Thursday, January 05, 2012 Momorris asks

Q: Has anyone had palpitations while taking remicade?

Well, on top of alllll the other stuff I have had happen to me, I now have an arrythymia! I tried to ignore it for a month while I coped with all the other things: elevated liver enzymes, remicade reaction, having only work about 30% since August, and unable to take a lot of meds, now I have PVC's about 10-15/hour and they are getting stronger and uncomfortable! Now I had to see a cardiologist and had a stress test and now have to take a med to suppress these extra painful beats! It's causing me headaches, pressure in my neck and short of breath with fast movements. I QUIT! I am trying to figure out if it's possible the remicade is contributing.Any thoughts?

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Answers (3)

V, Health Guide

1/ 6/12 7:50am

Hi, Mo,

I have never had any infusions, but I have read many accounts of those who do. Recently, I did read an account from someone on Remicade who ended up with heart palpatations...during the infusion. So...no more Remicade for him, he said. So, so sorry! Good grief, you have had a lot going on! What did the cardiologist say, Mo?

Momorris

1/ 6/12 6:10pm

I didn't have them with the infusion, and I don't remember if it started before or after my last infusion. I think I am donee with the remicade and will just try to get by with the NSAID and prednisone as needed. He didn't think it was the remicade, b ut when I googled remicade + palpitaions, WOW!!!! Did the info come up! I obviously don't do well with medications..they don't like me! My allergy list is growing every month! And frankly, I am sick of being sick! And all these complications---I've just about had it! And the remicade isn't working like it did before so if it isn't working, forget it. And now I have to watch everything I take because of the liver injury from antibiotics or something-don't completely know which. Long road! But this new med is working on my palpitaions...didn't know how badly it made me feel until the med kicked in. Thanks V! Take care of yourself! Mo

V, Health Guide

1/ 6/12 8:46pm

Mo.....it is time you caught a break! Are you liver enzymes still not back to normal? I sure hope that resolves itself soon. I have a friend on another site who takes Rituxan infusions every six months. She has liver problems, too, so she doesn't take MTX, but he Rituxan helps her a lot...and it is only once every six months.

Hugs,

Momorris

1/ 7/12 12:11pm

Live renzymes are close but not quite normal yet. I don't think I'm going to take anything at this point..let me body cleanse itself and see how it goes. We will see. Thansk for all the thoughts V! Mo xo

V, Health Guide

1/ 7/12 4:51pm

Thank you for posting your experiences, Mo. It helps us all to learn from one another.

Hugs, sweet lady!

Lene Andersen, Health Guide

1/17/12 11:32am

whoa, Nellie... like you didn't have enough to cope with! I'm sorry to hear you're having palpitations on top of everything - is incredibly uncomfortable and makes you really anxious.

I was reading through your conversation with V and it seems as if you discovered that Remicade may be the culprit. Perhaps not a big loss since it wasn't working very well, anyway? You may want to check out our Heart site for information about palpitations.

hang in there! Please keep us posted on how you feel.

Lisa Emrich, Health Guide

1/25/12 2:45pm

Hi Momorris,

So sorry to hear that you are dealing with so many things! I've had random "skipped beats" and "flip-floppy heart" feelings over the years but wasn't too concerned about it. But last fall I had a week where the arrythymia just wouldn't stop so I saw a cardiologist for the first time. My 24-hour Holter monitor showed that I was having 5-6 PVC's in a minute for long chunks of time, up to 30 PVC's in a 5-minute period. I was exhausted by this.

In my case the PVC's are completely benign, although annoying, and resolved on their own. My cardiologist offered a betablocker but I turned it down. Our plan is that if/when they return for extended periods of time, I should try to reduce caffeine and stress. I can also try increasing magnesium intake (as her patients have reported that this seems to help) through supplements.

I hope that your PVC's calm down for you!

Momorris

1/25/12 9:15pm

As it turnes out, my holter monitor showed over 600 irregular beats in 24 hours, mostly PVC's,(coming up from the ventricles!) Very uncomfortable and like you said Lisa, Exhausting. They told me I could try to live with it or try the med. They say they are benign and the cardiologist put me on flecainide which is an anti-arrythmic. It is working, but I can still feel some.. I didn't realize how badly it was affecting me until the med kicked in and now I feel a few, but not nearly as bad. I had them for about a month anad reluctantly went in to check them out. Increasing energy, I can now exercise where just going up the steps or walking fast left me breathless. My rheumy says the remicade does not cause it and wants me to try it again..due next week. No one can give me an answer. I am so confused as to what to do! Thanks for your insight! Mo xo

Q: Has anyone had palpitations while taking remicade?

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