What medications cause bradycardia?

Are you feeling a bit sluggish lately? Slow heartbeat, labored breathing, and just can’t keep up with the rhythm of life? Don’t worry, it may be caused by certain medications that are meant to make you feel better but end up slowing your heartbeat down. That’s right; some medicines can lead to bradycardia, also known as slow-heartbeat syndrome. In this comprehensive article, we’ll examine some of the possible drugs that contribute to bradycardia.

Understanding Bradycardia

First things first—what is bradycardia? Oh don’t you fret my dear reader for I shall explain! Our heart beats at a certain pace on its own—the normal range being between 60-100 beats per minute (bpm). When it’s slower than that range due to any cause other than exercise or sleeping (cause during both activities pulse rate decrease), we call it ‘bradycardia’ (maybe because someone named Brad has something registered under their name!)

Now that we understand what exactly is brad… coughs …I mean slow-heartbeat syndrome let’s dive into the medication causes.

The Culprits

Beta Blockers

The beta-blockers tend to block adrenaline(commonly dubbed fight-or-flight hormone) from affecting our system which then lowers our blood pressure and therefore causes reduced cardiac output. This leads in turn ends up putting brakes on our poor ticker!

Here are some examples of beta-blockers drugs:

  • Carvedilol
  • Metoprolol tartrate
  • Bisoprolol fumarate
  • Sotalol hydrochloride

Calcium Channel blockers(CCB)

CCBs help in managing high blood pressure by “relaxing” arterial muscles thus reducing resistance hence easing blood flow towards arteriesgiving more space for our circulatory system which in turn causes reduced oxygen and blood supplies to the heart. Which further results in the slowing down of your pumping machine.

Here are some examples:

  • Amlodipine
  • Felodipine
  • Nifedipine

Anti-Arrhythmic Drugs

Arrhythmia refers to an abnormal heart rhythm. The term is derived from ‘a-rhythmic’ translated as no rhythm, so that’s fun too! Anyways These drugs can help stabilize electrical activity within the heart but come with a side effect- you guessed it—bradycardia!

But what about Holter monitor? Well, technically speaking—a useful device that works great for those who secretly like being taped all over their chest region, Sometimes helps patient suffering from exact bradycardia identifying possible remote cause such as fibrosis or ischemic blockages around AVN(AV Node) .

Drugs of this type include:

  • Amiodarone hydrochloride
  • Dronedarone
  • Quinidine

Digoxin(Lanoxin)

Surprise! Now here’s a medicine contributing on both sides — I mean who doesn’t enjoy having both positives and negatives at once(eventhough they cancel each other out)? This medication is used by doctors to improve heart functions…and (wait for it) … To treat atrial fibrillation(when there’s uncoordination in upper chamber pumps). But guess what else it does? That’s right: It can also trigger bradycardia, we’re hitting two birds with one stone now!

Conclusion

So keep note folks certain medications might have effects not just directly related towards treating disorders but sometimes may affect organ systems previously thought unreachable. Heartbeing perhaps one sensitive pump next time before getting prescribed any medication make sure you read up on its associated risks carefully!). Always stay safe and in good health!

P.S : A side note for medical personnel, please don’t start diagnosing people just through reading this article get second opinions after being in ascertain environment/situation for full assessment of the patient.

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