And it works? I am very scared because I have read that this drug himself can give aritmia. My mother is proposed for an cardiac defibrilator. For the moment we wait because the doctor said that we need to stop the aritmia. So she started to take RITALMEX. From your knowlidge this drug can stop this?

Thank you

Country: ROMANIA

It is prescribed for ventricular arrhythmias and should be monitored with EKGs. You're right, it can cause arrhytmias, but that is usually with higher dosages. Doctors usually start with a low dose and gradually work up.

It is recommended that you don't use any beverages containing caffeine while taking it. That includes coffee, tea and soft drinks like Pepsi or Coke. Smoking also increases the risk of arrhythmias. Some people get low on magnesium and that causes ventricular arrythmias. You might want to see if your doctor has run a test to check her levels.

Many people take it to treat myotonia congenita who have no heart problems at all. Hopefully your mother will do well with it and get stabilized so that she can have the pacemaker inserted.

Jan

Type of Myotonia: Thomsen's

Country: USA

Thank you very much Jan

Country: ROMANIA

Do someone know what is the valsalva maneuver?

Country: ROMANIA

Carabela,

Here's an explanation as it applies to heart function:


Valsalva Maneuver

By Richard N. Fogoros, M.D., About.com Guide

Updated July 20, 2011

Definition:

The Valsalva maneuver is a technique for transiently increasing the tone of the vagus nerve. (Increasing vagal tone can help to stop an episode of supraventricular tachycardia - SVT - or to stop a bout of hiccups.)

The Valsalva maneuver is performed by attempting to exhale against a closed airway. This can be done by keeping the mouth closed and pinching the nose while trying to breath out. This maneuver greatly increases pressures inside the chest cavity - which stimulates the vagus nerve and increases vagal tone.

Holding the Valsalva maneuver for five seconds or so will often terminate an episode of SVT or make hiccups go away.

Type of Myotonia: Thomsen's

Country: USA