope that you will work things out.

Thanks for you good wishes. I feel much better when others care to take the time and read and respond.

Cheers

 

[Eva]

I'm not sure what to tell you about the prozac situation but most drugs cause PVCs in me. PVCs are no big deal, so all the cardiologists tell me. I always tell them that the PVCs are driving me crazy and they tell me not to worry about them. So I'll say most aren't sympathetic to PVC suffers. Well good luck to you.

It is so sad that we take drugs to feel better, and then we have to take other drugs to treat the side effecrs of the first drug.

Luckily, PVCs are not harmful. But they are annoying and scary, especially when I listen to them with the stetoscope...it feels as if my heart will suddenly stop!!

Thanks for reading and posting.

 

[Eva]

Eva,
I was on Toprol for awhile after replacement. My heartrate was high, and I had many pvc's. To make a long story short, I weaned myself off of it. Many will say this was a tad bit reckless. Well, I can be reckless. Nevertheless, my cognitive and emotional issues improved, and in this life, if I have to chose between cognitive, emotional and physical maladies, the physical problem will likely get less attention paid to it.

I understand your unhappiness with the cardio. You need to have a cardiologist that you trust, and you feel you can confide in. Perhaps you should shop around. Access to your records would rank low on my priorities. If you can find one in the Bay area that you like, then I'd switch.

I can't help with the generic vs name brand, but I suggest that you keep track and if one seems to cause fewer side effects, then switch to the other.
I hope this helps a little bit.
Mary

You are absolutely right, Mary.

I took Toprol for my high pulse rate more than for my PVCs, which were minimal!

Did your HR go down on its own with time without Toprol?


I am now evaluating what is more important to me and I hope I can reach a decision...I keep jumping from one to another. But I know I will hopefully decide one something and go after it.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[Eva]

I can only speak for myself but it would be more important to me to have a doctor with whom I had a good working relationship and I could trust to answer my questions and listen to my concerns.

Any doctor can get any records they need or want. You can get them. Request copies. You might have to pay a copying fee but have to provide you with them upon request.

So true, Jkm7.

This is what I did when I was on the East Coast. I always got copis and gave to other doctors. But Hubby is so keen on UCLA!! Anyhow, I do not care NOW as much as I care to feel better and find a caring and a good listening doctor who will help me when I need him!

Thanks for your advice.

NB: Did you get the results of your echo? I will check the forum in case I missed your thread! I hope all went well.

 

[Eva]

I don't think I have any advice; only sympathy. I'm nearly in a similar boat, Eva. My cardio (also in LA and about 3 hours from my home) is changing specialites so I need to find a new one too. I have several recommendations, some up in LA and some in SD, but I feel like I'm looking for a needle in a haystack. Meanwhile, I have an excessive PVC issue also.

My local family doctor strongly wants me to have a cardio closer to our home, in case of an emergency. That does seem a good reason.

Oh, I've only been on a generic Toprol for a few days and I definitely feel a bit thick-headed. I'm hoping it will resolve; sometimes little side effects do.

Lily, thanks for responding. I sympathize with your situation too and will keep all of us in my prayers.

If you do not mind, pm me the recommendations you have for cardios in LA. It is quite a distance for you to come, though you can come and visit me when you are up here

I hate the generics! I know when I was younger, they were worse for me! I hope our PVCs will be resolved soon.

Take care

 

[Eva]

Eva,
I would say call the pharmacy that you get your meds filled at and ask the pharmacist about side-effects and/or possible interactions. The pharmacist is usually a very under-utilized resource and often a better source of what the drug might be doing than your doctor.

Luana, Thanks.

I agree and I should do this. Everytime I go to pick up the medicine, I am in a rush!! Last time I spoke with pharmacist at Wallgreens about their Toprol. I switched from Right Aid to Wallgreens 2 months ago, at the same time I started taking the Fluxotine! I was worried if Wallgreens Toprol was not effective. She was nice and reassured me that they always check the expiry date. I thanked her and thought my PVCs were just a co-incidence to start at the same time, or a reaction to Fluxotene.

Thanks for reading my thread and for your advice.

 

[njean]

Don't you just love it when doctors tell you that you'll have to learn to live it, your PVC's?! Grrrrr that is so maddening! :frown2: But they say this because they are not the ones dealing with it!!! :rolleyes2:

I was put on Toprol XL shortly after my last OHS & I was not able to tolerate it. I kept telling my cardio that it was making me feel worse but it went in one ear & out the other! Finally I just tapered off of it myself & felt so much better afterwards. My doctor was not happy with that, but I was the one feeling better so I didn't care! :thumbup:

I too wish that you could find another cardiologist who is more receptive to your concerns!

I pray that you find a good doctor & get to feeling much better soon!!!

 

[Eva]

Don't you just love it when doctors tell you that you'll have to learn to live it, your PVC's?! Grrrrr that is so maddening! :frown2: But they say this because they are not the ones dealing with it!!! :rolleyes2:

I was put on Toprol XL shortly after my last OHS & I was not able to tolerate it. I kept telling my cardio that it was making me feel worse but it went in one ear & out the other! Finally I just tapered off of it myself & felt so much better afterwards. My doctor was not happy with that, but I was the one feeling better so I didn't care! :thumbup:

I too wish that you could find another cardiologist who is more receptive to your concerns!

I pray that you find a good doctor & get to feeling much better soon!!!

Thanks, Norma for sharing. I hope to taper myself off everything slowly and see what happens, after I find a good caring cardio. Wish me luck.