posted
I stopped taking Biaxin a week ago due to liver symptoms. I have been on it about three months. While on it I didn't notice too many weird symptoms other than the horrible taste and all that.
In the past 3 days... I have had more irregular heart beats (perceived "skipped beats") than I have had in years. I couldn't figure out what was causing it and then suddenly I saw that Biaxin is known to cause some heart issues like the Long QT syndrome and all that. Is this something I might have permanently now? I am so angry that my LLMD would put me on a drug that can do this to someone.
map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Is it the biaxin that has caused the issues or is it the bacteria(s)causing the heart issues?
Might be the chicken and the egg question?
All pharma drugs come with a long list of reactions and yes can have negative results. Everyone reacts differently to each and every drug/medicine.
Exactly why all commercials for PHARMA give a long long long list of warnings during airtime. Remember an ER lasting 4 hrs means go to the emergency room.
Abx usage does come with warnings. One must overweigh the good vs the bad. Very difficult.
Why so many take the abx(s) for years and years because relapses are so bad without, they make a major decision to continued use.
I for one do look at abx as the enemy, because they did indeed turn into toxic matter to me. But that's my story.
Many others have the other side of this story....they would not be alive without long term abx tx.
Could Biaxin have caused my heart disease that wasn't uncovered until 12 yrs later? IMHO, the lyme & co all caused the damage to my body.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
I am just angry. I am sitting here for the third night in a row, coughing every 30 seconds because my heart won't stop the skipping of beats....
And I read this:
As with other macrolides, clarithromycin has been associated with QT prolongation and ventricular arrhythmias, including ventricular tachycardia and torsades de pointes.
Why would any doctor put anyone on these? I just don't get it. I am pretty sure Biaxin has ruined my heart - and caused me long QT syndrome out of nowhere. I have definitely seen an increase in the abnormal beats since stopping the medication a week ago.
My only hope is that these are simply PVCs (they are frightening and uncomfortable enough as it is) but I am hoping that this is just harmless irregular beats. I hope this subsides in a few days or weeks. I can't live like this. I am going to refuse to go back on the Biaxin when I am cleared to begin taking antibiotics again. I am so angry.
GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
For me, when I'm NOT taking abx, lyme and co bother my heart so much!
I'm not defending Biaxin, believe me, it gives me the runs.
But don't forget lyme causes QT issues, shortness of breath, heart palps, fainting.
Babesia causes shortness of breath, dry cough, enlarged liver.
Bartonella causes chest pain, enlarged spleen and enlarged liver.
There are other abx that can cause QT issues also. Can't recall them at this time but they're listed in Dr. H's new book.
Clint, I understand you are angry, and really feeling awful between the liver and the heart thing.
But please try to remain calm (easier said than done-I agree), as the anger will make the stress on your heart worse.
Also, can you contact your doc and explain the heart symptoms? It may warrant a trip to the ER.
Take care, Greta
PS. Did you stop any other meds? Sometimes stopping meds will cause heart palps.
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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posted
Yes I was told to stop all meds until the pain in my kidneys/liver subsided.
The research I am finding is absolutely jaw dropping. I've again tonight had around 100 skipped beats/pvcs/whatever they are.
Here is the latest:
According to the article, a Doctor Juha Sinisalo of Helsinki University treated 148 heart patients for 85 days with 500 mg/day of clarithromycin. Clarithromycin is a type of antibiotic called a macrolide. Over three months, 11 patients receiving the antibiotic suffered heart attacks, unstable angine or death compared to 19 in the control group. In addition, in the 1.5 years of followup, those who got antibiotics were half as likely to suffer another heart related complication.
My liver enzymes were actually lowered which is good. Now I am worried about the heart because this is not normal the last three days what I am encountering. My wife says its all anxiety but I know my body and something is very off and causing my heart to hiccup or skip a beat to the point I cough every time it happens.
