Asacol HD and palpitaions

I was recently diagnsoed with UC (4/30/2010). This forum has been very helpful. The support here is tremendous. I do have a question, and I haven't seen anything about this yet.

I was put on Asacol HD 2 pills, 3Xs a day. i instantly got raging migraines all day and night. So I talked to my GI. He had me take 1 pill 3Xs a day. That was better. I felt I was getting used to meds, but after 7 days, I started getting heart palpitations. At first I thought it was because I was tired or something, but then I got them the next day. I started getting scared, so I called the GI and he told me to stop taking it immediately. Now he has me on Lialda. I thought I would wait until the palpitations stopped before I started Lialda. Now it's been a full day and I'm still having them. I'm having a few intermittently and they are more like fluttering as opposed to the big pounding that it was, but it's still happening. I'm also taking hyoscyamine for the symptoms, but I haven't seen anything about bad interactions.

Has anyone else had this experience? And does anyone think that switching to Lialda is going to make it better? The fact that I'm still having palpitations is kind of freaking me out. I've already become a bit of a hypochondriac from trying to find out what's wrong with me. This is not helping at all.

Thanks

Thanks. I worked really hard on that. I just couldn't come with a good UC themed name.

I guess no one has had this issue. In case anyone else does, here is what has happened.

I waited a day without taking Lialda. The palpitations seemed to stop. I took Lialda this morning and didn't have any issues all day. I took the dog for a long walk after work and after mile, I started having them again. They weren't as bad as the other day. They were more like "skips" as opposed to the pounding that had felt on Asacol. Now it's the evening and I'm still having them. Very infrequent and very small. They're driving me crazy, or I'm driving myself crazy! I don't know if it's gonna get worse if i take another. I'm not going to take it. I'm gonna call the GI in the morning and see what he says.

It would be scary, I have them and it's driving me crazy becasue there's no evidence of what's really going on. I've had them long before going on the 5ASA meds.

Before assuming it's for sure the Lialda, make sure your doc sends you for some testing. When you have them, have you taken your pulse to actually feel them? Some palpitations can feel like skips, but they're not evident on one's pulse.

Have you been checked out for reflux? That's one symptom people might not connect with that feeling.

Definitely get thoroughly tested, including blood tests for thyroid, blood count, etc.

What other supplements and meds are you taking?

quincy

     I used to get a lot  of palpitations when I went through the change of life.  I had no idea it was hormone related.  They even misdiagnosed me with mitral valve prolapse!!!  Found out a few years later that I don't have mitral valve prolapse.

     Nowadays the  prednisone sometimes gives me palpitations.  It could also be stress related or you could be having panic attacks.  In any case, see your family doctor to be checked out.

Did you ask him about rectal meds?




It's good he's sending you to a cardiologist.



Hope you get your answers....they can be long in coming sometimes.


q

Rectal meds are actually effective no matter how far your inflammation reaches, simply because they do such a good job at treating the portion they can reach. I have pancolitis, and they really helped treat my first flare, and I'm staying on them for maintenance. The enemas will reach most of the left side, I believe. Also, the oral meds don't always do a very good job at treating that lower portion of the colon, and enemas do a really good job at that. Studies show that people who use them twice weekly in additon to oral meds stay in remission longer than those who only use oral meds. Food for thought.