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Link between Seroquel and Heart Problems?
My psychiatrist put me on Seroquel approximately 4-5 years ago, on a low dose of 100mg, as a sleep aid.
Apparently it is used as an anti-psychotic in high doses, however in low doses it can be used as a sleep aid because of its anti-histamine properties (that are found in allergy pills for example that make you sleepy).
Fast forward to this past June, and I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Congestive Heart Failure, the "idiopathic cardiomyopathy" kind, idiopathic meaning the doctors don't know how or why I now have this. It came on VERY suddenly.
I was hospitalized for a week, all of the 'usual' tests, and I was free of any clots or blockages. My ejection fraction was 20-25%.
Trying to find a cause:
A virus? I haven't been sick in a long time, not even a cold.
I have never smoked or used illicit drugs; I have maybe a dozen alcoholic drinks per year, and there is no history of heart failure in my family. So they went through all of my current meds to see if there was a cause.
I have been on Seroquel (100mg), Clonazepam as needed, Wellbutrin, and Citalopram (20mg) for years.
After the doctors did some quick research, the Cardiologist took me off the Seroquel immediately, saying heart failure was a possible side effect, however extremely small the chance might be.
My psychiatrist has since told me "it's not the Seroquel".
It's a long shot, but has anyone been told their Seroquel use led to heart failure?
Thank you for any help.
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No but my use of it in a high dose for physic intendancies put my body into a total shut down mode of my organs
But was stoped by the doctors in the ER so I guess that could be a yes because years later I have heart problems I IVCD and some other issues wit my heart ???
I’m not sure if heart problems are the result of my use of Seroquel
That is very brave of you wish I could do the same. The stories about not slow tapering are horrific but I don’t have the patience to go 15 months. I have been on 300/400 six years for insomnia and depression
your story sounds so familiar except that I am not seeing a physiatrist but getting medical treatment for insomnia. I have been given zopiclone, cipralex , Seroquel and Elavil for insomnia for years from my GP and internists; suddenly I developed cardiomyopathy and Left Bundle Branch Block. There was no family history of heart issues and I have always had good heart health examinations until I was prescribed, long term, anti-depressants for my insomnia. My research has revealed that zopiclone is perfectly save for insomnia, even with the risk of dependency but antidepressants not only risk dependency but heart complications as well. You be the judge!
Don't listen to your doctor. Seroquel can kill you in many different ways, and also it can kill suddenly from heart failure. your cholesterol will skyrocket and all of a sudden you'll be seriously diabetic. doctors never admit that the medications they prescribe are the reason for your distress, as that would mean admitting that they're prescribing you Poison. get off of it asap. or else.
get off the Seroquel before it's too late. It's a good drug before it kills you, which it can do in several ways, sudden heart failure being just one way.
Seroquel is bad news for the heart, not to mention sky high cholesterol and type2 diabetes.
I'm having heart issues after being in 100mg Seroquel for ten years. I'm going off of it finally 100% as even smaller doses can wreck havoc.
@larrysp
I’m curious why you took Seroquel if you don’t mind sharing that information.
Take care,
Jake
I recently stop Seroquel, it was causing weight gain and feeding depression. I was able to take it down 50mg at a time. I was on 150mg for sleep.
I will never take it again! My sleep has suffered, I now get 3, 2 hour chunks. That is likely caused by the ton of antidepressants I take, one of them is up next.
I now do a a lot of my own research. Bad doctoring has contributed to the destruction of my life, twice. Many doctors are too busy to really get to know you. It is more expedient to just to prescribe another pill.
Ultimately it is my life and I am responsible!
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2 ReactionsI’m taking 200mg at night for sleep. I’d love to come off of it for reasons said above. What else do you suggest to take for sleep. Thanks in advance.
There’s a specialized form of therapy for insomnia called I-CBT. Also have you tried trazodone? Many years ago Prozac made it difficult for me to sleep but worked great for depression. I took trazodone and it helped me to sleep.