Re: Sudden Death, Arrythmia and a couple of ABX

[Guest guest]

The full link doesn't come up so here is the artcile:

Range of drugs linked to sudden heart deaths

(Filed: 11/05/2005)

Drugs commonly prescribed for a range of different complaints are

linked to sudden death from heart attacks in a small but significant

number of cases, researchers said yesterday.

The drugs were associated with a three-fold rise in risk. The

researchers estimated that the drugs, including antibiotics, anti-

psychotics and drugs for stomach and intestine disorders may account

for 15,000 deaths in Europe and America a year.

The seven drugs identified in the study have already been linked to

disturbances of heart rhythm, but this is the first time that a link

has been made with sudden death.

Two of the drugs are the antibiotics erythromycin and

clarithromycin. The others are cisapride and domperidone, used to

treat gastro-intestinal conditions, and the anti-psychotic drugs

chlorpromazine, haloperidol and pimozide, which are used, for

example, for schizophrenia.

The reasearch found that all these drugs prolonged the heart's QTc

interval - the measurement of the electrical activity that controls

the contraction of heart muscle cells and establishes the heart beat.

The study, from Holland and published in the European Heart Journal,

was based on 775 sudden heart deaths compared with 6,000 matched

control cases. Dr Bruno Stricker, the lead researcher said that 320

of these deaths could probably be attributed to drugs taken by

patients. Although the findings would be of interest to

international regulatory authorities it was important to keep the

risk in proportion.

" These drugs are vital treatments for serious conditions in many

cases, so it is essential that patients should not stop taking them

on their own initiative, " he said. " If they are concerned they

should talk to their doctor. "

Dr Stricker, a senior medical officer at the Inspectorate for Health

Care in The Hague said that the expected rate of sudden cardiac

deaths in the western world was two per 1,000 per year. In those

taking the drugs the risk rose to three per 1,000. " The risk of

sudden cardiac death was higher among recent starters - within

around 90 days - and was significantly increased in users of gastrol-

intestinal medication and anti-psychotics.''

Past use was not associated with a a higher risk and the antibiotics

carried the least risk of sudden cardiac death and might not be

implicated. Risk was slightly higher in women than in men and in

older users, he said.

Prof Weissberg, medical director of the British Heart

Foundation, said it had been known for years that certain drugs

changed the heart's rhythm by affecting the heart's potassium

channels. This study showed that " certain people taking particular

medicines may have a slightly higher increase in the risk of

arrhythmia [irregular heart beat].''

But this was still a rare phenomenon. " Not all of the deaths

reported in this study can clearly be attributed to the effects of

the drugs. Patients, particularly those already taking medicines or

with heart disease, should not take any new medications without

first discussing it with their doctor. "

[Guest guest]

Full link didn't post, here is the article:

Range of drugs linked to sudden heart deaths

(Filed: 11/05/2005)

Drugs commonly prescribed for a range of different complaints are

linked to sudden death from heart attacks in a small but significant

number of cases, researchers said yesterday.

The drugs were associated with a three-fold rise in risk. The

researchers estimated that the drugs, including antibiotics, anti-

psychotics and drugs for stomach and intestine disorders may account

for 15,000 deaths in Europe and America a year.

The seven drugs identified in the study have already been linked to

disturbances of heart rhythm, but this is the first time that a link

has been made with sudden death.

Two of the drugs are the antibiotics erythromycin and

clarithromycin. The others are cisapride and domperidone, used to

treat gastro-intestinal conditions, and the anti-psychotic drugs

chlorpromazine, haloperidol and pimozide, which are used, for

example, for schizophrenia.

The reasearch found that all these drugs prolonged the heart's QTc

interval - the measurement of the electrical activity that controls

the contraction of heart muscle cells and establishes the heart beat.

The study, from Holland and published in the European Heart Journal,

was based on 775 sudden heart deaths compared with 6,000 matched

control cases. Dr Bruno Stricker, the lead researcher said that 320

of these deaths could probably be attributed to drugs taken by

patients. Although the findings would be of interest to

international regulatory authorities it was important to keep the

risk in proportion.

