Harnessing Your Heartbeat with Ivabradine

Dysautonomia, a complex condition characterized by the autonomic nervous system's dysfunction, can manifest in various challenging symptoms, including rapid heartbeat and palpitations. Ivabradine has emerged as a promising treatment option for managing these cardiovascular symptoms associated with dysautonomia.

Many patients with Long COVID or ME/CFS also experience autonomic dysfunction and symptoms of dysautonomia. Treatment with ivabradine can often provide symptom improvement and a better quality of life.

Dysautonomia patients often struggle with an array of symptoms, but one of the most common and distressing is tachycardia, an abnormally fast heart rate. Ivabradine specifically targets this symptom by reducing the heart rate, which can:

Ivabradine is FDA-approved for the treatment of stable symptomatic heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy. Unlike other heart medications that affect blood pressure or contractility, ivabradine's action is heart rate-specific, making it an option for treating tachycardia commonly seen with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Here is how ivabradine works.

Ivabradine selectively inhibits the Lf (“funny”) current in the sinoatrial node, the heart's natural pacemaker. This Lf current plays a crucial role in the initiation and regulation of the heartbeats.

By inhibiting the Lf current, ivabradine slows the heart’s internal pacemaker speed, thereby reducing heart rate in a precise and controlled manner with minimal effects on blood pressure.

A lower heart rate allows the heart to fill up with more blood between beats so that more blood is pumped into the body with every heartbeat. Ivabradine improves cardiac output and efficiency, leading to better delivery of oxygen-rich blood to the body.

For those with dysautonomia, ivabradine can be particularly beneficial in managing symptoms like:

Clinical experience and studies suggest that ivabradine is effective in reducing heart rate and improving symptoms in patients with dysautonomia, though individual responses can vary. Ivabradine is generally well-tolerated, with a safety profile that makes it suitable for long-term use in managing chronic conditions. However, patients should be aware of potential side effects that can include:

Whether you have been living with dysautonomia for years or have only recently received a diagnosis (possibly in connection with Long COVID or ME/CFS), ivabradine is a medication that may be able to stop your world from spinning and improve your quality of life. Ivabradine may help address many of the symptoms, such as fatigue and dizziness, that you live with every day. If you are interested in exploring ivabradine as a treatment option, consult with your healthcare provider or visit RTHM Direct to learn how this treatment option can help combat autonomic dysfunction and get you back on the path to better health.

Ivabradine is a selective Lf channel blocker designed for lowering heart rate in order to treat conditions like heart failure (on-label) and is used off-label for many conditions, including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Several studies show that ivabradine can improve symptoms in POTS patients by lowering their heart rate without affecting blood pressure. Some key studies include: