hospitalized from Requip

**sami4** · 08-19-2007, 09:39 AM

The sleep clinic gave me a starter pack to try of Requip for restless legs.
I took two of them and ended up in ER with symptoms of cardiac arrest. I couldnt breathe, my heart was beating so fast i couldnt get a pulse count, I had flipping, thumping feeling in my chest, dizzy, scared to death.
I was in the hospital 4 days while they conducted tests and tried to bring down my blood pressure (which has always been normal). I was sure the Requip did permanent heart damage, but according to the tests it didnt. What it did do was freak out my body electrical system and they had to send me home with some Lopressor 25 mg to regulate my heartbeat which was all over the map. I am going in for a stress test this week in the office and the Cardiologist hopes to wean me off the Lopressor as my heart rate begins to stabalize. He said it could take a couple of months after such a shocking episode. I also have Atavan 1 mg to take at bedtime for rest.
I called the drug company and guess what? They know about the side effects of this and have a special "team" to look into it. This side effect does not appear on the patient literature, but does appear in the doctors insert. Are they trying to hide something so wide spread they need a team to look into it?

***SharonA*** · 08-19-2007, 10:01 AM

OMGosh Sammi...This is so scary. Thank you so much for posting about your experience. I hope you get better very quickly.

***ICNDonna*** · 08-19-2007, 10:08 AM

You must have been terrified. I'm glad you're doing better now.

Warm hugs,
Donna

**elsie3205** · 08-19-2007, 02:37 PM

Thanks for sharing. I have RLS and don't plan to ever try this medication after your experience. I hope you continue to feel better and get good results back from the stress test.

**ads** · 08-19-2007, 06:02 PM

Sammi,
I think you should report this to the FDA so it is documented outside of drug company who mfg. Requip. I am not sure on how to report it directly to the FDA, but another board member may know because complaint have been filed against InterStim. The FDA may be able to tell you if other people taking Requip have reported similiar complaints/problems. Also you call could become part of an impetus behind getting ample warnings on Requip.

If anyone knows how to report directly to the FDA please post here.

I hope have permanent heart damage. Sending you get well soon wishes.

ads

**sami4** · 08-20-2007, 06:42 PM

Thank you so much for your kind concerns, it means a lot to me. I am doing much better today and my blood pressure is in the normal range: 117/77, 120/80. My pulse rate seems pretty stabalized on the Lopressor. I cut back the Lopressor myself to only 1/2 pill a day because it is a beta blocker, and the 1/2 dose seems to work just as well. My pulse rate is still kind of all over the place from a high of 104 to 84. The Cardiologist said it could take a few months for my heart to calm down from the shock of it all. Then he said we could wean off the beta blocker. I can really tell when I take it too. I was on the treadmill today and my pulse didnt budge from 88.
Yeah Donna, at some point the anxiety and the condition kind of blend. They gave me an anti anxiety drug Lorazepam 1 mg to take at night or during the day if I feel I cant breathe. I havent taken it during the day, but it sure is a great sleeping pill.
I found out when my pulse gets over 101, then I cant breathe. Thats the time to take the Lopressor.
I am seriously thinking about contacting a product attorney.
Sammi

**Kara29** · 08-21-2007, 06:48 AM

Sammi,

I am so sorry that the Requip gave you that reaction. I'm glad you are having follow up care soon and get some more answers. It was so important to follow up with that Drug Company about what happened to you. They can't fix it if they don't have any reports on it happening in the firsts place. It's good to hear that you are doing better today on the Lopressor.

Thinking of you and hoping things stay stabalized and if they don't just pick up that phone to the Doc immediately.

Hugs,

Kara

**sami4** · 08-21-2007, 12:16 PM

One weird thing I have noticed is that since the Doctor gave me the Lopressor I have not had frequency at all. I can drink a whole bottle of water, pee once and not go again for a few hours. Amazing! Lopressor works on keeping the heart rate in a stable area, so maybe because it works on the electrical system it just may effect bladder irritability also?

**Kara29** · 08-22-2007, 12:55 PM

Sammi,

That is so interesting about the Lopressor and the Frequency Decreasing. Hey it's a great thing!! :woohoo:

Kara

**ads** · 08-22-2007, 08:39 PM

Dr. Moldwin has a chapter in his book about treating IC pain/symtoms with beta blockers. This might be your answer! Good for you.

ads

***ICNDonna*** · 08-23-2007, 02:32 AM

I take lopressor for high blood pressure; it doesn't seem to effect my IC one way or the other.

