What drugs can a person with a heart condition / fast heart rate take?

[VIKETIME]

well i've had a heart problem going on for the past i dunno how long and i have been completely sober. my heartrate is a constant 130 beats per minute as my resting heart rate. now i know drugs may not even be something i should consider, but im getting bored. does anyone know anythingi can try that won't increase it too bad or even decrease it? i was thinking opiates but i've had problems with them in the past. so maybe like xanax? alcohol? does anyone have suggestions?? and how much of a risk do u think pot or mushrooms are?? thanks!!


-VIKEEdited by: VIKETIME

[William_Again]

first off if you have a problem with you heart, yeah you should stay
away from all drugs cause of possible problems...but if it were SWIM,
he'd probably stick to downers, or pot but he'd also read up on
anything first before trying it!

[Iggypoop]

with a heart rate like that i'd not be taking too much!! go for a bit off weed not much else! have you been to the doctors about it?

[VIKETIME]

yea i've been to the ER a couple times and it was up to 160bpm..i wore a heart monitor and took a few EKGs and they said it was beating normal and just dismissed me with that. im real nervous about pot because i hear u can have a heart attack easier when your high so i was wonderin if anyone else heard that? it sucks cuz i was so used to doin w/e i wanted now i can't do anything. oh well. anymore suggestions are welcomed. thanks!


-VIKE

[Iggypoop]

i know that cannabis lowers blood glucose and blood pressure, i don't know that I'VE ever heard that cannabis can help cause heart attacks, who knows? i'm not that well informed. Does sound a bit like propaganda from the government or some other anti drugs group, one person has a heart attack (who was going to have one anyway) while high and they cry out that 'it was the drugs!' dunno tho. i would just go and ask your doctor, he can't report you or anything and he is there to give his 'professional' opinion.


as for something else to try, i couldn't possibly say, i wouldn't want you to have a h/a or something and have that on my conscience!Edited by: iggypoop2

[sands of time]

Pot can definately increase your heart rate. I have not heard much about pot causing heart attacks though.

[VIKETIME]

"In March 2000, researchers from the Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, MA, showed how marijuana use increases risk for heart attacks. In the first hour after smoking marijuana, that risk increases to nearly five times the normal risk level. After an hour or so, the risk level drops to twice the normal risk. Several hours later, a marijuana user's risk for having a heart attack resumes its normal level.


Many people may have never associated marijuana with heart attacks, especially with the prevailing concept of marijuana as a "mellowing" drug. The truth is that although energy levels decrease after smoking marijuana, blood pressure and heart rate actually increase. In fact, a marijuana smoker's heart rate can increase by about 40 beats per minute, double the normal rate. Blood pressure increases if the user is sedentary or lying down, but it drops drastically if the person stands up or becomes active. This fluctuating blood pressure results in dizziness."


that's what i read off a website so i don't know? does that sound like gov. bullshit or do u think its true?

[Iggypoop]

what site did you get your info from? I wouldn't mind reading that article. cheers

[sands of time]

I believe that information is true. I have always noticed the increase in heart rate and the dizzyness from standing. I would think that tolerance would cause these effects and risks to decrease though.

[VIKETIME]

yea but unfortuanately i haven't smoked for a couple months so i dont have a tolerance im sure. im debating how big of a risk it is. i wish i knew something else to keep me satisfied. i cant find anything about mushrooms and heart rate or many other drugs. its weird bcuz u never really notice those changes until it matters, i never realized how much faster stuff makes your heart beat. anyone who has ideas keep em coming lol.


-VIKE

[sunyata]

I would be very careful with mushrooms. I have never heard that it increases the heart rate, but if you should get a bad trip(which can definetely be brought on by worrying about a heart attack) I would imagine your heart rate will increase. Or if you should have areally ecstatic experience, the same thing could happen.


Unfortunately, it sounds like you should stick todowners or opiates. Not a very good recommendation, I know. I don't know which country you're from, but if poppy pods are legal there, you could make some tea from them, just don't do it every day, save it for the weekends.


I've read that self-hypnosis and meditationusually decreases the heart rate, so that might be worth looking into for you. I never wear a heart monitor when I'm doing either of these activities so I can't sayfor sure if it's true, but I'll bet your local yoga-centre would be more than happy to provide you with detailed information and techniques.


Did you get this heart condition because of the use of any drugs? If so I would very much like to know.


I hope you'll find something thatmakes things less boring, good luck.

[VIKETIME]

it all started when i noticed my heart was beating real fast one time after taking adderall and smoking pot. but after that night it was fine for a few months, then i was on vicodin and smoked a bowl and it did it again. then everytime i smoked marijuana after that it got ridiculous and i quit but my heart rate kept getting faster after i quit all drugs for good. i was withdrawing from a long long pd. of use with opiates and a week or two later is when i was in the ER..so im not sure if any of those things had to do with the problem. but they never diagnosed me with anything just said ok its beating real fast cut down on caffeine then let me go. so whatever if something does happen ill have my parents sue the shit out of them lol. welp i guess ill have to be more careful with opiates this time, and downers wouldnt ever be a problem because i have a problem getting them to begin with. do u think if i smoked swag instead of nugs it wouldnt affect my heart so much??


-VIKE

[sunyata]

If by swag you mean weed, then yes, with certain types of weed even more than hash. You should do some research on kava-kava. I tried to look through erowid's files to see what effect it had on heart rate, but was unable to find anything specific. It is not a stimulant and is sometimes used to treat stress and anxiety, so it may be that it is the thing for you. I'm considering using the herb for my insomnia, but in my country you need a prescription to get it. A doctor should be able to tell you which effect it has on heart rate. If you've had problems with opiates before, something like kava-kava might be a better alternative. But do research on the effect on your own, I'm only speculating here.

