Heart racing after Azithromycin??

[nvani]

I was prescribed amoxicillin for 2 weeks and azithromycin for 5 days. After that my heart has been racing even when resting to 130 bpm. It's been 2 weeks after my last dose. Doctors don't think its azithromycin or amoxicillin. They took blood tests, ECG, Echo. But only after azithromycin I have a raising heart. Body is shaking with pain was hospitalized for a week. No cure. Does anyone know when do the side side effects stop? I'm scared to death!!

 

[SteveMouse]

Azithromycin typically lasts in the system about 15 days after the last dose. See https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/long-azithromycin-stay-system-after-you-finish-3120142/

Changes in heart rate are a known potential side effect. See https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/azithromycin-oral-route/precautions/drg-20072362?p=1

 

[The WDW 3]

Do you need us to call someone for you?

 

[nvani]

Thank you! But it has been 17 days with no improvement. My resting heart rate is 130bpm. I just hope it goes back to normal and wanted to know if anyone else experienced this.

 

[nvani]

Do you need us to call someone for you?

it's okay. Thank you!

 

[JimMIA]

Is your 130 bpm heartrate constant, or intermittent? Seems like the docs did all the appropriate tests, and I assume they would have told you if anything was abnormal.

If it is intermittent, it could be something like A-fib and you would probably need to wear a monitor for a few days to verify that.

 

[nvani]

Yes it's constant. I was hospitalized with a monitor for 3 days and it was constantly 130bpm. I was also able to look at the machine and the intervals were constant. When I walked or went to the bathroom it shoots up to 140bpm. They say it's gonna back to normal and they said it was not because of any antibiotics as it has been 2 weeks since my last dose. I'm not sure. Some people on the internet have posted a racing heart in the reviews of azithromycin.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Not sure about any remedies, nvani, but did want to welcome you to the dis.

You might purchase this Kardia unit, very helpful. My cardiologist and electrophysiologist both said it was great, very accurate. You can give yourself an EKG anytime you want, including when you feel symptoms. You can then email the results to your cardio.

Personal cardio device

 

[Pea-n-Me]

What kind of infection did you have? And what type of pain were you having that you were hospitalized for? You don’t have to answer, but these things are important to know. It’s hard to say it’s the antibiotic without a full history. People have racing heart rates all the time for various reasons. When I get pneumonia my heart rate goes up that high for several weeks. It can be scary. I was up as high as the 170s before my hysterectomy from pain and bleeding. Both times my heart rate came back down to normal once I was recovered, with no intervention. (I did have testing, like you did.) A lot will depend on why it’s up, whether it’s an abnormal rhythm, and what type of symptoms, if any, you are having from it. I hope you feel better soon.

 

[FQLover]

OP--Good job getting in and being tested. Maybe you can take some daily notes and in another week, send them to your doc and ask if s/he wants to see you again? Let them know you are still very concerned as this is not normal for you. I hope that it lets up for you very soon!

Sidenote, @Dan Murphy It sounds like you had a cardiac ablation? If so, how did that go for you? I have had persistent A-Fib for about 6 years. I failed at the cardioversion (got it too late after onset) and my cardiologist has never mentioned the ablation.

 

[JimMIA]

Yes it's constant. I was hospitalized with a monitor for 3 days and it was constantly 130bpm. I was also able to look at the machine and the intervals were constant. When I walked or went to the bathroom it shoots up to 140bpm. They say it's gonna back to normal and they said it was not because of any antibiotics as it has been 2 weeks since my last dose. I'm not sure. Some people on the internet have posted a racing heart in the reviews of azithromycin.

Sounds like they have done everything possible to detect any heart defects, either structural or electrical. I'd go with what the docs say and expect it to go away.

Heart rate is much more variable than most realize and jumping 10 bpm with negligible exercise would not surprise me at all. That temporary faster rate should return to your "new normal" of 130 pretty quickly. If the 140 persists for a long time, I would contact the doc and tell them that.

 

[JimMIA]

Sidenote, @Dan Murphy It sounds like you had a cardiac ablation? If so, how did that go for you? I have had persistent A-Fib for about 6 years. I failed at the cardioversion (got it too late after onset) and my cardiologist has never mentioned the ablation.

What timing!

I just had ablation therapy for paroxysmal A-fib last Tuesday. Everything went well and no problems with recovery so far. I'm on some post-ablation meds -- some for two weeks, others for about 3 months. I have an appointment with my regular cardiologist a little more than a month post-procedure, and with the one who did the procedure 3 months out.

Ablations are used to treat persistent A-fib as well. I would ask your cardiologist about ablations. There may be reasons why you are not a candidate, or why it is unlikely to work in your particular case.

Some patients also respond very well to medications used to treat A-fib, so their docs don't recommend ablations. My cardiologist just had ablations himself 3 years ago and he's a big fan. He sent me to the same guy who did his.

 

[nvani]

Sounds like they have done everything possible to detect any heart defects, either structural or electrical. I'd go with what the docs say and expect it to go away.

Heart rate is much more variable than most realize and jumping 10 bpm with negligible exercise would not surprise me at all. That temporary faster rate should return to your "new normal" of 130 pretty quickly. If the 140 persists for a long time, I would contact the doc and tell them that.

Thank you!! I'll see what happens and update it here.

