Hi! I have a question that I cannot find
the answer for. Last week my doctor
increased my dosage of Adderall (a
stimulant medication being used to treat
the severe fatigue and cognitive issues
I've been suffering--undiagnosed so far,
calling it fibro/cfs but still in the
ruling out every other condition phase).
I've been on it 6 weeks total at low doses
and wasnt feeling any effects, good or
bad. Last week when we upped it I finally
started to feel a slight increase in
energy and a tiny lift of the persistant
brain fog. BUT--there's always a but--I
have had NO side effects from this drug,
which is great. Having read all the
horror stories, I decided to check my
heart rate every so often while on it. At
the beginning my resting heart rate was in
the high 60s, low 70s. (I was always
sitting down when I checked my pulse).
The other day, after increasing the
dosage, I checked it and it was 103.
Since then I've been checking it much more
often and it's persistently in the low 80s
to high 90s, no matter how long it's been
since my last dose. (Took my last dose at
5pm yesterday. It normally only lasts
about 4 hours for me anyway, but I've read
this med should be completely out of your
system after about 16 hours. At 9am today
I took my pulse standing and it was 103.
Sitting now a half hour later it is 92.)
I'm pretty sure my heart rate is now
consistently higher, and not just while on
the medication. Is this dangerous? I
know Adderall was given to me for energy
so it makes sense it would raise my heart
rate. It's a stimulant after all. But
should my heart rate be higher ALL the
time? Is it bad for a heart rate to
increase by 15 or more beats per minute
and stay that way?
I can't find any info on this! I see my
doc early next week and will of course
ask, but I need to ease my mind. Also, I
have noticed a few missing beats (but
after a pause my next heart beat does not
beat harder or anything. It's just like a
pause in the heart beat and then goes
right back to normal). Also, I can't
"feel" my heart beating or anything. It's
not racing. It's just faster than it used
to be.
|
meblonde01
Supporter
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 2123 Location: ,
Thanks: 6
Thanked:2
Re: Faster Heart Rate Posted: 08-10-07 08:30am
JustT
wrote:
Hi! I have a question that
I cannot find the answer for. Last week
my doctor increased my dosage of Adderall
(a stimulant medication being used to
treat the severe fatigue and cognitive
issues I've been suffering--undiagnosed so
far, calling it fibro/cfs but still in the
ruling out every other condition phase).
I've been on it 6 weeks total at low doses
and wasnt feeling any effects, good or
bad. Last week when we upped it I finally
started to feel a slight increase in
energy and a tiny lift of the persistant
brain fog. BUT--there's always a but--I
have had NO side effects from this drug,
which is great. Having read all the
horror stories, I decided to check my
heart rate every so often while on it. At
the beginning my resting heart rate was in
the high 60s, low 70s. (I was always
sitting down when I checked my pulse).
The other day, after increasing the
dosage, I checked it and it was 103.
Since then I've been checking it much more
often and it's persistently in the low 80s
to high 90s, no matter how long it's been
since my last dose. (Took my last dose at
5pm yesterday. It normally only lasts
about 4 hours for me anyway, but I've read
this med should be completely out of your
system after about 16 hours. At 9am today
I took my pulse standing and it was 103.
Sitting now a half hour later it is 92.)
I'm pretty sure my heart rate is now
consistently higher, and not just while on
the medication. Is this dangerous? I
know Adderall was given to me for energy
so it makes sense it would raise my heart
rate. It's a stimulant after all. But
should my heart rate be higher ALL the
time? Is it bad for a heart rate to
increase by 15 or more beats per minute
and stay that way?
I can't find any info on this! I see my
doc early next week and will of course
ask, but I need to ease my mind. Also, I
have noticed a few missing beats (but
after a pause my next heart beat does not
beat harder or anything. It's just like a
pause in the heart beat and then goes
right back to normal). Also, I can't
"feel" my heart beating or anything. It's
not racing. It's just faster than it used
to be.
I did a search on adderall and found one
of the side effect is rapid or pounding
heart.. I would call your Doctor..
|
JustT
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Aug 2007 Posts: 13 Location: ,
Posted: 08-10-07 11:10am
Thanks for your reply! My heart rate is
down to 84. I know Adderall causes it to
increase. It's a mix of amphetamines, so
it will have that effect. I was wondering
if my heart rate should have gone back
down to normal when the Adderall wears off
("normal" for me being low 70s), or if it
raises the heart rate and it stays there,
is it bad for your heart for that to
happen?
And after doing more research I see that
missed beats are normal, but I'm wondering
how often they should occur before you
worry? It doesn't happen every time I
check my pulse, but when it does happen it
feels like more than one beat at a time.
(not followed by a big, hard beat after.
It just goes back to normal.)
|
meblonde01
Supporter
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 2123 Location: ,
Thanks: 6
Thanked:2
Posted: 08-10-07 11:18am
JustT
wrote:
Thanks for your reply! My
heart rate is down to 84. I know Adderall
causes it to increase. It's a mix of
amphetamines, so it will have that effect.
I was wondering if my heart rate should
have gone back down to normal when the
Adderall wears off ("normal" for me being
low 70s), or if it raises the heart rate
and it stays there, is it bad for your
heart for that to happen?
And after doing more research I see that
missed beats are normal, but I'm wondering
how often they should occur before you
worry? It doesn't happen every time I
check my pulse, but when it does happen it
feels like more than one beat at a time.
(not followed by a big, hard beat after.
It just goes back to
normal.)
I'm not sure about the heart rate stying
there, I would ask your Doctor.
I have heart palpitations and my doctor
said don't worry.. He explained everything
I experience to a tee.. Then when I said
your exactly right he said, yeah I know I
have had them all my life.. He’s retired
now..