[VIKETIME]

http://www.prevlink.org/getthefacts/facts/marijuanaheart.htm lthat is the site i found the article on for whoever wanted to read it.


by swag i meant lower grade weed versus nugs, i was thinking maybe that would be easier on my heart and its still pot. i am going to research more about kava-kava on erowid, but so far it looks interesting, something i will probably try thanks sunyata.


-VIKEEdited by: VIKETIME

[Iggypoop]

lol, the site is an anti-drugs/whatever site, wouldn't take it as gospel, although they do mention a source for the information, which is unusual for that sort of site, prolly some truth in it (maybe just a little), sorry VIKETIME still can't think of anything to suggest to you, oh well

[Woodman]

VIKETIME,

Your heart rate is almost twice what is considered
normal.

You have a MAJOR problem!

Go see your MD about using drugs, but don't come
here asking for tips; not in your condition.

[sunyata]

I kind of agree with woodman, you should ask someone who has more extensive information on the subject, it would suck if you took kava-kava on my advice and went on and died of a heart attack. We may come up with some suggestions, but you have to consult a professional to make sure it's safe. And it would be best to avoid weed until you're sure it won't increase your heart rate, or at least have someone present who can drive you to the hospital if something should happen.

[VIKETIME]

yeah i know and understand that fully that there is a problem and that it is dangerous. im simply asking for suggestions i can research and try, it won't be anyones fault here if something does happen obviously i take full responsibility because i still have desire to take drugs. im not dumb enough to just go off and take something especially if im not familiar with it, i WILL research and ask my doctor what things will cause problems. and although it is fast, the beat is normal which is a good thing, it may not be as dangerous as it sounds, but it does bother me and freak me when i can feel my heartbeat. i dont want to be rude but i dont need people trying to be my parents or anything i am responsible for myself and i already said maybe drugs shouldn't even be considered in my situation, but they ARE going to be, so i was trying to get suggestions for safer ones..so whatever sorry for the post..


-VIKE

[sunyata]

No need to be sorry, I just wanted to add a little disclaimer to my previous resposnses. I have no desire at all to tell you what to do with your life, so don't worry about that.


peace

[scienceman]

marijuana and NO2 I guess.

[Rainbowzz]

If you have had a cardiac workup and nothing was found, you may want to look into seeing if its anxiety related.

[cra$h]

weed's increased swim's heart rate, but it really depends on the user. Something I wouldn't risk. Downers are your best bet. Things like opiates, alcohol, tranquilizers. But start doing cardio workout to help lower it.

[helikophis]

Originally Posted by VIKETIME

i dont want to be rude but i dont need people trying to be my parents or anything i am responsible for myself and i already said maybe drugs shouldn't even be considered in my situation, but they ARE going to be, so i was trying to get suggestions for safer ones..so whatever sorry for the post..\

I'm sorry if these are not the kind of answers that you wanted to hear. Maybe you should get over it and listen to what people have to say. This is a harm-reduction forum. We're here to try to help keep people safe. That's what your question is about: how can someone in the situation described take drugs and be safe? Well, again my apologies, but the answer is: he can't. "What drugs can a person with a heart condition take" well, that depends. There is no way to answer the question without knowing what heart condition the person actually has. That's not something that people on an Internet forum can answer.

You have described a serious health problem. The simple fact of the matter is that without consulting a doctor, someone should absolutely be avoiding drug use of any sort. Hearts are complicated devices, and can act unpredictably, especially when there are drugs involved.

It sounds like the hospital you described gave extremely poor treatment. I would not go back there again. Really just to a general practitioner is probably not enough in this case, although of course it would make sense to start with one. Again, hearts are very complicated, and most GPs do not do a great job with them. Someone should arranged to see a cardiologist, as soon as possible. A resting heart rate like that is a very serious strain on your heart. If you do not seek to get your problem under control, it will kill you.

I have been repeatedly hospitalized for atrial fibrillation (elevated heart rate). I was irresponsible, and had an undiagnosed heart condition. They didn't even catch it the first time around, and I was stupid enough not to learn from my mistakes. I have had my heart stop in the emergency room; I've woken up in a bright place stuck full of needles and tubes, surrounded by machines and strangers in masks. I've hit with the defibrillator paddles, the things you always see on TV. I've spent weeks in the hospital getting endless rounds of tests.

You already know that there is a problem. Is that what it's going to take for you to be responsible about it?

Trust me, even if you survive, you won't like it.

We're not interested in being your mother. We're not the ones who are going to have to clean your piss and vomit off the kitchen floor. We're not going to tell you that we love you anyway honey and you'll get better soon don't worry. Honestly, we don't care that much. But we are trying to save your life.

Take it or leave it.

[scienceman]

Originally Posted by cra$h

weed's increased swim's heart rate, but it really depends on the user. Something I wouldn't risk. Downers are your best bet. Things like opiates, alcohol, tranquilizers. But start doing cardio workout to help lower it.

Alcohol is never good, since it's poison and puts strain on the liver.

[Jasim]

Originally Posted by scienceman

Alcohol is never good, since it's poison and puts strain on the liver.

More importantly for this situation alcohol acts as a vasodilator, lowering blood pressure and thereby causing a compensatory increase in heart rate.
Which is the problem here. Alcohol is not good for high heart rate, it would only make it worse.