Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Postmenopause => Topic started by: Recreate23 on March 12, 2025, 08:31:35 AM
-
Hi, I’m 65 and have had palpitations causing poor disrupted sleep for the past year after the insertion of a mirena coil. I saw a cardiologist last week and he said the palpitations are caused by an ‘electrical circuitry fault’ and had nothing to do with low oestrogen levels. This surprised me as after doing lots of research and employing menopause specialists, I have come to believe that declining oestrogen levels are the cause of palpitations. Anyway he’s advised me to take beta blockers even though I use an inhaler. He advised taking sleeping tablets in the meantime but my GP advised against this because he said they can be addictive so he advised me to consult the online Boots doctor to prescribe melatonin. I took one 3 mg tablet last night and slept until around 5.30 am and couldn’t get back to sleep due to the usual palpitations. I wondered whether anyone else has taken these and found them helpful ? Thanks
-
Oh dear. So many conflicting messages given out by various specialists. :-\
Hopefully some1 will be along with advice.
Did U see him privately?
-
Are you on estrogen? There is no other reason to have a mirena IUS at 65, and if the palpitations began when this was inserted I would consider removal - a device passing through the cervix could be irritating your vagus nerve - this is also what causes some people to have a vasovagal episode on insertion or removal of a coil.
If you are on estrogen you could consider a non-invasive progestogen instead.
Hypoestrogenism and thyroid disorders can also trigger palpitations so I would rule these out first if you haven't already, as well as checking electrolytes.
Magnesium and potassium supplementation can also be helpful.
If a cause can't be found there are other cardiology medications apart from beta blockers which you could ask for.
Taking sleep medication for insomnia that is caused by palpitations rather than addressing the cause would be a last resort, however some people do find melatonin helpful.
-
Hi and thanks for your thoughts.
I took evorel 50 patches and 200 mg utrogestan until last November but I continued to have nightly palpitations.
Taking antidepressants and melatonin as well as valerian just make me nauseous - the only antidepressant that worked was metrazapam which is a sedative and knocked me out but I felt tired during the day.
I’m now trying acupuncture and hope that helps!