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Suggest Treatment For Side Effects Of Cardizem
Question: Hello. I am an RN who is very medication sensitive. At a very stressful point 3 years ago, I went into atrial fibrillation. The cardiologist started me on an extremely high dose of Cardizem. At that point the fatigue and interstitial fluid problems must have been massive, because I had to stop and sit in the University of Maryland due to the LE edema. When given Lasix by my PCP- I lost over 10 lbs of water weight. Recently I concluded, due to my extreme reaction to diltazem that I was not only having peripheral edema but pre-sacral edema(confirmed by my PCP) and possibly edema of other soft tissues and the thoracic cavity. This ideation occurred due to my inability to consume any AMOUNT of food; turns out that since stopping Cardizem I can eat normally again without vomiting or fullness. ( possible diaphragmatic edema). I am very accustomed to the disbelief of physicians; in 1994 I took an asthma inhaler from which less than 1 percent of patients experienced vertigo- guess who almost fell into a bedside commode headfirst? Recently, I had given up feeling healthy and well ever again. I spent a day in bed while on vacation- rid myself of all extraneous fluids, and felt 20 years younger. I felt healthy again. ( Strong hx of healthy exercise, weight-lifting and cardio more than 6 hours weekly, haha too tired from medicine now.) I am currently on Digoxin- ( I have asthma, so no beta blockers), and off Cardizem x 2 weeks. I am considering ablation- hx of possible congenital anomaly too long for online ( "hearing something in my heart since age 18). I would sincerely appreciate ANYONE telling me I am not crazy since I feel more youthful, energetic, vibrant, and well since I was first put on the CARDIZEM in 2013. Please help me - XXXX XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I carefully passed through your medical history and would agree with your decision of stopping Cardizem intake.
You should know that this drug can cause these adverse effects (edema in 2-15% of patients, nausea an vomiting in 5% of patients, exacerbation of bronchitis and asthma in up to 4% of patients and difficulty breathing in up to 6% of the patients).
So you have taken the right decision as it seems your body has not tolerated well this drug.
Regarding your future treatment strategies, I would like to have some more information on your clinical situation, regarding:
1- Your atrial fibrillation. It is a persistent atrial fibrillation (during all the time) or recurrent one (repeated short episodes of atrial fibrillation during a normal sinus rhythm)?
2- Your cardiac ultrasound. Are there any changes in your cardiac function or structure (dilation of the atria or left ventricle)?
3- Thyroid function. Have you performed your thyroid hormone levels? Were they normal?
4- Pulmonary function. Are your pulmonary function tests normal or severely impared?
I would like to explain that the type of atrial fibrillation (persistent or recurrent) and the structural changes in your heart are the main factors to determine the duration of the future therapy.
If you have a low cardiac function (dilated left ventricle, low EF), Digoxin would be the recommended treatment choice.
If there are no structural changes in your heart (no dilated left ventricle, no hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, no valvular changes), you have a normal cardiac function and a normal thyroid function, cardiac ablation would be the best treatment option.
If your atrial fibrillation is recurrent you may need to start anti-arrhythmic therapy. I would recommend one of these drugs in such case: Cordarone, Propafenone or Flecainide).
You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.
Hope to have been helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I carefully passed through your medical history and would agree with your decision of stopping Cardizem intake.
You should know that this drug can cause these adverse effects (edema in 2-15% of patients, nausea an vomiting in 5% of patients, exacerbation of bronchitis and asthma in up to 4% of patients and difficulty breathing in up to 6% of the patients).
So you have taken the right decision as it seems your body has not tolerated well this drug.
Regarding your future treatment strategies, I would like to have some more information on your clinical situation, regarding:
1- Your atrial fibrillation. It is a persistent atrial fibrillation (during all the time) or recurrent one (repeated short episodes of atrial fibrillation during a normal sinus rhythm)?
2- Your cardiac ultrasound. Are there any changes in your cardiac function or structure (dilation of the atria or left ventricle)?
3- Thyroid function. Have you performed your thyroid hormone levels? Were they normal?
4- Pulmonary function. Are your pulmonary function tests normal or severely impared?
I would like to explain that the type of atrial fibrillation (persistent or recurrent) and the structural changes in your heart are the main factors to determine the duration of the future therapy.
If you have a low cardiac function (dilated left ventricle, low EF), Digoxin would be the recommended treatment choice.
If there are no structural changes in your heart (no dilated left ventricle, no hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, no valvular changes), you have a normal cardiac function and a normal thyroid function, cardiac ablation would be the best treatment option.
If your atrial fibrillation is recurrent you may need to start anti-arrhythmic therapy. I would recommend one of these drugs in such case: Cordarone, Propafenone or Flecainide).
You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.
Hope to have been helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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