Faithr Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 My son has been on concerta (only 18 mg) for several months. He's suddenly started complaining about a racing heart. We've taken his heart rate and it goes from high 80's up to 130s. Took him to the doctor's yesterday who gave us names of cardiologists so he can get a EKG just to make sure nothing's amiss. I blame the concerta. I really don't want him on it! He likes that concerta helps him concentrate but it was really messing with his appetite and his sleep plus every evening he'd come down from it and get all gloomy, which actually he did before; something about just after sunset always makes his mood black, however, once he got on the zoloft that stopped. But then it came back again when he started taking the concerta. My dh gets tachycardia from caffeine and so has never gotten in the habit of drinking beverages with it. And even if the concerta helps ds focus, he's gotten so distracted by his racing heart the last couple of days, it hasn't even helped that! He's getting obsessed with constantly taking his pulse. Anyone else experienced this? Any words of wisdom? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geodob Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Heart palpitations and rapid heart beat have been identified as one of the possible side effects of concerta. Where the recommendations are to cease taking it if this side effect occurs, as it can be dangerous. Though depression is another possible side effect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 I would follow up with the cardiologist. There are also MANY other medications that you can try that can help with the ADHD but not cause the side effects you are seeing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiramisu Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 From a tachy girl...I would get an EKG to put your mind at ease. It couldn't hurt to make sure he is very, very well hydrated. If you're possibly dealing with a familial tendency to tachycardia, it could be that your ds has a sensitive nervous system apart from depression, which is sometimes treated by Zoloft. I can see how that helped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faithr Posted January 11, 2013 Author Share Posted January 11, 2013 From a tachy girl...I would get an EKG to put your mind at ease. It couldn't hurt to make sure he is very, very well hydrated. If you're possibly dealing with a familial tendency to tachycardia, it could be that your ds has a sensitive nervous system apart from depression, which is sometimes treated by Zoloft. I can see how that helped. There is a family sensitivity to caffeine both my husband and his brother get tachycardia from it. We told the psychiatrist. My son is also having trouble with feeling dizzy when he stands up, which the doctor attributed to dehydration. Along with the appetite suppressant side effect of the Concerta he wasn't drinking any water either! Anyway, I just wanted to say, Tiramasu, that I am currently reading a biography of St. Philip Neri to my 14 and 11 yo's. I had known nothing about him. I love, love, love your quote from him! I think I'll type it out and hang over my desk! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiramisu Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 There is a family sensitivity to caffeine both my husband and his brother get tachycardia from it. We told the psychiatrist. My son is also having trouble with feeling dizzy when he stands up, which the doctor attributed to dehydration. Along with the appetite suppressant side effect of the Concerta he wasn't drinking any water either! Anyway, I just wanted to say, Tiramasu, that I am currently reading a biography of St. Philip Neri to my 14 and 11 yo's. I had known nothing about him. I love, love, love your quote from him! I think I'll type it out and hang over my desk! Oh, please tell me the title! I did not do enough in my year with Philip Neri and should read it. Here's another good quote for busy homeschooling moms who struggle to fit it all in: “It is good to be devout as a housewife but sometimes you need to leave God at the altar to find Him at home. †― St. Frances of Rome :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faithr Posted January 11, 2013 Author Share Posted January 11, 2013 Tiramasu, it's just the Vision Book, St. Philip of the Joyous Heart by Francis X. Connelly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiramisu Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Thanks. I love Vision books and the books by Windeatt. The kids enjoy them, too! I'm going to check at my parish bookstore this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faithr Posted January 14, 2013 Author Share Posted January 14, 2013 He's been off the concerta but still has the tachycardia. Now thinking it might be the Zoloft so we are going to have to wean him off of that. Poor kid! I wish he could get a break. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiramisu Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 I'm not spelling this right but you may want to look into dysautonomia. ETA: Sorry I had to run and cut the above short. But, yes, read about the above. It goes along with the dizziness standing up, which is a blood pressure issue, but tachycardia can also go along with this. It might also be interesting to take his pulse lying down and standing up and see what the difference is. That would be a clue regarding the dysautonomia. (I'm probably still spelling this wrong.) Does he have a thin body type? Does he have flexible joints? There can be a correlation for some people. I think when there's this tendency to begin with, things can also happen which set of a bout of tachycardia. My triggers are lack of sleep, illness, dehydration, stress, and it also seems worse when my weight is lower. For a younger person who never had this before, tachycardia can be really anxiety provoking. So the Concerta may have triggered this in his predisposed body, and it freaks him out, and he keeps taking his pulse and the episode tends to linger for weeks. If you were to take him to get an EKG and have a doctor tell him he's fine, it may soothe his nerves. When I'm getting tachy a really good sleep can snap me out of it. Many people are helped by bearing down which puts pressure on the vagus nerve and slows the heart rate. Also, if I get irregular beats, magnesium helps. I'm sorry this is still continuing. I hope something here helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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