Ashwagandha and heart palpitations

Pause the supplement and arrange a medical review if the sensation is new, recurrent or persistent, especially if you take medicines or have a thyroid or heart condition.

Palpitations describe awareness of a heartbeat that feels racing, pounding, skipping or fluttering. A supplement may be involved through sensitivity to an ingredient, an interaction, product variability or an effect on thyroid activity. Products that combine ashwagandha with caffeine or other stimulants deserve particular attention.

Other triggers remain possible, including dehydration, anxiety, low blood sugar, anaemia, an overactive thyroid and abnormal heart rhythms. Atrial fibrillation can present with an irregular or fast heartbeat, but palpitations alone do not identify which rhythm is present.

Stop taking more ashwagandha until you have checked the symptoms with a clinician or pharmacist. Keep the container or photograph the full label, including dose, added ingredients and batch information. Make a note of when each episode starts, how long it lasts, whether the pulse feels regular and what you were doing at the time.

Avoid extra caffeine, nicotine, stimulant decongestants and strenuous exercise while symptoms are being assessed. Do not stop prescribed heart or thyroid medicine unless the prescriber advises it. An assessment may include a pulse check, electrocardiogram and blood tests guided by your history.

Call emergency services if palpitations occur with chest pain, severe shortness of breath, fainting, near-fainting, marked weakness, confusion or blue or grey lips. Seek prompt assessment when a rapid or irregular heartbeat continues at rest, keeps returning, or occurs in someone with known heart disease.

Ask whether any ingredient could interact with your medicines, whether thyroid or blood tests are warranted, if heart-rhythm monitoring would help, and whether the product should be avoided in future.