Dear DrRich,
About 9 months ago I started getting episodes where my heart would start beating really hard and fast, I would feel lightheaded, nauseated and sometimes experience numbness in my arms (like it was asleep). This could happen while lying down or while working. I went to the hospital on several occasions. I am now being treated with Calan SR for supraventricular tachycardia. Since I started taking the medication, I don't get the strong rapid heart rate as often, but I do still get a weak rapid pulse, and I still have a lot of numbness in my arms and hands. The doctor says I have not had heart attacks. Why do I still have these symptoms, even though I'm taking my medicine? Sincerely, C
DrRich replies:
Dear C,
Some of your symptoms may be related to the medication you're taking, and some may be related to continued episodes of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). Medication is often ineffective in treating SVT, and even when it works, sometimes it only moderates (but does not abolish) the arrhythmia.
SVT is generally a benign condition, but it can cause fairly severe symptoms, and can be quite disruptive to a person's life. The medications used to treat it can also cause a lot of side effects.
There are many varieties of SVT. Indeed, the term "SVT" should be considered a general category instead of a specific diagnosis. Today, for the large majority of patients with SVT, the best treatment is a procedure called radiofrequency ablation, in which the source of the arrhythmia is mapped in a catheterization laboratory, and then cauterized by passing radio energy through the catheter. When successful (and it is successful in appropriately chosen cases over 95% of the time) ablation cures the arrhythmia, so that no medication is necessary.
You should consider asking for a referral to a cardiac electrophysiologist (an arrhythmia specialist) to get an opinion as to whether the treatment you're receiving is the best treatment for YOU. It is likely that if you were able to stop your medication, and if the arrhythmia were completely abolished, your symptoms would go away.
Best of luck,
DrRich
