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What Causes Heart Palpitations And Elevated BP Levels?

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Posted on Wed, 2 Mar 2016
Question: I currently take 6.25 mg and 400 mg multaq to keep my heart in rhythm. I also take .5 mg Xanax. My problem is that when I gat stressed my rate goes up and my bp goes up and I flip into arrhythmia. I have been on this regiment for a year. I saw my cardiologist 10 days ago and my be was fine. I woke up 2 days ago with elevated be 175/97 61 rt. I also had a headache. I called my internal dr and he recommended adding another .25 Xanax about 3-4 times a day. Top number straw red coming down but no further than 153, At 3 PM bottom went to 102. I had an extremely stressful week last week. My question finally is: I am interested in trying Passion flower. What is your opinion.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Noble Zachariah (29 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
No documented interaction with medicines you are on

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome and thanks for your query.
You are on 400mg of Multaq and is it 6.25 mg of carvedilol?
If you are getting palpitations and your BP goes up, it is due to the adrenaline and nor adrenaline being pumped into your system by stress. Xanax being a benzodiazepine tranquilizer may help. You may also discuss increasing the dose of Carvedilol or changing to another beta blocker with your doctor.
Passion flower is not a well researched product but I could not find any adverse interaction with the medicines you are on.
Take Care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Noble Zachariah (31 hours later)
https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/passionflower
This study suggests that passion flower can cause the benzodiazapine to increase its affects. I also take a .5mg of extended release Xanax. I have been doing well with that regimen until this week. (Total of 1 year good) My bps went from 175/90 down to 120/80 yesterday, my rate stays low so increasing Caredilol would make it go lower. Rates are usually in the low 60's. The problem I had that started all of this is that when I got stress my rate would elevate (120+) and bp would follow and I would go into atria fibrillation. I have been converted several times of the years and last year dr put me on the Multaq and 25 mg of Caredilol. It made my rate go very low. Taking half does keep it in the 60s. Now my lower number is higher than I have experienced: 85-102. There has been extreme stress in the last week. Some ended so I thought I was going to be OK. My yoga teacher suggested Passion Flower but I know I don't want to try it until I am off any benzodiazepine. I am not in afib and have not had any palpitations. Do I need an additional ace inhibitor or keep on the stress relieving approach with meds or passion flower?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Noble Zachariah (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Discussion follows

Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
Appreciate your insight and awareness. You can adjust the dose of Carvedilol to keep your heart rate between 55 and 70 which should keep your BP in the normal range. You can keep the short acting ACEI Captopril as standby to use during episodes of BP spikes.
Passion flower may elevate the benzodiazapine level marginally but not significantly as Medscape's interaction checker doesn't warn of any significant adverse interaction between Xanax and passion flower.
Best wishes,
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

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

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1974

Answered : 2319 Questions

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What Causes Heart Palpitations And Elevated BP Levels?

Brief Answer: No documented interaction with medicines you are on Detailed Answer: Hello, Welcome and thanks for your query. You are on 400mg of Multaq and is it 6.25 mg of carvedilol? If you are getting palpitations and your BP goes up, it is due to the adrenaline and nor adrenaline being pumped into your system by stress. Xanax being a benzodiazepine tranquilizer may help. You may also discuss increasing the dose of Carvedilol or changing to another beta blocker with your doctor. Passion flower is not a well researched product but I could not find any adverse interaction with the medicines you are on. Take Care