Chemical Stress Test wihle in AFIB I'm scheduled for a nuclear chemical stress test as opposed to a treadmill type of stress test. My heart rate will be elevated by drugs rather than exercise. I'm thinking the drug induced high heart rate is more dangerous for me in afib than an exercise induced high heart rate. I routinely engage in fast walking punctuated with several 1/4 mile jogs that elevate my heart rate. I never experience any pain or shortness of breath other than what is expected when pushing hard while in afib. My resting afib heart rate varies from 55 - 85. My concern is the drug could cause ventricular fibrillation. Anyone have any experience with a chemical stress test while in afib? https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164750#msg-164750 Tue, 07 Apr 2026 23:13:53 +0000 Phorum 5.2.23 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164877#msg-164877 Re: Chemical Stress Test wihle in AFIB https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164877#msg-164877
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Lindy
Why would anyone want to have radioactive material injected into your body? I’m newly diagnosed with AFib and my cardiologist schedule a Lexiscan nuclear stress test for me, even though I’m perfectly able to walk on a treadmill.

I think that's injected into your body either way, since they take pictures of your heart before and after the stress load. I was instructed to bring fatty food to help clear it out as soon as possible.]]> jpeters AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 03 Sep 2018 13:47:19 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164874#msg-164874 Re: Chemical Stress Test wihle in AFIB https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164874#msg-164874
Lexiscan should not be given to patients who have certain abnormal heart rhythms unless they have a pacemaker.
Lexiscan can cause serious or fatal cardiac arrest, abnormal heart rhythms or heart attack.”

Naturally, I cancelled that immediately.]]> Lindy AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 03 Sep 2018 12:41:20 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164869#msg-164869 Re: Chemical Stress Test wihle in AFIB https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164869#msg-164869 jpeters AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 02 Sep 2018 23:06:25 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164867#msg-164867 Re: Chemical Stress Test wihle in AFIB https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164867#msg-164867
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jpeters
"Heart Failure" is even more general. What caused it? To what degree is the heart "failing" ? My guess is that anyone who sustains persistent afib for a few months will show decline that could be labeled "heart failure."

Structural heart disease is indeed a very general term, but heart failure is not. Heart failure is a very well defined entity with specific diagnostic criteria. What caused it is beside the point, but that's usually known and AMI is the most common cause. The degree to which the heart is failing very much measurable. I have no idea where you got the notion that it's not.

Persistent afib for a few months does not cause heart failure as long as the rate is controlled. Millions of people live with persistent afib for decades and never develop heart failure as long as they keep the rate under control. Yes, lack of rate control can lead to heart failure with persistent afib and flutter, but it doesn't necessarily and that shouldn't happen to anyone receiving proper care.

I've treated heart failure, and I've seen people die of it. If you think the heart isn't literally failing then you don't understand what heart failure is. There are types and degrees of HF, and at the more severe end of the scale the failure can be dramatic and rapidly lethal (minutes).]]> Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 02 Sep 2018 21:55:14 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164855#msg-164855 Re: Chemical Stress Test wihle in AFIB https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164855#msg-164855
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Carey


Heart failure is a meaningless term? Um, no. Perhaps I misunderstood you?

Been through it before on another thread, with references to the chief editor of a major journal on cardiology. The common term is "structural heart disease" which can cover a vast number of possible causes that need to be determined prior to administering treatment. It is not a "cause" of anything in itself, in that it's just a concept.

"Heart Failure" is even more general. What caused it? To what degree is the heart "failing" ? My guess is that anyone who sustains persistent afib for a few months will show decline that could be labeled "heart failure."]]> jpeters AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 02 Sep 2018 17:07:08 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164852#msg-164852 Re: Chemical Stress Test wihle in AFIB https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164852#msg-164852
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jpeters
A rather meaningless term. The test is to find out what is going on. As you can see, there are a large variety of varying responses.

Heart failure is a meaningless term? Um, no. Perhaps I misunderstood you?]]> Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 02 Sep 2018 16:28:41 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164847#msg-164847 Re: Chemical Stress Test wihle in AFIB https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164847#msg-164847
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Carey

The article posted about stress testing afibbers involved heart failure patients and isn't very applicable to those without heart failure.

A rather meaningless term. The test is to find out what is going on. As you can see, there are a large variety of varying responses.]]> jpeters AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 02 Sep 2018 13:19:54 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164844#msg-164844 Re: Chemical Stress Test wihle in AFIB https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164844#msg-164844
The article posted about stress testing afibbers involved heart failure patients and isn't very applicable to those without heart failure.]]> Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 02 Sep 2018 04:57:03 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164840#msg-164840 Re: Chemical Stress Test wihle in AFIB https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164840#msg-164840
The half-life of Lexiscan (Regadenoson) is listed as two to four minutes, while the half-life of Adenoscan (Adenosine) is listed as ten seconds.

For both drugs, most adverse reactions began soon after dosing, and generally resolved within approximately 15 minutes, except for headache which resolved in most patients within 30 minutes.]]> Jim Benton AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 02 Sep 2018 00:37:43 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164815#msg-164815 Re: Chemical Stress Test wihle in AFIB https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164815#msg-164815
With your research, did you learn the length of residual time the chemical remains in the body?

