QT Interval

[Guest guest]

My EP just upped my sotalol (Beta Pace) from 120 mg to 160 twice a day

and ordered a EKG after the first day. They told me my QT Interval was

a " little " elongated and return in 5 to 7 days for another EKG. I'm to

call if I have any problems, ie feeling faint etc (usual AFIB stuff).

Should I be concerned? They gave me a list of med to be sure I do not

take, like antibiotics etc to show to any other doc I go to. I have

heard you tall talk about Tikosyn having to be started in hospsital

because of Torsades de Pointes but not Sotalol.

[Guest guest]

--- In AFIBsupport , " thereshope2002 "

<thereshope2002@y...> wro

>

It's been a while since I've posted here.

I take Flecainide ( since Oct 04) and I now have aquired long QT.

The flec has prolonged my QT interval. I have to watch out for the

drugs I take and tell every doctor and I have to watch my potassium

level because a low potassium prolongs QT also. Last Dec when my

flec dosage was increased, I fainted on day 3 of that dose. My heart

felt very " funny " before fainting. I went to the ER and EKG showed

QT was prolonged. My potassium level was also below normal. I was

hospitalized 2 days because of Torsades worry. My Flec was decreased

to 100 mg bid but my QT is still prolonged. I had knee replacement

surgery 2 months later and Potassium was below normal again,

probably do to post op vomiting. Anytime I have vomiting , diarrhea

or excessive sweating in the heat , I have to worry about my

potassium level affecting the QT interval because it is already

prolonged from the Flecainide.

Pam

[Guest guest]

> My EP just upped my sotalol (Beta Pace) from 120 mg to 160 twice a day

> and ordered a EKG after the first day. They told me my QT Interval was

> a " little " elongated and return in 5 to 7 days for another EKG. I'm to

> call if I have any problems, ie feeling faint etc (usual AFIB stuff).

--------

That's what I'm on, 160 2X a day. I saw my EKG and it was a little elongated

as well, " long QT for rate " I think it said.. If I understand correctly it

can be stretched to a certain millisecond and you're OK (not at risk) but

when it goes past that point, then there's risk. I'm not sure what that

point may be. I am a 40 y.o. woman.

Lorrie :-)

[Guest guest]

It has also been some time since I wrote to the group, but I am always

lurking.

I also take Flecainide and have done now for about 2 years (100mg bid). The

only side effect suffered is the odd visual 'slowmo' mainly in the evening

or in a dark environment about 1 hour after taking the Flec. I recently

went to see my Cardio for a check-up mainly because I was suffering from

very high blood pressure mainly during the afternoon. This had reached

200/110 and was to say the least worrying. I now take Irbesartan (Avapro)

and this has returned my BP to normal (125/72). This is an interesting drug

when you look to see how it functions. Initially my GP put me on Atenalol

and although I told him at the time that 100mg seemed a bit high as the

Flecainide was already reducing my heartbeat to the low 40's, I started

taking 25mg. This reduced my heart rate to the high 30's and made me feel

very sick. My Echo was good with a slight Mitral? valve leak but the ECG

shows first degree heart block. This had not shown up before but looking

back at past ECG results, it was marginal. First degree heart block is

normally classified when the P-QRS complex exceeds 200ms, mine is 218ms.

Previous readings were close to 200ms. I also have to have a 3 monthly

check on potassium levels as the Irbesartan can increase the amount present

in the blood. First degree heart block can have no clinical significance

and some really healthy athletes have the condition. I am not aware of it

and now my BP is as should be, I feel fine.

Best regards to all and in case I don't write again before the holiday may

I be one of the first to wish you all a Merry Christmas.

Tim

Kent UK. 56. Flecainide 100mg *2, 150mg Irbesartan, Salmon Oil 2000mg,

Magnesium Oxide 166% RDA, occasional Zoton and 300mg Aspirin.

[Guest guest]

It has also been some time since I wrote to the group, but I am always

lurking.

I also take Flecainide and have done now for about 2 years (100mg bid). The

only side effect suffered is the odd visual 'slowmo' mainly in the evening

or in a dark environment about 1 hour after taking the Flec. I recently

went to see my Cardio for a check-up mainly because I was suffering from

very high blood pressure mainly during the afternoon. This had reached

200/110 and was to say the least worrying. I now take Irbesartan (Avapro)

and this has returned my BP to normal (125/72). This is an interesting drug

when you look to see how it functions. Initially my GP put me on Atenalol

and although I told him at the time that 100mg seemed a bit high as the

Flecainide was already reducing my heartbeat to the low 40's, I started

taking 25mg. This reduced my heart rate to the high 30's and made me feel

very sick. My Echo was good with a slight Mitral? valve leak but the ECG

shows first degree heart block. This had not shown up before but looking

back at past ECG results, it was marginal. First degree heart block is

normally classified when the P-QRS complex exceeds 200ms, mine is 218ms.

Previous readings were close to 200ms. I also have to have a 3 monthly

check on potassium levels as the Irbesartan can increase the amount present

in the blood. First degree heart block can have no clinical significance

and some really healthy athletes have the condition. I am not aware of it

and now my BP is as should be, I feel fine.

Best regards to all and in case I don't write again before the holiday may

I be one of the first to wish you all a Merry Christmas.

Tim

Kent UK. 56. Flecainide 100mg *2, 150mg Irbesartan, Salmon Oil 2000mg,

Magnesium Oxide 166% RDA, occasional Zoton and 300mg Aspirin.

[Guest guest]

This post has already been sent but seems to have been lost. Sorry if

it's a repeat.

It has also been some time since I wrote to the group, but I am always

lurking.

I also take Flecainide and have done now for about 2 years (100mg

bid). The only side effect suffered is the odd visual 'slowmo' mainly

in the evening or in a dark environment about 1 hour after taking the

Flec. I recently went to see my Cardio for a check-up mainly because I

was suffering from very high blood pressure mainly during the

afternoon. This had reached 200/110 and was to say the least worrying.

I now take Irbesartan (Avapro) and this has returned my BP to normal

(125/72). This is an interesting drug when you look to see how it

functions. Initially my GP put me on Atenalol and although I told him

at the time that 100mg seemed a bit high as the Flecainide was already

reducing my heartbeat to the low 40's, I started taking 25mg. This

reduced my heart rate to the high 30's and made me feel very sick. My

Echo was good with a slight Mitral? valve leak but the ECG shows first

degree heart block. This had not shown up before but looking back at

past ECG results, it was marginal. First degree heart block is

normally classified when the P-QRS complex exceeds 200ms, mine is

218ms. Previous readings were close to 200ms. I also have to have a 3

monthly check on potassium levels as the Irbesartan can increase the

amount present in the blood. First degree heart block can have no

clinical significance and some really healthy athletes have the

condition. I am not aware of it and now my BP is as should be, I feel

fine.

Best regards to all and in case I don't write again before the

holiday may I be one of the first to wish you all a Merry Christmas.

Tim

Kent UK. 56. Flecainide 100mg *2, 150mg Irbesartan, Salmon Oil 2000mg,

Magnesium Oxide 166% RDA, occasional Zoton and 300mg Aspirin.