Anyone have experience with pulse too high?

2tired2 · Joined: 14 Jun 2005 Posts: 8

Just got back from the sleep doctor today after 3 weeks of bi-pap therapy. He had prescribed provigil for my excessive daytime sleepyness and it wasn't really working for me. He was going to prescribe Ritlin but because my blood pressure was up today 150/90 and my pulse was so rapid 120, he has referred me to a heart specialist.

First, I have to say I am terrified of going to the heart specialist. I am very overweight and I do not think I could do a stress test if they wanted me too. I was hoping that over time (more time than 3 weeks) I would lose some weight and take some pressure off my heart and my body in general. Now I'm in this "crisis" mode and supposedly going to see a heart specialist. Until then - no provigil or anything stimulant for me the dr says.

Has anyone out there that takes stimulants for their excessive sleepyness, hypersomnia, experienced anything like this? I am nervous about what the heart doctor will do and what he might find.

2 Tired.

Guest · Posted: July 09 2005 Post subject:

One of the side effects I experienced after starting provigil for idiopathic hypersomnia was a resting pulse of about 110. It bugged the heck out of me. I was 25, otherwise healthy, and usually had a resting heart rate around 70. My doctor told me to cut back on the provigil and ramp up much more slowly. The problem went away after about a week at the lower dose and did not return as I slowly incresed the dosage. One thing will say is that caffeine + provigil was a crazy combo for me. Before the provigil, I could drink pitchers of coke and still go right to sleep. Provigil + some coke at each meal kept me up about 50 hours straight. Every time I got sleepy, I would be hungry... but after eating a meal with a coke I couldn't sleep at all. That might have explained part of the heart rate too. Needless to say, I watch my caffeine intake a lot more now.

Good luck with the stress test... always better to know and be treated for heart problems than find out with a heart attack, right?

2tired2 · Joined: 14 Jun 2005 Posts: 8

Thanks for posting. At least I know it is possible that the provigil is causing the fast heart rate. The Sleep Doctor that refered me to the heart specialist freaked me out so bad that I just went on in to my regular doctor yesterday. He did a EKG in his office and said the heart looked fine, sounded fine, just fast. He is going to do a complete physical with fasting blood work (I'm thinking, hoping, thyroid issue I guess) and he's going to do an Ecco - and then we will see what to do next. At least if he finds something I already have that dr appt with the heart specialist dangling out in the future.

Again, thank you so much for your post.

Drowsy Doll · Joined: 18 Oct 2004 Posts: 17

I have been away from this message board for a few months for a variety of reasons, Back in Jan- March I think it was, I was posting a similar question. Although I had been alternating taking Provigil and Adderall for several years, I never had any heart problems(I weighed 106 pounds, had low blood pressure and didn't smoke) Then out of the blue my resting heart rate would spike to the upper 140's for no reason at all. I think they ran every heart test on me that they could. All the tests revealed no problems or damage to my heart due to the medication. They thought that maybe my heart had developed a tolerance to the drugs and my body was responding in a different way. I was frightened, so I went of both drugs. I finally started taking them again after a five month rest, and I have haved had no racing pulses this time. Good luck to you!

Star · Joined: 07 May 2005 Posts: 30 Location: USA

Why do Dr. do that to us? I hope it all works for you and am glad your PCP is working for you. It sounds like you're doing well.
The same happened to me. I was taking xyrem and went to my neuro/sleep dr because I wasn't sleeping. My pulse was up, I always get nervous when I'm there. He said I go to my PCP or the ER the next day..period! And, no xyrem. Scared the heck out of me. I was taking cold medicine so that was probably the thing that was happening. So, I had a holter monitor done last friday and haven't heard a thing and am still nervous although my PCP said she thought it was fine. Until then, I'm not sleeping worth a darn. (I don't sleep although I have IH)

Guest · Posted: October 22 2005 Post subject:

It's very important to exercise regularly no matter what conditions one might have- - with the doc's directions, if needed. The regular exercise is good also for IH. Helps keep weight off, and the body well conditioned. Also it's lots of fun, and the next thing to nirvana. It takes away the stress and anxiety of the day- - a wonderful gift.

I exercise, even though for the last 44 yrs, I've had atrial fibrillation, a cardiac arrhythmia which is ordinarily benign, as long as one remains on anticoagulants. I no longert take antiarrhythmics for they are proarrhythmic and can cause cardiac arrest (and did once).
I also take a beta blocker that slows down the heart to 100 bpm or less at rest and at normal temperature, etc. I do not take drug dosages of CNS stimulants that will compete excessively with the beta blocker, for one raises bp and rate, while the other lowers bp and rate.. So it's a happy balance. A healthy heart, which mine is as demonstrated by stress test and echocardiogram, can and does increase its heart rate during exercise or exertion, which is entirely normal. There's a lot of different tachyarrhythmias that are a bit of a nuisance, but which an electrophysiologist (a cardio specializing in rhythm disturbances) can help straighten out.

I found that Dexedrine in therapeutic amounts did not interfere noticeable or measureably with bp and rate. That is not true of other stimulants. It's a try and see approach, if one has a doc willing to cooperate. Sometimes the heart doc or internist is set on the heart, and doesn't want the IH treated, etc. etc., not fully understanding what a hazard one is driving long distance every day. Sometimes it's difficult to get the two to cooperate with each other. That means dropping docs and trying new ones, till a compatible duo is found. The medical system in US is just way too fragmented.

babydragon · Joined: 29 Sep 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Gaylesville Alabama

I found out today that low potassium levels can cause heart problems, racing pulse, blood pressure. I had to go to the hospital today and that is what was wrong with me. Guess I'll have to eat a banana everyday.

ambrocked · Joined: 01 Nov 2005 Posts: 6 Location: madison, wi

I have a really high heart rate too, sometimes up to 120 resting. My blood pressure is great though (I'm 26 and at a healthy weight for my height, btw). I'm pretty sure it's from the drugs I'm on- Provigil and Dexedrine. I've just sort of learned to deal with it. =(

Bonnie · Guest

They tested my BP laying down, sitting up, and standing and then they gave me fluids, saying that my pulse was up and it could indicate dehydration. It didnt help, but I am starting to think that it is anxiety. I read that anxiety can cause all the physical symptoms I am having, including hot and cold sweats, crawling skin, etc. I am definately depressed now and under stress. I am working on telling myself positive self affirmations and it seems to be helping a little but it will prob take a while.