Heart fluttering concerning me

[MemoryInAGarden]

I've noticed over the past few days that my heart has been fluttering A LOT. Yesterday was worse than today, but I still felt very uneasy today. I have severe allergies and I've been taking an Allegra 12 hour, Singulair 24 hour, and Sudafed 12 hour every time I'm up for one. I drink a lot of Mt. Dew, sometimes 3 to 4 per day, and I've had a lot of stress in my personal life lately as well.

I'm 21, only weigh about 165 and I'm a powerlifter, so I shouldn't be having too many problems. Think I should back off the allergy pills and gradually drop off the caffeine? I haven't taken anything or drank any caffeine in six hours or so and I'm already starting to feel a better. Does anyone know if the those two medications have a weird interaction?

 

[Balt]

You're joking, right?

If you want your heart to stop fluttering stop drinking all that caffeine and don't take allergy medications that have a decongestant in them. Allergy medications that don't have a decongestant shouldn't have any such effect so you can continue taking those.

Edit: Obligatory "I am not a doctor" statement.

 

[MemoryInAGarden]

Originally posted by: Balt
You're joking, right?

If you want your heart to stop fluttering stop drinking all that caffeine and don't take allergy medications that have a decongestant in them. Allergy medications that don't have a decongestant shouldn't have any such effect so you can continue taking those.

The thing that DOES concern me is that I've done this for months without any trouble until now. My allergies have been worse than usual the past few days

 

[Colt45]

three different allergy medicines all at once?

do you take tylenol, asprin and ibuprofen all at once when you have a headache?

 

[Balt]

Originally posted by: MemoryInAGarden
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Balt
You're joking, right?

If you want your heart to stop fluttering stop drinking all that caffeine and don't take allergy medications that have a decongestant in them. Allergy medications that don't have a decongestant shouldn't have any such effect so you can continue taking those.</end quote></div>

The thing that DOES concern me is that I've done this for months without any trouble until now. My allergies have been worse than usual the past few days

Well, all I can really say is that you shouldn't have been and you should try to stop. There's a reason they were able to make meth out of the old sudafed formula.

 

[Trevelyan]

"While heart fluttering can be a cause of concern to people who experience them, it is usually not a sign of an impending heart attack. For most people who are physically healthy and emotionally well-adjusted, they do not signify an underlying heart disorder but are most commonly caused by physical exertion, anxiety, fear, excessive smoking, too much caffeine, and ingredients in certain medications, including some cough and cold medications. In rare cases, heart fluttering is a long-standing accompaniment to an underlying severe anxiety disorder."

Do you have any history of heart problems in your family? Unfortunately, my dad had some heart problems in his thirties, and I have noticed heart palpitations recently. It can be pretty disconcerting, especially when you're young. (I'm also 21.) I would cut back on the caffeine, and if you can, try to change your diet. While exercising in general is good for cardiovascular health, I really wouldn't exert your body too hard if you are noticing heart problems...

 

[potato28]

Stop taking the cold and cough medicines. You should take a stronger allergy medicine and reduce the Sudafed.

 

[TraumaRN]

To clear some things up here, first off, Singulair(leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA)) is more for relief of asthma, although it can be good for allergies too, and to top that off it works on a COMPLETELY, UTTERLY, TOTALLY DIFFERENT mechanism of action than either the sudafed(decongestant) OR the Allegra(antihistamine)

Secondly, if you are gonna take Sudafed, take the stuff that is behind the counter, the real stuff with pseudoephedrine in it it's MUCH more effective.

Thirdly, cut back on the caffiene and consider some stress reducing activities.

Fourth, if none of the above help, talk to your doctor.

Fifth, dont just reduce your medications, if those are what you NEED to maintain some semblance of your normal self during the allergy season then TAKE those but for the love of God cut down on caffeine!!!

For the record I'm not a doctor but an ER nurse...

 

[dartworth]

maybe you should mix in a little cocaine and make a nice cocktail...

 

[Xstatic1]

Originally posted by: Balt
You're joking, right?

If you want your heart to stop fluttering stop drinking all that caffeine and don't take allergy medications that have a decongestant in them. Allergy medications that don't have a decongestant shouldn't have any such effect so you can continue taking those.

Edit: Obligatory "I am not a doctor" statement.

yep, i can't have pseudoephedrine (decongestant) as an ingredient in any cold/allergy meds.