1. < Heart Rhythm Conditions

Long QT

Posted by janiem07 @janiem07, Jan 8 9:20pm

I was just recently diagnosed with Long QT and will see what my cardiologist recommends to treat this at the end of this month. I am currently wearing a heart monitor for 30 days. In 2 weeks I go in for other heart tests, an echo and an ultrasound. Does anyone else have this and what is your treatment plan. Also I have SLE Lupus and I’m on a beta blocker. Thanks for any advice and or support.

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jc76 | @jc76 | Jan 13 6:28am
In reply to @gloaming "Falling asleep can be the toughest part of the entire night. I have a very active..." + (show)
@gloaming

Falling asleep can be the toughest part of the entire night. I have a very active mind, hard to shut off some nights. What I learned, with some reliability and success, was to build something in my imagination, or to run through all the steps in a process in order that they need to be performed. This type of cognition seems to lull me and I'm asleep, most often, inside of a few minutes. So, cold-firing a steam locomotive, or setting up a telescope and getting it polar aligned, or imagining I'm explaining to someone the processes going on in stellar interiors. There's a lot of knowledge in those, and some things have to take place before others. This iterative thinking can lull one into sleep.

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I was put on Trazadone to get me sleep. It had an effect on me that would prevent my mind from racing, and I fell asleep. I have been off that now for several years.

What I do is similar to you. When I find my mind racing or worrying about something, when I lay down to sleep, I try concentrating of my bank balance or how much weight I can use doing numbers in my head for the next 3 months, etc.

It makes your mind focus on something else besides worry or racing and quite frankly boring. It works for me so I thought I would add to the discussion.

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1 reply
windyshores | @windyshores | Jan 13 7:21am
In reply to @jc76 "I was put on Trazadone to get me sleep. It had an effect on me that..." + (show)
@jc76

I was put on Trazadone to get me sleep. It had an effect on me that would prevent my mind from racing, and I fell asleep. I have been off that now for several years.

What I do is similar to you. When I find my mind racing or worrying about something, when I lay down to sleep, I try concentrating of my bank balance or how much weight I can use doing numbers in my head for the next 3 months, etc.

It makes your mind focus on something else besides worry or racing and quite frankly boring. It works for me so I thought I would add to the discussion.

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@jc76 trazadone is on the list of meds that pose a risk for long QTc interval. The list of meds is very long!

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jc76 | @jc76 | Jan 13 5:17pm

@windyshores
Thanks, Windy for that information. Will check with my psychiatric medication specialist when I see her next month. I am not sure, but she probably got same go ahead for me to take like she did the escilotiopram (spell).

She did try Ambien (spell) but did not work for me at all. The trazodone did and finally got sleep. I have not taken it for over 2 years now.

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windyshores | @windyshores | Jan 13 7:39pm
In reply to @jc76 "@windyshores Thanks, Windy for that information. Will check with my psychiatric medication specialist when I see..." + (show)
@jc76

@windyshores
Thanks, Windy for that information. Will check with my psychiatric medication specialist when I see her next month. I am not sure, but she probably got same go ahead for me to take like she did the escilotiopram (spell).

She did try Ambien (spell) but did not work for me at all. The trazodone did and finally got sleep. I have not taken it for over 2 years now.

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Escitalopram was also on the list of meds with risk in terms of long QTc interval.

I am having some insomnia and was going to ask my MD about trazadone but was glad I checked.

@jc76 hope you are getting a good sleep these days!

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1 reply
jc76 | @jc76 | Jan 14 6:23am
In reply to @windyshores "Escitalopram was also on the list of meds with risk in terms of long QTc interval...." + (show)
@windyshores

Escitalopram was also on the list of meds with risk in terms of long QTc interval.

I am having some insomnia and was going to ask my MD about trazadone but was glad I checked.

@jc76 hope you are getting a good sleep these days!

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@windyshores
Yes, on the Escitalopram I was made aware of that by my Mayo Psychiatric medications specialist. She said she had cordinated taking it with my EP and HF doctors to confirm if I could take in without and complications specific to me. They gave permission.

The trazodone really worked for me. I am sure if she checked the Esciptilopram she checked the traszodone. But I am to see her again shortly and will asked about it and if I am okay to take if need again. Thanks for that information.

I was able to stop taking both trazondone and Xanax completely.

Yes sleep is much better these days. But from time to time I have to play the game I play to keep mind from racing when something really bothered me on that day or night.

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gerri1947 | @gerri1947 | 3 days ago
In reply to @jc76 "@doclarrea The medication I was prescribed is called Escitalopram. I take a 10 mg dose. I..." + (show)
@jc76

@doclarrea
The medication I was prescribed is called Escitalopram. I take a 10 mg dose. I have been on it since 2015.

