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Meds to control sinus tachycardia & chronic low blood pressure
Following a successful ablation for AFib that unfortunately damaged my vagus nerve, I developed chronic low blood pressure that caused fainting, migraines, and sinus tachycardia, My cardiologist prescribed Midodrine to raise my blood pressure and Ivabradine to lower my heart rate, but my pharmacist told me not to take those drugs together since as an 86 year-old woman with a history of QT prolongation, I was at risk of developing it again. I don’t know whom to trust. Has anyone had a similar experience?
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No such experience, but your pharmacist is the expert on drugs and their unwanted effects. My advice is to return to your cardiologist and tell that person what your pharmacists has said might be a problem with those prescriptions. From there, it's up to you what you do with what you learn from either expert. Perhaps your cardiologist will agree to monitor your heart frequently for the first few weeks to see if the long Q-T develops. If it turns out to be a non-issue, you get the anticipated benefits of the drugs and none of the worry or risk.
Hello @drowland,
I wanted to check in on you to see if you have learned anything knew with about your medications and how you are currently doing? I'd also like to invite @gil101 and @geomom who both have shared their experiences and questions with taking midodrine. @fastheart12 and @jmvidesgarcia9800 have experience with Ivabradine and may be able to share some of their experiences with that medication as well.
@gloaming brings up a good point about pharmacists being more of the expert on medications and their desired outcomes as well as contraindications. However, your cardiologist knows your heart the best and has reasoning for prescribing each medication. As @gloaming mentioned, are you able to now contact your cardiologist again to discuss your pharmacist's concerns with the medications potentially causing an issue with your history?
@JustinMcClanahan ivabradine has been working really good for me. I was skeptical at the beginning as I am also in a low dose of amiodarone (100 mg 2/day) and the pharmacist told me that I should be very careful taking those two medicines together. I spoke with my cardiologist and she told me to trust her and take it. My dose of ivabradine is 2.5 mg 2/day and I can tell you that I have been experiencing less episodes of arrhythmia and have a sensation of wellbeing
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2 Reactions@jmvidesgarcia9800
Thanks for your experience. I am now referring this dispute to my primary care giver, who I do trust. My starting dose of Ivabradine is 5mg, twice daily. Same with midodrine, which does cause unpleasant side effects like headaches. Any side effects with Ivabradine? 🤗