Link between Seroquel and Heart Problems?

Posted by Majic @majic, Nov 5, 2017

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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This is the primary reason this type of negative health impact that seroquel is currently causing me and why I need to discontinue seroquel. I have delt with sinus tachycardia for over two decades now with annual stress tests but now various types of arithmeias are occurring much more frequently along with orthostatic hypotension which has sent me to the hospital on many occasions for syncope / passing out / fainting. Since seroquel is the only medication that I take on a regular basis I'm being told it is the primary contributor to such side effects and advise to stop taking it as soon as possible.

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I was on Seroquel for a couple years. I started at 100mg/day and eventually it was raised to 200mg/day. I recently decided to wean off it because I felt like I didn't know the real me anymore (my true emotions).

My doctor advised me on the tapering process, and as I was slowing down the dose, I suddenly developed bradycardia. My heart rate dropped to 40. I've been told to see a cardiologist. I'm fairly certain it's the Seroquel that caused this. It's very frustrating/upsetting that there were no warnings about how dangerous this drug is.

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Many of the newer antipsychotics come with heart risks. I was on Clozaril, and I developed tachycardia. I was in the hospital for anther reason, and I fainted. If I hadn't been in the hospital at that time, i could have died. I was taken off Clozaril, I did take Seroquel briefly, but I developed migraine headaches, which disappeared when I was taken off of Seroquel. Presently, I take a very low dosage of Abilify.

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My son has OCD since grade 4 . Now he is 23Y.O they prescribed him Seroquel 25mg since 4 years ago because of his panic attack, but they do for him regular ECG . He is still young he is also on citalopram 40 mg for his OCD and just last month they started him Abilify 2 mg for his irritability he likes it. with Seroquel 25mg he divided into two and took 12.5mg each night for sleep.

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seroquel was nothing nice for me. I also took it to help sleep. I began to feel like a zombie. Not really knowing what was going on or caring. Stopped after a few months. There are Way better ways to help you sleep then the seroquel

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@heartpolar

Hi,
also trying to establish a cause of recent heart problems, with a strong suspicion of Quetiapine/Seroquel. Was on Seroquel for approx 12 months for BPII, up to 600mg a day. Whilst on it I noticed my HR was higher, particular at resting. I've been athletic most of my life, swimming and running, but stopped post diagnosis and finally stopped running whilst on Seroquel.

During the year after coming off Seroquel I started having heart issues, with low resting HR, palpitations and dizzy. It's now escalated and I'm out of breath just walking around, and my heart rate does really weird things like drop when walking (from 60 to 40), but fine when resting. I keep skipping beats, can no longer exercise, and my HR drops when I sleep to 35!.

I've been to the ER, had a full work up, including an angiogram, and structurally I'm awesome, no plaque, no blockages, no issues! so I'm off to see a cardiologist who things It's just electrical, with a suggestion of a pacemaker! I'm a 43 year old, reasonably healthy male with no other cardiac risk (non smoker, very infrequent drinker, did get plenty of exercise, no family history, etc)....

I'm trying to work out what Seroquel may have contributed to this picture! And if so, find out a possible way of resolving the issue without having to resort to a pacemaker.

Anyone in this thread found a connection? or can please update on any related information from your own experience? updates please!

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I never started having any problems until around a year ago. I am bipolar 2 & I was put on seroquel to help with mood stabilization issues & sleep ones as well I have been on this medicine since 10 years old the most I have taken was 400 mgs when I was in a extreme stressful situation. Around 2 years ago I had Covid 1 year ago started the palpitations around a year ago my primary yanked me off it I went into a spiraling episode of having to take 10 months off of work now we are trying to figure out why my pulse is getting so high to 103 & having racing heartbeat & all I had to wear a monitor a heart one through primary still waiting on them to tell me what was found I’m prolly going to a cardiologist though I was told by my primary I was seeing seroquel can cause cardiac problems the ironic part is I been fine up until 2 years ago like I said with Covid

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One of my psychiatrist about 20 years ago told me Seroquel, Vistaril (antihistamine) and all the other anti psychotics that doctors prescribe for sleep are barbaric. I believe him. He put me on a light dose of Ambien (5 mg), then raised it to 10 mg a year later. I personally would find another psychiatrist. I know that is easier said than done. But, I would at least call around. Do as much research as you can on Seroquel and don’t let this doctor off the hook. He lied to you IMHO. You may be able to gain some of that ejection fraction back. But, with the history you gave us you should not have an ejection fraction of 20% to 25%. Best of luck to you. God Bless. Greg

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What about if you took it 10 up until now then after having COVID 2 years ago that’s when the hell started heart palpitations feelings like someone is sitting in my chest

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Checking the drug Adverse Effects literature states Cardiomyopathy and Myocarditis have a less than 1% occurrence rate of patients taking it. But there is a 1-10% chance of developing hypertension, increased triglycerides and increased total cholesterol all of which may add to a cardiac condition. Although it is widely used as a sleep aid for older adults it shouldn’t be in my opinion. The side effect profile is too iffy!

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