This is a 51 year-old female with fibromyalgia, hypertension, and migraine headaches who presented to the Emergency Room with two months of dyspnea at night, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, and orthopnea, and an episode of severe substernal chest pressure associated with shortness of breath after carrying water bottles from her car. In the Emergency Department, V/Q scan was very low probability and lower extremity noninvasive studies were also unremarkable. Her medications on admission included Nortriptyline, methyldopa, hydrochlorothiazide, Zantac, estrogen, Advil, ALternaGEL. She smokes one and one-half packs per day for 30 years. Physical examination showed temperature 97.4, respiratory rate 22, heart rate 100, blood pressure 150/90, anicteric, bibasilar crackles about one-quarter of the way up, regular rate and rhythm with II/VI systolic murmur and no rubs or gallops, benign abdomen, guaiac negative in the Emergency Department, 1+ pedal edema bilaterally, right greater than left, and nonfocal neurological. Laboratory data on admission showed hematocrit 41.6, BUN 13, creatinine 0.6, chest x-ray showed mild pulmonary edema, and electrocardiogram showed normal sinus rhythm at 91, no ischemic changes. She had serial CPKs which were all negative, and was treated with two doses of intravenous Lasix (20 milligrams each) resulting in a moderate diuresis and resolution of her shortness of breath symptoms. An exercise test was done with arm ergometry (30 watts) and her heart rate went from 100 to 129, blood pressure went from 130 systolic to 172, and electrocardiogram showed no ischemic changes. An echocardiogram showed vigorous systolic function of 86%, no valvular lesions, no wall motion abnormalities, and evidence of thickening in her ventricular walls. Given the fact that the patient had an elevated diastolic pressure and did show some early evidence of thickening in her ventricular walls, the decision was then made to begin her on a calcium channel blocker (Verapamil 240 milligrams p.o. q.d.) in addition to her usual medications. She was discharged to home in good condition with discharge medications including Verapamil SR 240 milligrams p.o. q.d., Zantac 300 milligrams q.d., estrogen 1.25 milligrams q.d., Advil 800 milligrams p.o. b.i.d. p.r.n., hydrochlorothiazide 25 milligrams p.o. q.d., methyldopa 250 milligrams q.d., and Nortriptyline 125 milligrams p.o. q.h.s., and an appointment to see a new primary physician at Dowsna Medical Center scheduled for May 1996.
has the patient used nortriptyline in the past
on admission included Nortriptyline, methyldopa, hydrochlorothiazide, Zantac,