" These drugs are vital treatments for serious conditions in many

cases, so it is essential that patients should not stop taking them

on their own initiative, " he said. " If they are concerned they

should talk to their doctor. "

Dr Stricker, a senior medical officer at the Inspectorate for Health

Care in The Hague said that the expected rate of sudden cardiac

deaths in the western world was two per 1,000 per year. In those

taking the drugs the risk rose to three per 1,000. " The risk of

sudden cardiac death was higher among recent starters - within

around 90 days - and was significantly increased in users of gastrol-

intestinal medication and anti-psychotics.''

Past use was not associated with a a higher risk and the antibiotics

carried the least risk of sudden cardiac death and might not be

implicated. Risk was slightly higher in women than in men and in

older users, he said.

Prof Weissberg, medical director of the British Heart

Foundation, said it had been known for years that certain drugs

changed the heart's rhythm by affecting the heart's potassium

channels. This study showed that " certain people taking particular

medicines may have a slightly higher increase in the risk of

arrhythmia [irregular heart beat].''

But this was still a rare phenomenon. " Not all of the deaths

reported in this study can clearly be attributed to the effects of

the drugs. Patients, particularly those already taking medicines or

with heart disease, should not take any new medications without

first discussing it with their doctor. "

[Guest guest]

On Monday, May 16, 2005, at 01:15 PM, jellybelly92008 wrote:

> These ABX have been known to cause sudden death.

> I just realized that Biaxin/clarithromyacin is one of them.

I'm not too happy about this since I was strongly considering asking

the ID doc for Biaxin. What to do? Just ignore and assume I'm not going

to be one of the victims? Here in NS they don't like to give out

Zithromax because of resistance problems, and it would be the logical

substitute. I didn't want to get into a bad herx situation with

Zithromax either. It stays in the system so long that you get stuck

with it.

- Kate D.

[Guest guest]

I sure hope this doesn't carry over to Zithromax, a closely related

abx. I've been taking it for a couple of months now, and it finally

seems to be making headway. My overwhelming fatigue has lifted

suddenly. The infection in my jaw and sinuses has calmed way down.

I find it all so strange, how one day I can barely make it through

the checkout line at the pharmacy because my legs are shaking, and a

couple days later I've got energy. Up early, doing laundry,

sculpting!(which is very vigorous work).

This illness is like childbirth over and over again. Once I start

feeling good, I have a tendency to forget the past, all the

relapses, so I have to be mindful and appreciate this window of

opportunity to do everything positive I can for my health while I'm

able. And also to get this sculpture done now! The weight of that

project hanging over my head has been driving me crazy.

I do think it's fitting that this sculpture, that I've been

struggling to complete, is for a hospital's new " contemplation "

garden. Creating a piece designed to help soothe people who are

suffering due to illness and death, while be stymied by my own

health issues, is pretty ironic.

But today I totally appreciate feeling " normal " . And vow that I will

try to remember to take it one day at a time from here on out,

whether well or sick. To not project whatever I'm going through at

this moment way out into the future. It's hard to remember that

nothing's permanent, nothing stays the same, including my state of

mind or my state of health.

penny

> Full link didn't post, here is the article:

>

> Range of drugs linked to sudden heart deaths

> (Filed: 11/05/2005)

>

> Drugs commonly prescribed for a range of different complaints are

> linked to sudden death from heart attacks in a small but

significant

> number of cases, researchers said yesterday.

>

>

>

> The drugs were associated with a three-fold rise in risk. The

> researchers estimated that the drugs, including antibiotics, anti-

> psychotics and drugs for stomach and intestine disorders may

account

> for 15,000 deaths in Europe and America a year.

>

> The seven drugs identified in the study have already been linked

to

> disturbances of heart rhythm, but this is the first time that a

link

> has been made with sudden death.

>

> Two of the drugs are the antibiotics erythromycin and

> clarithromycin. The others are cisapride and domperidone, used to

> treat gastro-intestinal conditions, and the anti-psychotic drugs

> chlorpromazine, haloperidol and pimozide, which are used, for

> example, for schizophrenia.

