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You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Medical Specialists > Heart & Cardiology > arrhythmia ectopic
Expert: David Richardson - 11/12/2009
Question
My dad was diagnosed for arrhythmia ectopic. He is 58 years old,173 cm tall, 75 kg weight, and normal blood pressure. He went to two different doc. One gave him Sotacor 80mg, this med makes his heart pounding slower and hard. The other gave him Rytmonorm 150mg, this one has worse effect than the first. It makes his heart pounding faster and severe dizziness. My dad didn't take those med anymore but his arrhythmia's symptoms are so nuisance: palpitation,cold sweat over neck and feet,pounding heart beat,light-headed,dizziness,shortness of breath,chest discomfort,feeling very tired.
What I need to know:
Is there any med for this disease with no side effects?
Are these symptoms commonly happen to anyone with arrhythmia?
Is it a life threatening condition? For your info, my dad has a normal ECG results. Although it has one lack in a row beat, the doc said it's fine and no need to worry about.
Answer
Dear Agnes,
Is the ectopic rhythm premature beats, not atrial fibrillation? Premature beats don't usually cause sweating and dizziness and shortness of breath. They just pound. Beta blockers like metoprolol and atenolol have very few side effects and are effective in some people with ectopic beats. Flecainide is effective in reducing ectopic beats in many people and has few side effects. One needs an echocardiogram before taking flecainide or sotalol, so I presume he's had an echo already. Atrial fib may require radiofrequency ablation, a procedure done with a cardiac catheter.
Send me an EKG if you wish, by giving me your email address.
Please write back if this note doesn’t answer all your questions.
David Richardson
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