psychotropic drugs do affect the hearts QT interval which can cause a risk for heart

[pokey]

Lisa- I am curious to know more about your statement, to paraphrase, the drug you were taking lengthened your QT interval and thus caused you MVP to worsen.

I am curious becuase I have MVP that I have known about for 30+ years. In 12/2005 I had a followup echo and my mild mitral valve regurgitation had increased to moderate-severe. I have had multiple stress echos, TEEs, a heart cath and cardiac MRI. I can go 12 minutes ona treadmill and have never been told I had any QRS, S-T segment or QT irregularities. I have occasional palps. I have always wondered why my MVP has advanced to the point of likely needing valve surgery some day. My cardiologist explained it mostly due to genetics and myxotomous degeneration. However, I have been on Doxepin, a TCA for a long time. I am curretnly tapering off of it. For most of the time I have been on it I have been on a low to moderate dose, 25-100mgs. I know TCAs can be cardio-toxic in high doses. Anyway, not that it will do any good now, if there is any connection between the doxepin and the advanced MVP.

Also, you sound quite knowledgable about this. Are you a medical professional or have a biomedical background like I do. Just curious. Thanks. Pokey

[StolenSoul]

This problem seems to be related to a condition called
Torsades de pointes Wikipedia

[DuhMentia]

Well this explains things, well sorta. I'm not sure if I am having problems with the QT interval or not but I am definitely having issues with my heart. Cymbalta was the medication I've been on the most over the last seven years and I was experiencing this heart issue even when I was on it alone and it continued when I got off of everything. What my heart would do is it will start beating rapidly for no reason. I could be laying in bed perfectly calm or sitting down and next thing I know my heart is beating so hard and fast that my heart starts to get that feeling that you get in other muscles that you have overworked. You get that sore, cramped, lactic acid build up burning feeling. It was so bad one time that I thought I was having a heart attack. My arms and face were going numb and tingly and stiff, especially on the left side and that's what made me think heart attack. I went to the hospital and the doctor (well physicians assistant) was saying "oh it's just a panic attack". And he continued to speak to me in a patronizing and condescending manner. This was the same doctor that I had been going in circles with trying to explain all the memory and cognitive issues. This was the straw that broke the camels back. I snapped on him and cursed him out and despite still feeling the way I did I got up and left. I went home and took an aspirin and spent the rest of the day in that condition.

[scotty]

If you had any QT interval problems, it would be obvious on an EKG. What you are describing is more panic like than cardiac, which is the more likely culprit.