GLP-1 Drugs Causing Arrythmias

Posted by larry @larryst, 2 days ago

My cardiologist suggested I start taking a GLP-1 drug. I have read those could cause arrhythmias (my problem). Has anyone had any experience with GLP-1 drugs ?

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I started taking semaglutide about 5 months ago. During the last 30 days on semaglutide, GLP-1, my dosage was increased. I’ve lost about 20lbs on it. I had a history of Afib and 7 years ago had a heart ablation because I didn’t want to be on blood thinners and heart rate meds for the rest of my life. I’ve had no reoccurrence of Afib for 7 years. All of a sudden last month I went into persistent Afib. I went to urgent care and have spoken to a few doctors and no one seems to know anything about a relationship between GLP-1 and Afib. Everything on the internet says GLP-1 should actually help with AFIB because of weight loss. I stopped taking Semaglutide 2 weeks ago but am still in AFIB. I will be seeing a Mayo cardiologist in a few weeks.
Anyone else have any experience with GLP-1 and AFIB

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I don't have experience in this, but I do know that there must be a close causal link established in literature before one should begin to speculate about such links. There is the 'post hoc, ergo propter hoc' fallacy in thinking that, I got drunk last night, but I woke up with a tattoo. It must mean that drinking caused me to break out in a tattoo.

People try something novel and later experience an unwanted or unpleasant episode of some kind of corporeal behaviour. Unless there can be a direct causal link, one should assume that there's at least the same probability that the episode was going to happen without the novel introduction.

About the recurring AF after 7 years - this is exceedingly common, even among AF sufferers who DON'T take GLP-1. It has been known for years that AF is a progressive disorder. Even after an apparently successful ablation (the patient is free from arrhythmias for one full year after the procedure), that same patient may find that they're back in AF the next month...Month #13. Or, it might take three or six years. A surprisingly, dismayingly, large number of all ablated AF sufferers will need at least a touch-up ablation at some point in the future. Again, it's exceedingly common, and doesn't have to be associated with GLP-1 usage. I t has to do with the heart developing new re-entrant foci at places other than where the previous ablation allowed the intrusion of electrical impulse into the left atrium.

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