Digoxin

PM implanted 01/08. I take Digixin, among other medicines. I've had rapid, painful heartbeats. Last month, Walgreens sent a letter saying there was possibly a problem with the Digoxin. Some batches were double strength. There's no way to know if I had a bad batch or not. After wearing a Holter monitor, my doctor says I need a stronger medicine, Sotalol, to control my rapid beats. He doesn't think there a link between the Digoxin and the rapid beats. Does this mean the PM is not working? Any ideas?

3 Comments

Digoxin

by Nim Rod - 2008-06-06 08:06:36

II take digoxin and this is from the data sheet that comes with each refill. Read and then decide if it applies to you.

SIDE EFFECTS that may occur while using DIGOXIN include:

Confusion; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; hallucinations; mood or mental changes (such as depression); severe or persistent nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain; unusual tiredness or weakness; or unusual bruising or bleeding.

I would say it DOES NOT mean your PM is not working. I have been told there are some things my PM cannot do and one is regulate an irregular heart beat. Someone asked a very similar question here a few days ago. I think it was Swedeheart and she got an answer from somebody on how this could happen. If you can find that post it may help answer a question for you.

NR


PM and tachycardia

by kmhayward - 2008-06-07 06:06:04

Im sorry to tell you but a pacemaker will not prevent runs of tachycardia, it can only prevent the heart going too slowly. If you have a pm with an anti-af algorithm then this may help reduce the frequency of the episodes but does not eliminate them altogether, that is why your doctor has prescribed medication.

Ditto on PM Purpose

by greyfox - 2009-10-18 10:10:53

Yup, the pm is for rate control. Mine magically keeps my heart rate above 70bpm. It tries to control the rate between 70 - 120 based on my activity level (that's the magic part). However, as long as my heart is running faster than the pacemaker thinks it should, it's happy and doesn't try to control. Though my meds are trying to prevent me from doing so, the PM will let me go into afib, but it's primary there as the previous commenter stated: to keep the heart from beating too slowly. It was originally installed because I flat lined for 7 seconds during a conversion from afib to normal rhythm. With the pm in place, the doctors are able to go a little stronger on the meds.
TL

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You play MP3 files on your pacer.

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