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Recent drop in heart rate. New meds???
Hello all,
I am new to this group and this is my first post. In Sept., my watch alerted me of a recent spike in my resting heart rate. For the previous 15 weeks (same week I started a new “hostile environment” job), my rate averaged 120+ bpm.
At that time I began short term disability and sought treatment.
My PCP added 12-25 mg. Metoprolol to the 40 mg. Lisinopril. Also at this time, began taking 10, now 20mg. Citalopram for severe depression. Last week, added 12-25 mg. Trazadone because I couldn’t sleep. Amazing sleep since then!
This morning, my watch alerted me again that I have had a 5 “day” trend of LOW resting heart rate. Avg. 54 bpm. Reading about this all morning has led me to this group. I will also add this post to the Depression group as well.
Can anyone help me determine if this is safe, or whether I should cut back on Metoprolol or Trazadone? This past week, I have been taking both at 25 mg. at night. My other meds are AM.
Any knowledge or experience here is appreciated!
Thank you!
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There is a trend toward lowering the 'resting heart rate' in some cardiology circles. While the upper limit for bradycardia still is 59 BPM, some research is beginning to suggest that bradycardia shouldn't be officially diagnosed until the rate is below 50 BPM. For people who are healthy, and reasonably fit, their resting HR should not be above 65 normally (with variance for individual differences!), and most would be well below 55 BPM. My own resting HR when I was a competitive runner was between 34 and 38.
Yes, the drugs such as metoprolol will reduce your heart rate. It's supposed to. It also limits the force of each ventricular contraction, meaning it's good for incipient hypertension as well. Metoprolol...I don't know anything about Linisopril.
You should never alter prescriptions unilaterally until you have consulted with a physician, even if it means a trip to the ER when things look pretty desperate. If your resting HR is anywhere above 50 BPM, you're doing fine.
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4 Reactions@kell504
WE on MCC should not give you advice on whether to cut back on a medications. That should come from your medical doctors. Everyone is different and medications need to be precise to your medical conditions. What works for you may not work for another and vice versa.
What you posted does indicate some of your medication could be causing low heart rate. Please advise your doctors of your lower heart rate. If you are taking a drug for depression or anxiety it can lower your heart rate.
I started taking more and more medications and my resting heart rate got down into the 40s. I have a AICD/Pacemaker and that was changed to bring my HR up to 70 bpm. Entresto and Carvididol are known to lower pulse rate as well as many other medications.
You mentioned being in a high stress job and your resting pulse rate very high. That can be a common reaction to high stress regardless of the cause.
I don't want to think I am getting personal but you mentioned severe depression. Have you been working with a provider that offers mental health counseling or have access to it. At Mayo Clinic Jacksonville I have a specialist that prescribes and monitors medications to treat mental health. She works with all my other doctors to ensure anything she prescribes is okay with the other doctors I see for physical conditions.
I think you would benefit from such a specialist if you can get access. When you start getting a lot of medications they can start interacting with each other and compound then making them stronger or weaker.
Are you doing anything lifestyle changing to address depression and stress? That can add a lot to improving quality of life. Find something you like doing and do it. Find something that brings a smile to your face and make it part of your life style .
I have had many times been described something I got at a walk in clinic (when Mayo Office closed) to have my PCP at Mayo call me and say don't take that medication. The psychiatric/mental health medication specialist at Mayo works as a team with all my other health care providers.
I have been an exerciser all my life. Even before I went on medications that lowered my HR my pulse rate was in low 60s.
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1 ReactionI think everyone on this site should be cautious about advice in such complicated circumstances.
Clearly, to me, this is an issue for experienced and competent professionals to follow and provide advice.
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2 ReactionsHello @kell504, how are you doing with your lower heart rate concerns now that some time has gone by? Were you able to discuss your new lower heart rate with the provider that prescribed your metoprolol?
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1 ReactionYes, but it was due to Diltiazem and blood pressure and heart rate dropped.
You are taking 2 medicine at the same time that may or may not interact with each other. You also indicate that you take other meds in the am. There are places on the internet that you can check whether your meds are interacting with each other. Or how one med might strengthen or reduce the effects of another medicine. Then you can speak with your EP to see if he would suggest changing one of your meds or refer you to your Depression doctor to change the family of the other med. Trying to adjust your medications by a site like this is never a good idea. Speak to your EP and follow his advice. It will go faster for you in the long run.