She (my Mayo psychiatric medication specialist) contacted my HF and EP before prescribing to make sure they approved as it could/would cause a delay in one of the Q waves.

At the time I was prescribed this I was really suffering from PTSD, anxiety/panic disorder. She also prescribed a sleep aid. I had to try several until we found trazodone that really worked and finally was able to sleep. She also had me on Xanax. I think being able to sleep without mind racing was really helpful.

Most think PTSD is military service. But it comes from any traumatic experience that affects you both mentally and physically. I did serve in Vietnam, and had the deadly force as a police officer, but what pushed me into PTSD was getting shocked 5 times in 24 hours by my ICD/Pacemaker. I spent 5 days in hospital scared to death (no pun intended there). I was released back to hometown only to go back in hospital the same day for a anxiety/panic attack.
I had never had one so had no idea what was happening.

Through some long consuling and these medications I slowly improved. I am off the sleep medications and Xanax (spell), but she said I would have to take the Escitalopram probably for life.

When on Mayo CC I really try to press the emphasis on mental health. Mental health affects your physical health and vice versa. I think a lot of medical doctors do not emphasize that enough.

I know when I was first diagnosed with PTSD I took a test. I think the highest number was 30 and I was in the high 20s.

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I have bradycardia with all symptoms. My doctor ordered escitalopram for anxiety but it makes my heart rate drop lower like in the 30’s. So I had to stop taking it. I know I need help

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rjrosebud | @rjrosebud | 3 days ago

Hi there. My son and I both have LQT3. We both have ICD’s as we were both symptomatic. It has been 10 years since our diagnosis. The early years were rough. High anxiety and little sleep because of all the unknowns. He was 12 at the time of his diagnosis. Once you have a treatment plan that best suits you, things will calm down and the anxiety will eventually subside. Allow the emotions. It’s a process.

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windyshores | @windyshores | 3 days ago
In reply to @rjrosebud "Hi there. My son and I both have LQT3. We both have ICD’s as we were..." + (show)
@rjrosebud

Hi there. My son and I both have LQT3. We both have ICD’s as we were both symptomatic. It has been 10 years since our diagnosis. The early years were rough. High anxiety and little sleep because of all the unknowns. He was 12 at the time of his diagnosis. Once you have a treatment plan that best suits you, things will calm down and the anxiety will eventually subside. Allow the emotions. It’s a process.

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What is an ICD? I have "borderline" QTc but it is definitely too long at times.

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jc76 | @jc76 | 2 days ago
In reply to @gerri1947 "I have bradycardia with all symptoms. My doctor ordered escitalopram for anxiety but it makes my..." + (show)
@gerri1947

I have bradycardia with all symptoms. My doctor ordered escitalopram for anxiety but it makes my heart rate drop lower like in the 30’s. So I had to stop taking it. I know I need help

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@gerri1947
Check with your doctors or try to see a pyschiatric medication specialist. We have those as Mayo Jacksonville. I think they could find one that fits your medical needs without side affects like the one you mentioned.

I always stress that what one person finds works for them might not be good for anohter with their specific medical and mental conditions. Your post is an excellent example of this.

Since 2006 I have had a ICD/Pacemaker. Because of my medications my heart rate was in 30s like yours. My Entresto made if drop before I was put on Escitalopram. My EP raised my pulsing (after serveral levels to improve PVCs) to 70. Thus even though my heart would drop into 30s my pacemaker keeps it at 70.

So you can see what works for one might not be right for others. But I highly recommend trying to seek a EP or medication type specialist and work on something that can help you.

I know having the stress of heart rympthm issues is not something that helps quality of life. The PTSD and anxiety/panic disorder I got all the way back to 2016 was something that drastically affected my personal and social life. I was lucky to have Mayo Jacksonville and how they interact as a team and we found ways to help me.

I know you might not have access to a major medical facility but try to continue to work with your doctors and speak out and let them know how much stress and anxiety you are under.

I have had in past real issues with VFIB. Was getting shocks from ICD. Had not had one for several years but just had one couple of days ago. I would have been in total stress mode but I handled it and I think the escitalopram really helps me deal with stress issues like this.

Keep working on having your doctors help you.

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lindabp | @lindabp | 2 days ago

Someone mentioned trazadone as a possible trigger for this. Could Xanax also be a trigger? I've been on that for sleep and anxiety for several years, during which time I have developed SVT and AFIB, other heart rhythm problems. Makes me wonder......

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