>

> The reasearch found that all these drugs prolonged the heart's QTc

> interval - the measurement of the electrical activity that

controls

> the contraction of heart muscle cells and establishes the heart

beat.

>

> The study, from Holland and published in the European Heart

Journal,

> was based on 775 sudden heart deaths compared with 6,000 matched

> control cases. Dr Bruno Stricker, the lead researcher said that

320

> of these deaths could probably be attributed to drugs taken by

> patients. Although the findings would be of interest to

> international regulatory authorities it was important to keep the

> risk in proportion.

>

> " These drugs are vital treatments for serious conditions in many

> cases, so it is essential that patients should not stop taking

them

> on their own initiative, " he said. " If they are concerned they

> should talk to their doctor. "

>

> Dr Stricker, a senior medical officer at the Inspectorate for

Health

> Care in The Hague said that the expected rate of sudden cardiac

> deaths in the western world was two per 1,000 per year. In those

> taking the drugs the risk rose to three per 1,000. " The risk of

> sudden cardiac death was higher among recent starters - within

> around 90 days - and was significantly increased in users of

gastrol-

> intestinal medication and anti-psychotics.''

>

> Past use was not associated with a a higher risk and the

antibiotics

> carried the least risk of sudden cardiac death and might not be

> implicated. Risk was slightly higher in women than in men and in

> older users, he said.

>

> Prof Weissberg, medical director of the British Heart

> Foundation, said it had been known for years that certain drugs

> changed the heart's rhythm by affecting the heart's potassium

> channels. This study showed that " certain people taking particular

> medicines may have a slightly higher increase in the risk of

> arrhythmia [irregular heart beat].''

>

> But this was still a rare phenomenon. " Not all of the deaths

> reported in this study can clearly be attributed to the effects of

> the drugs. Patients, particularly those already taking medicines

or

> with heart disease, should not take any new medications without

> first discussing it with their doctor. "

[Guest guest]

You know, I had erratic heart stuff way before I ever took any abx. I

have a feeling that the problem may be that people's underlying heart

infections are not being properly addressed. And it's really a case of

these drugs not being adequate to deal with the organisms, --could

actually be creating stronger organisms, especially if used as mono

treatment.

This is why we need to have various testing done to find out what's

really going on. My 70+ year old friend almost died in the hospital

with a staph infection almost 50 years ago. He has to take abx for

dental cleanings, because of his heart. He called me last week to ask

me if I thought the prescribed Amoxyicillin was adequate for the root

canal he was scheduled for. It's so disheartening, a guy who almost

died from a staph infection, getting a root canal and being given

amoxyicillin. I couldn't even bear to answer him, because first, IMO,

he shouldn't be getting a root canal and second, how can I possibly

guess which drug to give him any better than his doctor can? (Well, I

can guess better than amoxicillin.) It wouldn't take that much to get

a culture and find out which abx his organisms are sensitive too. This

is a guy who's had a stiff neck for decades --ever since that staph

infection-- who despite religiously swimming and biking and

eating " right " , has been having regular migraines and collapsing with

fatigue for just as long. And they're going to give him Amoxicillin.

There's a new Russian clinic being set up just over the border in

Mexico to treat chronic illness with phage therapy. I've been talking

to them about a pilot program they're doing and the first thing they

want is tissue and bone biopsies to identify the organisms causing

your illness. I wrote back and asked them if they know any doctors in

the U.S. who'll do these tests just because you ask for them. I

haven't heard back. I'll say it again, our medical system is messed up.

penny

>

> > These ABX have been known to cause sudden death.

> > I just realized that Biaxin/clarithromyacin is one of them.

>

> I'm not too happy about this since I was strongly considering asking

> the ID doc for Biaxin. What to do? Just ignore and assume I'm not

going

> to be one of the victims? Here in NS they don't like to give out

> Zithromax because of resistance problems, and it would be the

logical

> substitute. I didn't want to get into a bad herx situation with

> Zithromax either. It stays in the system so long that you get stuck

> with it.

>

> - Kate D.