Posted by psychobot5000 on August 24, 2013, at 13:39:43
In reply to Re: Viibryd (vilazodone) - What is the Verdict?, posted by nerdmom1959 on August 24, 2013, at 12:51:22
Hi,
I'm aware of QT problems with antidepressants--had a number of EKGs myself for that reason. I still think that, well, I don't know what your history is, but just because one drug in a class gives you a side-effect for which that class is known, doesn't mean all the others will. Maybe you're doing well enough you don't need to worry about this, but unless you've already tried one or two more SSRIs at least and found that they mess with your heart rhythm unacceptably, it seems to me it still might be worth a try. You never know until you try. Maybe in this case, it could be as simple as taking a single dose, reading a magazine for an hour for it to penetrate into the blood-stream, then going and getting another EKG. An experienced technician (or the machine) might be able to tell you right there whether you're getting long Q-T again. Just a thought, since you're lucky enough to have a medication that actually did work for you quite well (I'm not fan of SSRIs in general--they give me many other nasty side-effects). Obviously, you'd be trying something other than Celexa, since that's almost the same drug as before, but you probably knew that.
All the best. Apologies if I'm meddling. I just wanted to throw the idea out there.
PB> Sadly, all of the SSRIs, tricyclics and mirtazapine can exacerbate long QT in susceptible individuals. My QT was elongated and I was only on 5 mg of Lexapro (not even considered a "therapeutic dose" but I am a very small person and Viibryd is the only AD that I've taken at what is considered therapeutic for an adult).
>
> I do take clonazepam before going to bed on work nights because I tend to wake up in mid-thought if I don't. Because poor sleep will only make the situation worse (and I don't use it on weekends and only during this "crisis"), I'm willing to take it on this very controlled basis.
>
> The issue of meds that affect QT even in folks who do not have congenital long QT is relatively new, and in some folks it is the combination of some drugs that will set it off. The site is excellent for the latest on long QT and drugs:
>
> http://www.crediblemeds.org/everyone/composite-list-all-qtdrugs/
>
> Thanks for your kind words.
poster:psychobot5000
thread:1012278
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20130730/msgs/1049613.html