Jackie]]> Jackie AFIBBERS FORUM Sat, 01 Sep 2018 12:37:12 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164806#msg-164806 Re: Chemical Stress Test wihle in AFIB https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164806#msg-164806 JustMeToo AFIBBERS FORUM Sat, 01 Sep 2018 00:35:14 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164786#msg-164786 Re: Chemical Stress Test wihle in AFIB https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164786#msg-164786
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Carey

Carey-

I'm not concerned that afib will lead to vfib. I'm concerned that the drug given to speed up your heart rate could
produce vfib. After looking at several respectable websites on chemical stress testing, I find that vib, while rare,
can occur as a result of the stress drug.

Okay, but it's not the drug; it's the stress test itself. In those individuals who experienced vfib, they most likely would have had the same outcome on a treadmill. Personally, I would prefer a treadmill, but not because I fear the drug. I would prefer it simply because when you get off the treadmill it's done. There's no waiting for the drug to wear off.

Ugh, really? I dont want to be the anti med nut here, but you have the chance to refuse a med for a natural method with less side effects. Point is if I feel impacted on a treadmill, I jump off. With the med, it has to jump off.]]> hwkmn05 AFIBBERS FORUM Fri, 31 Aug 2018 10:41:49 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164775#msg-164775 Re: Chemical Stress Test wihle in AFIB https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164775#msg-164775 This is based on the article: FDA warns of rare but serious risk of heart attack and death with cardiac nuclear stress test drugs Lexiscan (regadenoson) and Adenoscan (adenosine).

FDA Bulletin

The FDA bulletin points to serious concerns about Lexiscan (regadenoson) and Adenoscan (adenosine). It also points out that dobutamine is not approved for this use in the USA.

Particular attention is called to the phrase "cardiac instability" in the article. I think atrial fibrillation easily fits into this category.

Dipyridamole is approved. However, this drug seems to be aimed at an anticoagulant use, rather than as a cardiac stress test drug.
Some of the adverse effects of dipyridamole are:
Chest pain/angina - 19.7 Percent
Headache - 12.2 Percent
Dizziness - 11.8 Percent
Electrocardiographic Abnormalities - 12.7 Percent

According to the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, exercise cardiopulmonary stress testing in Afibbers has some uncertainty also.

JACC Stress Testing article.

Sorry if I have kicked over the bee hive, but these are aspects of cardiac stress testing that I have wanted to discuss for a while.]]> Jim Benton AFIBBERS FORUM Fri, 31 Aug 2018 02:00:57 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164773#msg-164773 Re: Chemical Stress Test wihle in AFIB https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164773#msg-164773
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LarryZ
Carey-

I'm not concerned that afib will lead to vfib. I'm concerned that the drug given to speed up your heart rate could
produce vfib. After looking at several respectable websites on chemical stress testing, I find that vib, while rare,
can occur as a result of the stress drug.

Okay, but it's not the drug; it's the stress test itself. In those individuals who experienced vfib, they most likely would have had the same outcome on a treadmill. Personally, I would prefer a treadmill, but not because I fear the drug. I would prefer it simply because when you get off the treadmill it's done. There's no waiting for the drug to wear off.]]> Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Fri, 31 Aug 2018 01:24:52 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164764#msg-164764 Re: Chemical Stress Test wihle in AFIB https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164764#msg-164764 rocketritch AFIBBERS FORUM Thu, 30 Aug 2018 19:54:24 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164762#msg-164762 Re: Chemical Stress Test wihle in AFIB https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164762#msg-164762
I'm not concerned that afib will lead to vfib. I'm concerned that the drug given to speed up your heart rate could
produce vfib. After looking at several respectable websites on chemical stress testing, I find that vib, while rare,
can occur as a result of the stress drug.]]> LarryZ AFIBBERS FORUM Thu, 30 Aug 2018 18:41:13 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164757#msg-164757 Re: Chemical Stress Test wihle in AFIB https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164757#msg-164757 Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Thu, 30 Aug 2018 17:49:51 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164753#msg-164753 Re: Chemical Stress Test wihle in AFIB https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164753#msg-164753 jpeters AFIBBERS FORUM Thu, 30 Aug 2018 15:24:31 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164752#msg-164752 Re: Chemical Stress Test wihle in AFIB https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164752#msg-164752 hwkmn05 AFIBBERS FORUM Thu, 30 Aug 2018 14:43:28 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164750#msg-164750 Chemical Stress Test wihle in AFIB https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,164750,164750#msg-164750 My heart rate will be elevated by drugs rather than exercise. I'm thinking the drug induced high
heart rate is more dangerous for me in afib than an exercise induced high heart rate. I routinely
engage in fast walking punctuated with several 1/4 mile jogs that elevate my heart rate. I never
experience any pain or shortness of breath other than what is expected when pushing hard while
in afib. My resting afib heart rate varies from 55 - 85. My concern is the drug could cause ventricular
fibrillation. Anyone have any experience with a chemical stress test while in afib?]]> LarryZ AFIBBERS FORUM Thu, 30 Aug 2018 14:03:29 +0000