Dr. Isaac Gana
Cardiology
The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.
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Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
I started having heart palpitations and skipped beats three years ago. I was on Lexapro at the time, and I learned that SSRIs could impair heart rhythm. I quit using Lexapro and have been seeing Psychiatrists find a medication that works for me. Now, I am on Zoloft 50 mg and still have skipped heartbeats. I think it is time to end the SSRI, as it appears that they all have this detrimental effect on heart rhythm. I went to three well-known cardiologists in my country, all of whom affirmed that I have no cardiac problems. Currently, I am taking Zoloft 50 mg, Crestor 10 mg, and Nexium 40 mg. I value your suggestions and recommendations. Please guide.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
Sorry to hear about your challenges. Often, people develop a notion that they suffer from heart diseases because of their experiences with palpitations and skipping a beat. But rarely, that is not the case. Most of the time, they are not due to heart issues but benign causes. Very commonly, anxiety can worsen them. I have gone through the investigations you uploaded (attachments removed to protect the patient's identity), and the results are good. Do you have a history of heart disease in your family? Any history of hypertension? Regards.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you for your response. There is no family history of heart disease. And I guess we have some family members with hypertension. However, I did like to hear your thoughts on the effect of SSRIs on heart rhythm since what truly disturbs me is the skipped beats or the PVCs. My pulse is usually regular, but my heart skips a beat every few minutes or so. As I mentioned, I did all the tests and visited three cardiologists; all of them confirmed what you just mentioned; everything is normal. They also mentioned to me that SSRIs like Zoloft could cause abnormal heartbeat. I am eager to hear your thoughts.
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Yes, many patients in the past that have used Zoloft had reported issues with palpitations. As time passes, the palpitations reduce, but if it does not, you should get an alternative. Best regards.
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Cardiology
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