Palpitations

I'm 80. This just happened once, but scared the hell out of me. About two weeks ago. I'd been drinking more then usual and after dinner I got chest pains and my heart felt like it was doing flip flops. I had been taking Atenolol 25 beta blocker once a day which had lowered my pulse rate to 60, when whatever it was that hit me my pulse shot up to 150 and varied back down to 90. I called my Doctor and got an OK to increase my dose of Atenolol up to twice a day. This did lower my pulse rate to between 70 and 100. During this time my nose was running a lot. At the end of the second week Everything returned back to normal, what a relief.

One of the biggest problems is controlling your own panic especially when the wife and everyone I told about it acted like I was going to die any second. I didn't see a Doctor which in this case worked fine.

I'll be 40 the end of this month and have been having slight skips or palpitations. I did some research and found that it could be caffeine or many other things. I cut back on the caff and haven't had them lately. The heart is a strange organ, huh?

If it continues see a cardiologist and he can put an event monitor or Holter monitor on you and check the rhythm. If you ever pass out unexpectedly, hurry up the visit.

Corgard (nadolol). I'm only 55, but I've been taking Corgard for about 20 years for a benign heart irregularity known as Mitral Valve Prolapse. For some reason I can't remember, last summer, my doctor suggested switching to atenolol (even though the nadolol was working ok. Very soon, I noticed having heart palpitations on the atenolol. The heart palpitations continued unabated even when I raised the dosage on the atenolol.

So the bottom line is that not all beta blockers are alike, and maybe you might ask your doctor about trying about one or more other beta blockers.

Hope this helps a bit.

I'll do that. Especially if it happens again. By the way I quit drinking till the palpitations went away and sort of swore off permanently. Last night we went out for a pastrami sandwich and I couldn't resist having a bourbon and water. My wife of 55 years looked at me like I was hopeless, but she had one too. I also gave up CHOCOLATE for two weeks.

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Magnesium

The most abundant positively charged electrolyte in the body, magnesium is necessary for the movement of ions across cellular membranes and the transmission of nervous impulses. (7) The role of magnesium in the nervous system has led to its intense study throughout the medical literature. Known for its ability to affect sleep, sleep-related neuroendocrine functions, and EEG (electroencephalogram) patterns, magnesium was utilized as a treatment for insomnia in the elderly in one study. (8) The authors of this study noted that decreases in several sleep measurement indices (decreased slow wave sleep and delta and sigma wavelength power) were improved upon supplementation of magnesium. These investigators suggest that magnesium, used as a sleep aid, may affect glutaminergic and GABAnergic neurotransmitter systems and can alter age-related sleep changes.

Subsequent depletion of magnesium associated with low intake is thought to disrupt normal biologic rhythms including sleep cycles. Low intake is associated with hypo- and hyperfunction of the biologic clock; hyperfunction of the biologic clock is associated with various manifestations of nervous hypoexcitability such as depression, headaches, and myalgias (fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome) while hypofunction is associated with expression of nervous hyperexcitabity such as delayed sleep onset, age-related insomnia, anxiety, and migraine. (9) Researchers speculate that the role of the biologic clock and magnesium are linked in a way that a certain level of magnesium is necessary for the efficient function of the pineal gland and the suprachiasmatic nuclei. (10) Additionally, this research hypothesizes that magnesium may stimulate inhibitory neurotransmitter systems such as GABA and taurine and may antagonize carbon monoxide and nitric oxide, gases characterized as "neuroactive." Clinically, the authors of this paper note a beneficial effect of magnesium supplementation in the late evening hours on sleep quality; this effect is achieved with 200-300 milligrams over a period of one to two weeks of continuous supplementation. Magnesium plays an interesting role in the function of biologic rhythms; more research is needed in this area.


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Many of the top 100 drugs prescribed in the United States have been shown to deplete a variety of nutrients. For instance, did you know that the HMG-Co A reductase inhibitors Lipitor, Mevacor, Pravachol, and Zocor, as well as the beta blockers, Toprol, and Lopressor, all deplete coenzyme Q10, a nutrient essential to ATP production in cellular mitochondria? It has also been demonstrated that both oral and inhaled corticosteroids, such as hydrocortisone, Prednisone, Azmacort, Flonase, and Serevent, deplete several important minerals, folic acid, and vitamins C and D. The popularly prescribed histamine agonists Pepcid, Tagamet, and Zantac can deplete folic acid, B vitamins, calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamin D. The second edition of Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion Handbook includes detailed information on these drugs and nearly 1,000 more, and is a valuable reference guide addressing drug-induced nutrient depletion in humans. It expands on the information found in the first edition and the authors' intent is to provide health professionals and the lay public access to the large body of credible scientific research pertaining to drug-induced nutrient deficiencies.

The book is divided into four main sections, in addition to the introduction, appendix, and alphabetical index. The first section is an alphabetical listing of drug monographs by brand and generic name, providing synonyms, pharmacological class, nutrients depleted by the drug, the scientific basis for this information, and a reference to the corresponding nutrient monograph. The second section is a cross reference to the first, alphabetically listing nutrients and the drugs that deplete them, along with a reference number for the abstracts/studies section of the book. The nutrient monograph section is perhaps the most informative, as it provides an alphabetically arranged overview of the nutrients, their biological functions and effects, as well as side effects and toxicity. The monographs also describe the physiological effects of depletion, suggested daily dosage, and dietary sources of the nutrient. The "Studies and Abstracts" section provides brief summaries of the citations and abstracts of over 500 scientific studies corresponding to the drug monographs.