 

[DLgal]

Pain can elevate your heart rate to that point. If you are in pain enough to have been hospitalized, that could explain it. What is the pain from? Stress can also elevate your heart rate, so the more you worry about this, the longer it will last. If you are no longer sick/in pain, have you asked your doctor for something to calm your nerves, like ativan or xanax? Might help.

It seems likely to be stress related if all the heart monitoring stuff came back normal. I've dealt with this a lot in my life. Lots of focused breathing exercises and some light exercise like walking usually resets me.

 

[nvani]

What kind of infection did you have? And what type of pain were you having that you were hospitalized for? You don’t have to answer, but these things are important to know. It’s hard to say it’s the antibiotic without a full history. People have racing heart rates all the time for various reasons. When I get pneumonia my heart rate goes up that high for several weeks. It can be scary. I was up as high as the 170s before my hysterectomy from pain and bleeding. Both times my heart rate came back down to normal once I was recovered, with no intervention. (I did have testing, like you did.) A lot will depend on why it’s up, whether it’s an abnormal rhythm, and what type of symptoms, if any, you are having from it. I hope you feel better soon.

Really? So I have tuberculosis (should have mentioned that in the post) and I'm taking medication for that. Currently no fever, less cough. I had it from March without knowing it. So till mid April (till I took the antibiotics) even when I had a fever of 102 my heart was normal. So I'm confused. Is it the infection or is it the antibiotics. But thank you!! I feel assured now.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Really? So I have tuberculosis (should have mentioned that in the post) and I'm taking medication for that. Currently no fever, less cough. I had it from March without knowing it. So till mid April (till I took the antibiotics) even when I had a fever of 102 my heart was normal. So I'm confused. Is it the infection or is it the antibiotics. But thank you!! I feel assured now.

The heart and lungs work together (cardiopulmonary). So if there is a problem in the lungs, sometimes the heart has to work harder to deliver the right amount of oxygen to other parts of the body (when supply is low). Did they tell you if the rhythm was normal, but with a higher rate? That would be assuring, as well (if it was). Also, this isn’t always something you see right away, but as an illness goes on, the body gets more taxed, if that makes sense.

 

[DLgal]

Really? So I have tuberculosis (should have mentioned that in the post) and I'm taking medication for that. Currently no fever, less cough. I had it from March without knowing it. So till mid April (till I took the antibiotics) even when I had a fever of 102 my heart was normal. So I'm confused. Is it the infection or is it the antibiotics. But thank you!! I feel assured now.

Did your doctors rule out Tuberculosis Myocarditis?

 

[AMW86]

Really? So I have tuberculosis (should have mentioned that in the post) and I'm taking medication for that. Currently no fever, less cough. I had it from March without knowing it. So till mid April (till I took the antibiotics) even when I had a fever of 102 my heart was normal. So I'm confused. Is it the infection or is it the antibiotics. But thank you!! I feel assured now.

I am currently being treated for a spine infection (osteomyelitis) and my heart rate has been elevated since I was first admitted to the hospital in March. My cardiologist is blaming the infection (and resulting anemia/pain), but is considering putting me on beta blockers to prevent tachycardia induced cardiomyopathy. I wore a heart monitor for a few days last week and he will decide once he gets the data from that

 

[JimMIA]

I am currently being treated for a spine infection (osteomyelitis) and my heart rate has been elevated since I was first admitted to the hospital in March. My cardiologist is blaming the infection (and resulting anemia/pain), but is considering putting me on beta blockers to prevent tachycardia induced cardiomyopathy. I wore a heart monitor for a few days last week and he will decide once he gets the data from that

Almost everything causes increased heart rate. Pain, exercise, infection, stress, certainly. Even walking into a doctor's office causes spikes -- so routinely that there is even a half-joking name for it: White Coat Syndrome!

Anything that creates a need for more oxygen and/or glucose puts extra demand on your heart. Heck, even eating raises your heart rate because your digestive system begins to work and that requires more fuel.

The monitor data will give your cardiologist good info on how frequently your rate is high and also the type of rhythms you are having. An EKG only shows what is going on with your heart in that moment in time, but the monitor will provide a lot more information.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Sidenote, @Dan Murphy It sounds like you had a cardiac ablation? If so, how did that go for you? I have had persistent A-Fib for about 6 years. I failed at the cardioversion (got it too late after onset) and my cardiologist has never mentioned the ablation.

I had A-flutter (sort like A-fib) back in 2012-2014. I had 4 ER visits for periodic (symptomatic I think it's called) A-flutter. First episode I wound up doing an overnight and then a cardioversion the next day. Next 2 times they were able to shake it with meds in the ER. 4th time, they had me go home and come back next day for another cardiovert. This was over a 2 year span. Cardiologist thought best for an ablation. I had the director of the electrophysiology department at Northwestern Memorial, downtown Chicago, do the procedure. That was in March, 2014. I have not had an episode since.

What timing!

I just had ablation therapy for paroxysmal A-fib last Tuesday. Everything went well and no problems with recovery so far. I'm on some post-ablation meds -- some for two weeks, others for about 3 months. I have an appointment with my regular cardiologist a little more than a month post-procedure, and with the one who did the procedure 3 months out.

Ablations are used to treat persistent A-fib as well. I would ask your cardiologist about ablations. There may be reasons why you are not a candidate, or why it is unlikely to work in your particular case.

Some patients also respond very well to medications used to treat A-fib, so their docs don't recommend ablations. My cardiologist just had ablations himself 3 years ago and he's a big fan. He sent me to the same guy who did his.

Hope all goes well for you, Jim.