If anyone has had similar experiences please respond. My 17 yr old daughter has had heart issues since she started MTX almost 2 yrs ago, her heart races and she has come close to passing out, but they only last moments so we can't get her to a Dr during them. She was hospitalized with atrial fibrulation but they couldn't give any reason for it. Anytime I mention a connection between MTX and the heart issues, I am told that there isn't any, but I found an article on line that states this as an issue. I am going to get folic acid today which was suggested in one of the articles. But I am concerned, last night she picked up a heavy box at work and apparently almost passed out, felt her heart beating very hard and had pain in her jaw (which are all heart attack symptoms) Another problem is that she won't tell me about these episodes until after because she doesn't want to go to the hospital again. Any suggestions for a worried mother? (We are going to her Rhuematologist tomorrow).
I've never heard of heart problems being related to MTX. But they are certainly related to RA. Here's what you need to ask for:
Get a referral to a good cardiologist.
They need to do a full series of tests on her. Some of my medicines make my heart race. They have me on Toprol for that.
They should put a heart monitor on her that she wears for several days. This will track her changing heart rate. It's a little box that she straps on and she calls a number each time she feels something.
She should have an echocardiogram and a nuclear stress test. If she hasn't had these already after being in the hospital, then I am really shocked.
RA can affect the heart. You can get an inflammation of the heart sac called Pericarditis. This doesn't sound like your daughter's problem, although it could be especially if she is having a lot of pain or fatigue. However, it will make you heart race. Also, over time, the vessels of the heart can be inflamed and can lead to hardening of the arteries and other problems that we consider problems of much older people.
My last echo showed the the walls of my heart were thickening, not a good sign - but, hey we're watching it! I also have to take nitroglyercin at times. That does help.
Plus, keep in mind, one can have heart problems regardless of having RA. I have since found out that my younger brother has had a major heart attack and my mother and grandmother both had to have pacemakers and my other grandmother had angina. My sister and I both have mitral prolapse valves which can cause symptoms like your daughters.
You should take your daugther to the ER any time she has these symptoms. They can do blood work and and EKG. The blood work will show if she is having a heart attack. Plus, this will make doctors take it more seriously. If there is an immediate problem, she is in the right place to take care of it. Plus, a lot of times, they will do the tests that you would have to wait weeks for going through your regular doctor. The heart is not something you really want to take a chance on.
The big thing is to get her to a good cardiologist. Mine is a wonderful, caring man who always takes it serious. Most of the time, it is tests that are done only "just in case." But the alternative is scary and I know that is where you are at.
Some other medicines can cause your heart to race. Higher doses of prednisone is great for that. Celebrex can be a problem. So you might want to see if any of her other medicines could be causing a problem.
I know you are scared. But just take her to the ER if the problem is happening. Otherwise, get her into a Cardiologist for a full evaluation. Then the Cardiologist can argue with the RA doc.
Hope this helps and doesn't scare you further. Just remember to act rather than wait. Even if the doctors don't take it seriously, I believe, especially as a mother, to follow your instincts. If your "mommy alarms" (that's what I call it) are going off, then listen.
I can't find information on the internet about methotrexate causing heart problems.
I do know that select drugs that we take for RA can cause diabetes. I find that when i eat candy my heart races up a storm and i almost can't breath now that i take prednisone and methotrexate.
I do know that i get inflammation around my heart also and that when it acts up, i get a horribly fast racing heart. In fact, before i was diagnosed, for about 6 months, i had a heart rate around 114beats a mintue, now it is back down to about 79-84 since i am on celebrex.
But when i took naproxen and ibuprofen, it didn't help my heart, but the celebrex does.
Deanna,
Have you had any side effects from Toprol?? I have been on it for about 2 month and I was doing well until the Dr. increassed my dosage. Now I am having all kind of stomach trouble.
[QUOTE=Deanna]
I've never heard of heart problems being related to MTX. But they are certainly related to RA. Here's what you need to ask for:
Get a referral to a good cardiologist.
They need to do a full series of tests on her. Some of my medicines make my heart race. They have me on Toprol for that.
They should put a heart monitor on her that she wears for several days. This will track her changing heart rate. It's a little box that she straps on and she calls a number each time she feels something.
She should have an echocardiogram and a nuclear stress test. If she hasn't had these already after being in the hospital, then I am really shocked.
RA can affect the heart. You can get an inflammation of the heart sac called Pericarditis. This doesn't sound like your daughter's problem, although it could be especially if she is having a lot of pain or fatigue. However, it will make you heart race. Also, over time, the vessels of the heart can be inflamed and can lead to hardening of the arteries and other problems that we consider problems of much older people.
My last echo showed the the walls of my heart were thickening, not a good sign - but, hey we're watching it! I also have to take nitroglyercin at times. That does help.
Plus, keep in mind, one can have heart problems regardless of having RA. I have since found out that my younger brother has had a major heart attack and my mother and grandmother both had to have pacemakers and my other grandmother had angina. My sister and I both have mitral prolapse valves which can cause symptoms like your daughters.
You should take your daugther to the ER any time she has these symptoms. They can do blood work and and EKG. The blood work will show if she is having a heart attack. Plus, this will make doctors take it more seriously. If there is an immediate problem, she is in the right place to take care of it. Plus, a lot of times, they will do the tests that you would have to wait weeks for going through your regular doctor. The heart is not something you really want to take a chance on.
The big thing is to get her to a good cardiologist. Mine is a wonderful, caring man who always takes it serious. Most of the time, it is tests that are done only "just in case." But the alternative is scary and I know that is where you are at.
Some other medicines can cause your heart to race. Higher doses of prednisone is great for that. Celebrex can be a problem. So you might want to see if any of her other medicines could be causing a problem.
I know you are scared. But just take her to the ER if the problem is happening. Otherwise, get her into a Cardiologist for a full evaluation. Then the Cardiologist can argue with the RA doc.
Hope this helps and doesn't scare you further. Just remember to act rather than wait. Even if the doctors don't take it seriously, I believe, especially as a mother, to follow your instincts. If your "mommy alarms" (that's what I call it) are going off, then listen.
[/QUOTE]Bubba,
No side effects from the Toprol. In fact, my cardiologist first put me on it as a precautionary and said it is one of the safest drugs out there. And, it's been used for a long time.
Could be your other meds. But why don't you call the Cardiologist and ask for the nurse. They'll check it out for you. Stomach problems and heart problems are sometimes connected. Strange, you wouldn't think they would be.