Posted by Green Willow on June 24, 2009, at 22:00:17
I got a prescription for Low dose naltrexone (3mg) to treat RA and things started out with great results for the first 2 weeks. Then, at 2 wks., I began experiencing a racing, pounding heart which would begin about 30 minutes after I took the ldn. It would go on all night, and scare me to death. The pounding would be so severe, that the next morning my chest would just hurt. In the morning I would also feel like I had serotonin reuptake with the feeling that my head was flying off. The doctor told me to lower the dose to 1.5 mg. but the problem continued.
The change that I think may have caused this is that my pdoc had increased my Cymbalta from 60 mg. to 90 mg. a few days before the heart started racing. I was not able to tolerate the 90 mg. so I am alternating 60 mg. one morning and 90 mg. the next.
The first doctor told me to go off the ldn until I figure out why this makes my heart pound. (I get the same heart thingy when I take melatonin.) I have asked all over the place and posted on the ldn boards but no one has any ideas why. I personally think there has to be either a serotonin or norepinephrine thing going one here or maybe the combination is raising my blood pressure alot. I really want to resume the ldn but don't want to take any chances with my heart. In the meantime I am reducing my Cymbalta back to 60 all the time and after a few days maybe I'll try 1.5 mg. ldn again.
There are alot of smart people on this board and I am hoping someone has some ideas. I will be starting with a new pdoc in a few weeks and would like to be heads-up with ideas.
poster:Green Willow
thread:903046
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090620/msgs/903046.html