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Dear Doc, I Have Had A Rough Week. Last Wednesday
Question: Dear Doc,
I have had a rough week. Last Wednesday I went to the ER congested with slight shortness of breath (heavy chest feeling) and was diagnosed (only by the Doctor listening to my lungs) with Bronchitis (again). I had Bronchitis 6-weeks also which was diagnosed by a chest X-ray and was given a Medrol dose pack and Augmentin at that time. I am also detoxing from Alcohol as well. Today is day 3. I am a male, 45-years old, and 385lbs. Here are my daily meds:
...............
Losartan - 100mg (Daily - 11am)
Metoprolol- 50mg (Twice Daily - 11am and 11pm)
..............
These are the new medications started last Wednesday:
...............
Medrol Dose Pack (Til Finished)
Z-Pack (Til Finished)
Ativan (As NEEDED for Alcohol Detox)
...............
I am feeling “slightly” better today. Normally my BP is 145-150 over 85 (which is why my cardiologist put me on meds) and my resting heart rate is 65. I take the Losartan and Metoprolol together at 11am daily and the other dose of Metoprolol around 11pm before bed. When I woke up this morning around 6am PST my heart rate was roughly 50-51-52 and after an hour was roughly 55. Right now after 8-hours of being awake my BP (without today's meds) is 145/85 and my resting heart rate is still 54-55. I am afraid to take the Metoprolol because it lowers your heart rate.
Can the Medrol or Z-pack be lowering the heart rate as well? With my weight usually my resting heart rate is a little higher.
What are your thoughts?
—Anthony
I have had a rough week. Last Wednesday I went to the ER congested with slight shortness of breath (heavy chest feeling) and was diagnosed (only by the Doctor listening to my lungs) with Bronchitis (again). I had Bronchitis 6-weeks also which was diagnosed by a chest X-ray and was given a Medrol dose pack and Augmentin at that time. I am also detoxing from Alcohol as well. Today is day 3. I am a male, 45-years old, and 385lbs. Here are my daily meds:
...............
Losartan - 100mg (Daily - 11am)
Metoprolol- 50mg (Twice Daily - 11am and 11pm)
..............
These are the new medications started last Wednesday:
...............
Medrol Dose Pack (Til Finished)
Z-Pack (Til Finished)
Ativan (As NEEDED for Alcohol Detox)
...............
I am feeling “slightly” better today. Normally my BP is 145-150 over 85 (which is why my cardiologist put me on meds) and my resting heart rate is 65. I take the Losartan and Metoprolol together at 11am daily and the other dose of Metoprolol around 11pm before bed. When I woke up this morning around 6am PST my heart rate was roughly 50-51-52 and after an hour was roughly 55. Right now after 8-hours of being awake my BP (without today's meds) is 145/85 and my resting heart rate is still 54-55. I am afraid to take the Metoprolol because it lowers your heart rate.
Can the Medrol or Z-pack be lowering the heart rate as well? With my weight usually my resting heart rate is a little higher.
What are your thoughts?
—Anthony
Brief Answer:
Metoprolol, medrol and z pack can all cause bradycadia
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to Ask A Doctor service.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Metoprolol, medrol and z pack can all cause bradycadia. Multiple meds could have caused low pulse. Repeated coughing can also cause low pulse but this cause is unlikely as the low pulse started after med intake for few days.
You must followup with your doctor to change BP med. XXXXXXX take steroidal inhaler rather than medrol. And Z pack could also be discontinued if infection is cleared now. Changes can be made one medicine at a time to find the culprit med.
Hope this helps. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr Vaishalee
Metoprolol, medrol and z pack can all cause bradycadia
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to Ask A Doctor service.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Metoprolol, medrol and z pack can all cause bradycadia. Multiple meds could have caused low pulse. Repeated coughing can also cause low pulse but this cause is unlikely as the low pulse started after med intake for few days.
You must followup with your doctor to change BP med. XXXXXXX take steroidal inhaler rather than medrol. And Z pack could also be discontinued if infection is cleared now. Changes can be made one medicine at a time to find the culprit med.
Hope this helps. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr Vaishalee
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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