Heart and Antidepresants?

[crystalhanzelka]

I have been "diagnosed" with PACs and Sinus Arrythmia...which I was told that these are normal variants...
I have horrible anxiety form PTSD and some depression.  I have been very reluctant to start any meds because I have read that some can prolong the QT interval or induce Torsades.  The internet is great when you do not have anxiety...lol!  What is the safest?  How common is Torsades or drug induced Torsades with these?

[Soopster]

I'm so sorry you feel this wy. I just recently went back on Zoloft. The first week or so can prodeuce some unwanted side effects but they do go away. Stick with it and don't worry about the QT length. I read that it is a problem in only 0.03% of ssri users. That's less than 1/2 a percent. I've never had any troubles and the ssri's help me so much with my anxiety. It even makes the palps less noticeable.

[crystalhanzelka]

Thank you all for your responses.  I do hate living this way... but I know the first few weeks might be horrible...am I correct?

[tickertock]

I take escitalopram(lexapro) 5mg daily and clonazepam.25mg twice daily, along with atenolol, cozaar, hctz and metformin. The lexapro has worked wonders for my panic and anxiety, also the palps and PVcs are almost non existent nowadays, feel like a new person. A QTc interval increase of 3.9 without a history of lqts and a normal qtc is oprobably of no clinical significance oand pose very little risk of serious arrhythmias unless you take other prolonging qt drugs with the lexapro or ssri which is advised against as far as i know, your doctor would know best.

[Brooke_38]

Hello...

Normal values for the QT interval are between 0.30 and 0.44 seconds (0.45 seconds for women)

I don't think an increase of 3.9 is of any clinical significance. I am sorry that you are feeling so poorly and compounded with fear to take the medication that will help you. I wish that I had all the magical answers for you.

I hope that you are able to arrest your fears and get beyond your anxieties and on to a better quality of life:) If there is anything I can do or say to help you....Please let me know:)))

[crystalhanzelka]

Thank you Brooke_38.  This is what I found on the rxlist for Lexapro.

ECG Changes
Electrocardiograms from LEXAPRO (N=625), racemic citalopram (N=351), and placebo
(N=527) groups were compared with respect to (1) mean change from baseline in various ECG
parameters and (2) the incidence of patients meeting criteria for potentially clinically significant
changes from baseline in these variables. These analyses revealed (1) a decrease in heart rate of
2.2 bpm for LEXAPRO and 2.7 bpm for racemic citalopram, compared to an increase of 0.3 bpm
for placebo and (2) an increase in QTc interval of 3.9 msec for LEXAPRO and 3.7 msec for
racemic citalopram, compared to 0.5 msec for placebo. Neither LEXAPRO nor racemic
citalopram were associated with the development of clinically significant ECG abnormalities.

Do you think an increase of 3.9 QTc is of any significance.  
I just do not know how long I can live like this yet do not want to take these the rest of my life.  I suffer from PTSD which has given me health anxiety and panic attacks.... :(

[Brooke_38]

Hello...

The most widely prescribed antidepressants come from a class of medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This class of antidepressants are considered the safest when compared with older tricyclic antidepressants, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). This class also offers less in terms of side effects.

The SSRIs include:  Prozac, Luvox, Zoloft, Paxil,Lexapro and Celexa

As far as prolonging QT interval, this would be a pretty rare event if there is no family history of the disorder. I think that we have discussed this in the past. If I recall, you said that you don't recall there being family history with this problem.

With an anxiety disorder, symptoms can be quite debelitating. I really believe that the benefits to you taking this far outweigh the risks:)