Have any of you folks had periodic EKG's done while on Zithromax or another Macrolide abx?
It seems that there is a possibility (thought to be rare)of Zith and the macrolides in general, causing disturbances in the QT QTc interval.
Anyone with experience, knowledge?
thank you, Feelfit
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I had an EKG before beginning treatment, but that was the only one I had.
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
Yup, me too Six. Years back when I had a stress test they mentioned something about my QT but whatever it was they said it was common in female athletes?
Just wondering if I should start getting periodic EKG's while on Zith. Wantabe has a post about this...sort of.
Anyone else?
Posted by wantabe (Member # 14703) on :
feelingfit- Thought I would share my pm with all about EKG and Zith. ------------------------------------------------- All I know is what my LLMD has said and prescribed, so I'll share my bit of knowledge...
I was taking 300 mg of Cefdinir twice a day.LLMD added Zithromax 250mg. twice a day on top of the Cefdinir. She ran an EKG in her office to get a baseline and ordered weekly EKG to check the QT/QTc reading.(I haven't a clue what this is)
If it went over 440 I was to decrease Zith. My 3rd EKG was 442 and she decreased Zith to only taking 250mg once one day and on the other day twice like prescribed. 4th EKG was 437. I'm not sure what my baseline was, plan to ask...
Not sure if this is ordered because of the combination of drugs or other concerns, just glad she is being careful! ------------------------------------------------- After talking with my doctor today, she has decided to pulse my Zith 5 days on 5 days off because of extreme herxing. I asked if I needed to continue EKG's and she said no- the decreased dosage would not need to be watched.
wantabe
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
thank you wantabe
looks like no one else is interested or familiar w/ this? I know that lots of folks here have been on Zith......
Any experiences?
Posted by jagb09 (Member # 14713) on :
When the heart beats, it generates an electrical current.
To measure how well the heart is performing, a tracing of the electrical currents is done.
This is called an EKG. One "beat" consists of a P, QRS, T.
The P shows atrial depolarization of the SA node ( the head honcho in directing the heart).
The QRS complex shows ventricular depolarization.
The T shows ventricular repolarization.
The Q-T interval shows how much time it takes for both ventricular depolarization and repolarization to occur.
Abnormalities in this can indicate arrhythmias.
With Zithromax, in rare instances arrhythmias, high blood pressure and a prolonged Q-T interval have been seen.
Most likely this is what your LLMD was concerned about especially if you might already have cardiac damage from the Lyme Disease.
My LLMD suggested I get one too but only b/c I am on Adderall for ADD which can interfere with the heart, he did not say anything about getting one b/c of the Zithromax