Took Medicine For Restlessness And Sleeplessness. Have Low Heart Rate But ECG Normal. Are These Related?

Posted on Tue, 12 Nov 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 12 Nov 2013 Answered on

Fri, 6 Dec 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : am 62 years old male Wt 72 Kgs Ht 172 Cms Non Diabetic Had got hernia operated some 8 months back. Non smoker & teetotaler Some 15 days back at night I wasn't able to sleep and felt restlessness , I then went to reputed hospital nearby and got EGC done. My pluse rate was at 56 BPM. EGC Normal , BP normal. Doctors gave me antacid injection and said everything is normal it was due to upset stomach and gastric. But very next day I experienced same sleeplessness though no much dizzyness. I had then shown to a doctor again who prescribed me with Tab rexipra 5 mg 1/2 Tab Zapiz 0.5mg 1/2 Cap Diax 1OD This was for 7 days. I took them for 7 days and had good sound sleep. Since last 5 days I have stopped medicines but yesterday again I found it difficult to sleep back again once I got up in middle of night to urinate. I find slight numbness in forehead also. My Pluse is also at 52-56 BPM BP is generally 85/140 or 80/135 (I take Amlopres AT 1/2 tab daily).

Answered by Dr. Rakesh Karanwal (11 hours later)

Brief Answer: Problem's due to low heart rate and anxiety Detailed Answer: Hi Mr. XXXXXXX Thanks for your query. Firstly, it is possible that your heart rate goes down to 50 or below soon after Amlopres AT ( a combination of amlodipine + atenolol), which can produce restlessness and slight dizziness. As such, your rate ranges between 52-56. It is due to Atenolol component of Amlopress AT. Therefore, STOP Amlopres AT and instead, take Amlodipine 2.5mg TWICE daily, so as to bring down the blood pressure to less than 130/80 (desired level). The pulse rate will rise above 60, which will take care of restlessness/uneasiness. Further, it is not uncommon to develop some degree of anxiety with/without mild depression at this age. Inability to fall asleep denotes anxiety while going back to sleep after waking up at night, suggests depression. The drugs given to you for a week were a combination of anti-depressants anti-anxiety drugs, which relieved your problem. However, firstly, the full effect of these drugs become manifest after 10-14 days only and; secondly, abrupt withdrawal causes rebound phenomenon (which happened in your case). I therefore STRONGLY recommend that you start the following drugs, to be taken regularly for at least a couple of months, under your doctor's close supervision:- * Rexipra 10mg TWICE daily * Zapiz 0.25mg TWICE daily * Zepid (Zolpidem) 5mg daily at bedtime for 10 days only --> thereafter, STOP. Rexipra + Zapiz SHOULD BE CONTINUED FOR 2-3 MONTHS. Thereafter, once you feel that you are perfectly OK, they will be tapered off GRADUALLY by your treating doctor. Hence, consult your doctor and discuss my opinion/recommendation with him. I am certain that he will agree with my advice, prescribe above-mentioned drugs and- once the target is achieved- taper off these medicines very gradually. Lastly, I am in complete agreement with your cardiologist about your cardiac functional status being perfectly normal. Hope you find my answer helpful, informative and to your satisfaction. I will be happy to answer further queries, if any. Fond regards and have a nice day, Dr. Rakesh Karanwal

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Rakesh Karanwal (43 hours later)

Thanks for your reply. I have following questions in mind:- 1. I have noticed that now its been over 7 days since I left medicine , but only two-three times it has happened that i found difficulty in getting to sleep.Do I still need to take these antidepressants. 2. If antidepressants and sleeping pills have side affects and I have heard that there are good chances of getting addicted to these. 3.Won't change from Amlopress AT be sufficient and be tried once before we start with sleeping pills etc. Best Regards.

Answered by Dr. Rakesh Karanwal (2 hours later)

Brief Answer: Continue with anti-depressants and Amlodipine Detailed Answer: Hi Mr XXXXXXX Nice to hear from you. * You should continue to take anti-depressants for a few months until your mental temperament normalizes. Thereafter, the drugs will be tapered off gradually. * Further, contrary to the myths, these drugs will not be addictive PROVIDED they are tapered off gradually. In fact, the beneficial effects far outweigh the side effects which- incidentally- are minimal. * The treatment of hypertension should NEVER be stopped for fear of rebound phenomenon. As mentioned before, Amlopres AT is a combination of two anti-hypertensive drugs : amlodipine + atenolol (which reduces the pulse rate). Increase in the dose of amlodipine is essential to compensate for atenolol. It is therefore recommended that you take Amlodipine 2.5mg TWICE daily: get your blood pressure checked up 5 days later. If it remains more than 130/85 (the desirable, cut-off upper level), the dose would then have to be increased. Please note that untreated hypertension would have deleterious effect on the heart, brain and kidneys. To summarize, * Continue with anti-depressants as advised, for a few months, under close supervision of your doctor. He will start tapering off these drugs, once he is certain about stability of your mood. * Continue with Amlodipine as advised; dose needs to be increased till BP comes below the target level. Hope I have addressed to your concerns to your complete satisfaction and you find my response helpful and informative. I will be happy to answer further queries, if any. Please revert back to me (through DIRECT QUERY, addressed to me personally) for follow-up, as and when you feel like. Fond regards and have a nice day, Dr. Rakesh Karanwal

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar