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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
EKG changes with SSRIs
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
EKG changes with SSRIs
by andie3330, May 19, 2007 12:00AM
I'm a 40 year old female in very good overall health. I have GAD and OCD. One of my biggest anxieties is with my cardiovascular health, although my all tests - EKG, stress echo, CT angiogram are normal with the exception of PVCs and PACs. I am trying to decide which SSRI has the lowest risk of causing EKG changes - specifically, which one is the least likely to prolong the QTc interval or increase the risk of ventricular arrythmias. I'm much more willing to accept the risk of other side effects, but I want to take the safest SSRI for my heart. Luvox was not effective for me and I had an allergic reaction (drug rash) to Zoloft. So now I'm trying to decide between Lexapro and Paxil. Based on the package inserts, it seems that Paxil may have less risk of prolonging QTc, but since I'm not a medical doctor (only a biologist) I may be missing part of the information and I don't have access to all the pertinent research. Would you recommend Lexapro or Paxil? My psychiatrist would be ok with either, but I haven't been able to make an appointment with him since I read the worrisome info about Lexapro prolonging QTc. But maybe Paxil has the same level of risk - I don't know. Thank you so much for your valuable time spent in consideration of this question.
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., May 22, 2007 12:00AM
, May 22, 2007 12:00AM
I have done some research for you, but you and your doctor should do more to be sure. Almost all of the ssri's and related family of drugs have some qtc effect when used with other drugs ( like methadone) and the research does not distinguish one from another. I think the best thing you can do is query the manufacturer of Paxil about their studies.....sorry, I don't know anything more, but I will ask around, and post on here if I find out any more....
Hope this helps. Cause only God knows for sure. I suppose the doctors do to but as I said my faith in doctors is very skimpy..........
Another book that just got from pschologist which I love is called...."Women's bodies, Women's wisdom by Christiane Northrup, M.D. She talks about inner wisdom (intuition) to get in touch with. Not spooky or New Age stuff but what we feel if right inside. Sometmes that is hard to get in touch with if been shut down all of our lives. But book, I love. She talks about meds and what they do or dont do and it is on every subject for women. I will pray for you.
ps look on the internet for both books ,,,,I believe they are there. Random House or Amazon...I think Amazom is cheaper. Also Janet Maccaro has a web site to order. Not that I am trying to tell what to do.