Donna

**sami4** · 08-23-2007, 07:28 AM

Donna, what is your dose of Lopressor and how long have you been on it? It makes me nervous to be on a beta blocker and I heard it is dangerous to stop it cold turkey, you have to be weaned off? Have you had any side effects from it?
So far, I havent had any side effects that I know of and actually feel a lot better when I take it. I am taking it to keep my heart rate under 88, as it was in the 90-120 range after the Requip incident and it makes me short of breath when it gets that high.
Also the FDA is recalling a similar drug called Pergolide which is also a dopamine agonist because it is causing permanent heart valve damage.
I go for the nuclear stress testing today, hope things are OK?

**sami4** · 08-23-2007, 05:02 PM

You know, I think that Lopressor is not only helping with frequency, but has increased my bladder capacity. My PT said if you count 1 Mississipi, 2 Mississipi and so on while you are peeing that gives you an estimate of the ounces you pee. Well today I was peeing 5-6-7 which is unheard of. Usually I am lucky to get to 5, usually 4 as I had a lot of frequency.
ADDs I did check out the Dr. Moldwin book and the comments about calcium blockers and bladder pain. I think you may be right, the blocker also blocks the smooth muscle of the bladder as well as of the heart. Slows everything down so its not so hyperactive.

**ads** · 08-23-2007, 09:02 PM

Sami,
I don't know where I would be today without Dr. Moldwin's book, probably headed toward nursing home care or insanity from pain/constant urgency -- not kidding. What happened to you from the Requip was obviously dangerous and terrible, but it may have lead you to a peice of your IC puzzle. (I am no way negating the terrible side effect you experienced from Requip, and the drug company and the FDA need to know your experience.)

A similiar incident happened to me and made me recall a medication from Dr. Moldwin's book. After 1 1/2 years of constant urgency and intense pain even while taking large dosages of hydrocodone and neurontin, I was at Johns Hopkins seeking a correct diagnosis. IC had already been diagnosised back home in the good old Midwest without an effective treatment following. While there I developed Carpal Tunnel and couldn't get my right hand to move from a fist position, so the insurance company authorized me to go to the Johns Hopkins emergency room. The doctor there gave me valium to help with the hand pain and problems, but I was too afraid to take it in addition to the other meds. When I traveled back from Baltimore to the Midwest and arrived home exhausted, my hand woke me up and was worse than ever before. I called the PPO and begged them to send me to the emergency room, but they refused. I was in intense pelvic pain and now the hand pain was driving me up the wall, so down the hatch went the 2 mg valium then an hour later another 2 mg which finally helped the hand pain and put me to sleep. I woke up the next morning and didn't feel my bladder as usual. It was amazing!!! Then I recalled Dr. Moldwin's book talking about pelvic flloor dysfunction (PFD) and valium as his top drug of choice for treatment of it. Duh! I had read the book twice and missed that I had PFD. Not only was I lead to another diagnosis but one of the meds which is still part of my therapy plan today, and it all happened by mistake or in my mind a blessing.

Sorry to bore you with my story. it is just Dr. Moldwin's book was an actual amazing part of my journey and my several visits to his office were life changing. I believe his book is a reference book for IC patients and should be read at least twice throughly.

I am so happy this new med may help you with IC, and hope you get well soon from the Requip problems. Please keep us updated on your journey as I am sure others are learning from you. It has challenged me to think out side the box and improve my medical treatment plan.

ads

Originally Posted by sami4

You know, I think that Lopressor is not only helping with frequency, but has increased my bladder capacity. My PT said if you count 1 Mississipi, 2 Mississipi and so on while you are peeing that gives you an estimate of the ounces you pee. Well today I was peeing 5-6-7 which is unheard of. Usually I am lucky to get to 5, usually 4 as I had a lot of frequency.
ADDs I did check out the Dr. Moldwin book and the comments about calcium blockers and bladder pain. I think you may be right, the blocker also blocks the smooth muscle of the bladder as well as of the heart. Slows everything down so its not so hyperactive.