Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
Has anyone who has taken Enbrel experienced tachycardia (rapid heartbeat)? I was in the ER with this all day today and all of the tests they did turned up nothing. I am wondering if it could be the Enbrel that I started taking a little over a month ago. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Its likely genetic or related to the RA not the treatment. I was diagnosed with Paroxysmal SuperVentricular Tachycardia in 2008 after RA diagnosis but before biologic therapy. The causes are poorly understood but its not necessarily serious. Ive only had 3 episodes where it got stuck in that rhythm. Most of the rest of the time it lasts a couple of minutes and kicks back into normal rhythm.
My last episode was early April and this one was a bit scary has my blood pressure dropped a bit and made me woozy had to lie down. Called the ambulance after 30 mins it wasn't gonna stop on its own. My heart rate was over 200 so they had the heart team ambulance meet us enroute. They actually pulled over and the other EMTs hoped on board with equipment. They gave me the injection right there (Adenosine .6 ml, one dose) in the ambulance. Was a little unpleasant this time as i felt like passing out. The ER doc has now given me a couple of Metoprolol to try to treat it myself the next time.
Watch your stress levels and stimulants ie. coffee, nicotine ETC. I limit myself to 2 cups a day and quit smoking. Make sure a cardiologist does a full work up as an outpatient to make sure there were no structural causes. IE heart ultrasound, MIBI CT of the heart (stress/rest test). Make sure the doc knows you might have trouble with the treadmill stress test - RA. Just less than a run, as fast as you can walk, so if you have knee or ankle issues tell them in advance and they can just give you a shot instead.
Here's a good link http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000183.htm
Doubt its Enbrel related but make sure you tell the cardiologisdt about your immunesupression and ask them to rule out infection in your heart.