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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I was prescribed Seroquel 25 mg. Cut it in 4. Suppose to take 1/4 in am and 1/4 in evening with food. He said I could even crush it. I’m very sensitive to drugs. My husband and I are skeptical because of what we read about Seroquel. Is it safe? Would anyone agree it’s safe or not? I’m very scared to take it. Psychiatrist said it’s safe to give to kids. But I read above post they give it out like candy. Pharmacist even said at a low dose you have to taper. Please comment. Thank you.

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If I was you I wouldn't take those again, unfortunatly I've been on these horrible tablets at a high dose of 750mg for 10 years and it's seriously affected my heart and I'm only 30, Ive ended up in hospital multiple times with heart rates over 200 and my heart being in a weird rythem. from what I've been told these tablets can cause a heart attack and kill you almost instantly stay away from them they will kill you. Probably kill me to if my psychiatriat doesn't change them. God help me

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@flow65

I was prescribed Seroquel 25 mg. Cut it in 4. Suppose to take 1/4 in am and 1/4 in evening with food. He said I could even crush it. I’m very sensitive to drugs. My husband and I are skeptical because of what we read about Seroquel. Is it safe? Would anyone agree it’s safe or not? I’m very scared to take it. Psychiatrist said it’s safe to give to kids. But I read above post they give it out like candy. Pharmacist even said at a low dose you have to taper. Please comment. Thank you.

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NO NO NO don't EVER give that medication to any child! You need to be 18 or above to take quetiapine I wouldn't listen to that idiot psychiatrist and if I'm honest there not safe they can cause heart failure, I've got heart issues at 30 because of them please stay away from those horrible things it affects you're organs you're brain you're functionality in general, I've got so many issues after 10 years of those tablets, and I never had them before. That doesn't include the horrible nasty side affects you get when u don't take them, for you're sake and any other person in you're family stay away get another different kind of medication

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@junior92

NO NO NO don't EVER give that medication to any child! You need to be 18 or above to take quetiapine I wouldn't listen to that idiot psychiatrist and if I'm honest there not safe they can cause heart failure, I've got heart issues at 30 because of them please stay away from those horrible things it affects you're organs you're brain you're functionality in general, I've got so many issues after 10 years of those tablets, and I never had them before. That doesn't include the horrible nasty side affects you get when u don't take them, for you're sake and any other person in you're family stay away get another different kind of medication

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@junior92 please read product info on drugs before you make statements that may effect others. Seroquel is prescribed to children and dosing instruction is included in packaging.
The physician was correct in that I reviewed the pharmacology profile of Seroquel and there are no reported connections to direct cardiac effect. Only makes changes to blood pressure, triglycerides or cholesterol which could eventually affect the heart.

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@jenatsky

@junior92 please read product info on drugs before you make statements that may effect others. Seroquel is prescribed to children and dosing instruction is included in packaging.
The physician was correct in that I reviewed the pharmacology profile of Seroquel and there are no reported connections to direct cardiac effect. Only makes changes to blood pressure, triglycerides or cholesterol which could eventually affect the heart.

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Maybe in other country's in the United Kingdom children don't get prescribed this medication for a reason, I wasn't allowed it until I was over the age of 18. I've been on these tablets long enough to know the side affects it can cause and the problems that can arise because of them, I've had a psychiatrist say the same thing those tablets are dangerous and can cause heart failure 🤔 I'm sure they know better than me and you do

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@junior92

Maybe in other country's in the United Kingdom children don't get prescribed this medication for a reason, I wasn't allowed it until I was over the age of 18. I've been on these tablets long enough to know the side affects it can cause and the problems that can arise because of them, I've had a psychiatrist say the same thing those tablets are dangerous and can cause heart failure 🤔 I'm sure they know better than me and you do

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Please keep in mind that the majority of people on the forum are in the U.S. I think you might have indicated that “here in the UK”….and I wouldn’t have found a need to comment. Here in the states 10 years of age is the minimum use although the manufacture has pediatric prescribing info on their site. I can totally agree it she given to kids and I personally don’t like the drug and it’s side effects. I didn’t like giving it to patients when I was still a nurse many years ago.

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@flow65, as you can see from the impassioned posts from both @junior92 and @jenatsky, it is really important to check prescribing information - both the drug insert and from a medical professional - with any drug you're taking and especially when tapering wisely.

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@colleenyoung

@flow65, as you can see from the impassioned posts from both @junior92 and @jenatsky, it is really important to check prescribing information - both the drug insert and from a medical professional - with any drug you're taking and especially when tapering wisely.

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I haven’t been on Seroquel for quite awhile. Plus I don’t have any children on it. My psychiatrist had mentioned quite awhile ago that he did prescribed it to children. Not sure. Thank you for the responses.

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My mother was on seroquel for just over 10 years, and every time she had her health check her heart rate was so high, but ECG confined all ok so they said. She never drunk alcohol or smoked. Fast forward to 6 weeks ago she passed away from a massive heart attack unexpectedly. I blame this drug!!!😢

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I know this is an old post but I am in the hospital now and they are thinking it is congestive heart failure. I was on 50mg of Seroquel for over a yr and started going through withdrawals while I was still taking it
Dr put me down to 25mg then 25mg every other night and the withdrawals were horrible so if I was already going through withdrawals why keep taking it.....so I have been off it for 10 day's and the withdrawals are less but I know there still there. My feet and ankles swelled up about a month ago and now I also have fluid in my lungs. My legs are hot and red and I just had a complete heart check up in July 2022 and echo cartio gram and it was all normal....crying

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