People’s Pharmacy: Fitbit detects irregular heart rhythm overnight

Q. You wrote recently about people using devices to track their own health. My husband upgraded his Fitbit to a model with more bells and whistles.

Within days, it was notifying him he had an irregular heart rhythm called Afib. This was detected mostly at night during sleep, and he had never noticed any symptoms.

We thought it was probably a fluke, but he went to the cardiologist out of caution. After testing, we learned he does indeed have Afib. As a result, he was put on a blood thinner to prevent a stroke.

I think self-monitoring devices are great as long as the person involves a medical practitioner in interpreting the results and taking needed action.

A. We are so glad your husband was able to detect atrial fibrillation (Afib) with his activity tracker. Many smart watches and other devices can detect this arrhythmia. An anticoagulant can help prevent blood clots from forming that might lead to a stroke. We agree that self-monitoring helps in collaborating with a health care professional.

Q. Are there are any updates on possible solutions for tinnitus? My ears just started hissing in the last two weeks, and it’s quite distressing.

I take Tylenol and Aleve for severe arthritis in my knee. I read that these pain relievers might cause tinnitus. This spring and summer, I’ve taken more Aleve and Aleve PM than before.

I could forgo the Aleve. I also have taken Tylenol PM for years to sleep, but I could just take plain Benadryl.

I’ve seen advertisements for a cure for tinnitus, and I am curious. Is there really help out there?

A. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Voltaren) and meloxicam (Mobic) can all trigger ringing in the ears (tinnitus). Even acetaminophen (Tylenol) has been linked to this adverse drug reaction (Journal of General Internal Medicine, November 2022).

There are no Food and Drug Administration-approved medications to treat ringing in the ears. The agency did approve a “bimodal neuromodulation device” to ease tinnitus symptoms in March 2023. It is called Lenire and works by “pairing mild electrical stimulation of the tongue with sound stimulation.” It will require a prescription and may cost a few thousand dollars.

Q. My new doctor started me on amlodipine for high blood pressure. Before long, I broke out in the worst rash I’ve ever had! It started on my chest, then traveled around to my rib cage and lower back. I was miserable!

Although I told the doctor about it, she said, “No way it could be amlodipine,” and ignored my complaint. I saw a dermatologist three times. Each time, I got a different topical steroid cream that did little.

Finally, the dermatologist took a skin biopsy and sent it to the lab. Bingo! The report came back “Consistent with drug reaction.”

I endured months of misery because this young doctor could not believe the drug was the cause. Is this a recognized side effect?

A. Skin rash is relatively uncommon with amlodipine, but when it occurs, this adverse reaction can be quite serious. Your doctor should have investigated. A far more common side effect is fluid retention (edema), especially around the legs and ankles.

You may find our “eGuide to Blood Pressure Solution” helpful because it lists common side effects of blood pressure drugs and offers many other ways to control high blood pressure. This online resource may be found under the Health eGuides tab at www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.

In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of King Features, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, Fla., 32803, or email them via their website: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. Their newest book is “Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them.”