astelin spray - a-fib?

I am wondering if Astelin Spray - an antihistimine that rarely can cause a-fibs - is what is causing the increase in my a-fibs. Any one else have this problem? I have a st. Jude pacemaker for a-fibs.
Thanks.

8 Comments

I am not taking it any more

by johnb10000 - 2009-05-17 07:05:02

I was feeling fine last week and refilled my prescription for Astelin because I have bad hay fever this time of the year. For the past few days I felt lousy and think I am in a-fib.

I was starting to wonder if the drug is causing the a-fib before I saw your post. After doing a Google search for Astelin and a-fib I tossed Astelin in the trash today.


Bunch of scary symptoms listed here,

http://doublecheckmd.com/EffectsDetail.do?dname=Astelin&sid=6422&eid=1692

anti-histamine and afib

by Vai - 2009-05-17 12:05:40

I am not too familiar about a pacemaker for afib. I have the understanding that pacemakers do not help eliminate or prevent afib. Afib is regularly managed by a medication regime, like betablockers, which regulate or slow down the heart rate. A pacemaker supports your heart rate and prevents it from beating slower than a predetermined minimum rate example 60 bpm.
If you are on betablockers, please ask your doctor to provide you a list of other medications which contraindicate, and which you should avoid.
Some anto-histamines increase your heart rate, and these could be triggers for your afib condition. Inform your GP that you have afib and heart medication (if any), and they ought to be able to prescribe appropriate medication.
I trust this helps.

Thanks for the reinforcement

by Eperr - 2009-05-19 09:05:30

My Internist is a sincere, caring person. He knows I am sensitive to medications. Now knowing someone else also experienced faster heart rhythms using Astelin, I will send him a note. My pacemaker will be read on the 28th and the truth will be known then, but I feel a whole lot more energetic since I quit the drug. Thanks.

Claritin & Zyrtec

by Eperr - 2009-05-19 11:05:25

I hadn't made the connection until I read your comments. I took these drugs in 2003-04 with my first pacemaker and at one reading of the PM I had had 90 a-fib postings. The connection was not made with the allergy drugs. Instead, my Sotalol HCL dosage was increased. I quit taking the drugs and ironically, my a-fibs also decreased to 0 within the next year. Could have been due to the increase of the Sotalol, but it gives me pause for thought.

Other allergy medications

by johnb10000 - 2009-05-19 12:05:12

I thought Astelin was supposed to safer since it is a nasal spray. I also feel a lot better since I stopped taking it.

I checked the symptoms of a couple of other allergy medications.

claritin - fast or uneven heart rate
zyrtec - fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat


Cold medicine

nyquil - fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat, slow, shallow breathing;

Can taking these medications for years lead to the current heart problems?







Avoiding allergy drugs

by johnb10000 - 2009-05-20 11:05:29

I looked up the symptoms for a few more allergy medications. I am going to try to avoid any allergy drugs for as long as possible.

The times when may a-fib was really bad is when I have a cold or bad hay fever.

---- Allegy medications ----

* Astelin
Irregular heartbeat - atrial fibrillation
Fast pulse/rapid heart rate (uncommon)
High blood pressure (uncommon)

* Afrin nasel sprays - an irregular or fast heartbeat.
* Sudafed Om Sinus nasel spray - an irregular or fast heartbeat
* claritin - fast or uneven heart rate
* zyrtec - fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat
* sudafed - chest pain
* Benadryl
Huge list of side effects
Allergic reactions (may include a sudden severe drop in blood pressure; rapid heart rate;
Fast pulse/rapid heart rate


---- Cold medicine ----

* nyquil - fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat, slow, shallow breathing;

Thanks

by Eperr - 2009-05-21 04:05:58

A friend of mine, whose daughter is a nurse, is outraged I wasn't told about the possibilities of a-fib with these drugs - is it possible the prescribing physician (an internist) didn't know?

follow up Astelin Spray

by Eperr - 2009-05-27 11:05:14

I called CVS pharmacy yesterday and told the pharmacist that the possibility of a fast heartbeat was not printed on the patient's literature. She acknowledged that fact and said she would make the contacts necessary. Again, thanks to pacemakerclub.com for the reinforcement.

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