My doctor/LLMD is out because of the holiday. There's no way my wife will stand for a trip to the ER so I'm probably going to just have to drop dead and deal with it. I have been treating lyme off and on since 2008 with long term ABX and nothing has made my heart do this except now Biaxin
posted
This is unbearable. Every minute my heart is hopping. It won't stop. This has been going on days and hours. I need someone to talk to. My family doesn't get it.
posted
You need to have a EKG done to see whether you have QT syndrome.
I have a supra ventricular tachycardia caused by Lyme disease. I had it long before I ever started treatment, and have been on Biaxin several times and have never developed any further heart problems from it.
My cardiologist said to me that Long QT syndrome is silent - you don't feel irregular beats. You will just have the issue and might drop dead instead. It tends to run in families.
Please see a doctor asap for an EKG - an urgent care walk in center could do one for you so you don't need to go to an ER.
Posts: 187 | From Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2013
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posted
Have you called your PCP?? At least be seen by an MD SOMEWHERE. If it were ME (and it's not), I would up my magnesium. Quality stuff, not mag oxide.
Make sure it is OK to do so if you are having kidney issues though.
I think Biaxin now affects my heart but it did not give me QT. Be careful of zithromax and any quinolones also.
Doctors have to weigh benefit and risk issues all the time. With Lyme and other serious illnesses, you have to take some risks.
Wish I could help you more, but a doctor is who you need to consult with!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
It's 10:40 AM. There is no doctor available here right now.
Tomorrow morning my wife is making us drive to New Jersey for thanksgiving to see her family. We were supposed to leave today but the weather was bad. We are leaving at 7 AM. She's not going to allow me to delay the trip to drop by the urgent care center, etc. She already thinks this is all in my head, i'm nuts, "it's always something", etc. But in my 31 years of life, I have NEVER had irregular heartbeats like this tonight and the last three days. It is the scariest thing I've ever been through.
posted
I am wondering if poor liver function lately has something to do with all this... the biaxin and my inability to clear it or metabolize it or something.... it all has to be connected somehow. I stopped the drug 7 days ago... and for the last three days my heart wont stop having these irregular PVCs. are these considered arrythmyias?
GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
Clint:
First take a deep breath.
Did you stop any other meds besides the biaxin?
Sometimes stopping other meds, like Effexor, Celexa etc will cause these flip flops.
If you are genuinely worried you should go to ER. Take a cab if your wife won't drive you.
The QT explanation above is a good one. It doesn't cause flip-flops, it's a silent disease of the heart.
In the meantime, I find when I get in a similar mindset to the one you're in-guided meditation helps my mind to refocus.
Can you find a guided meditation on youtube and do the meditation to take your mind off the flip flops?
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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posted
Any chance you can get your wife to feel your pulse? If your heart is irregular you can feel it in your pulse. You can feel the skipped beats.
I'm sorry I can't help on the phone. I have to sign off for the night.
Take some magnesium and do what you can to detox.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
go anywhere for general heart test asap. For peace of mind.
My heart damage was found at 55 and my Cardio said my damages were years aNd years oLd.
Lyme he11 started at 42 years young.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Clint, I'm sorry your wife thinks all these symptoms are all in your head. She is ssssssooooooooooo wrong.
I'm going to go find and copy here something Steve (lymenet member) posted just recently.
Your wife and family need to read it over the holidays. If they love you they will read these.
Be right back.
Great reading and you can print off a pamphlet reversion.
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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Summer3
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 35286
posted
Clint,
I have an irregular heartbeat also. At first my LLMD was scared that it was biaxin causing it. I had been on it for many months. In my case it was not. I had the heart symptom long before Biaxin and continued to have it after I stopped taking it.
Is your heart beating irregularly continuously? Or just a skipped beat here and there? I have a lot of heart symptoms, skipped beats, tachycardia, etc. I went to the ER they did nothing. I went to a cardiologist. He detected a lot of abnormal rhythms but harmless ones. A beta blocker has helped a lot.
If you are worried about long-QT go to an urgent care center or the ER and get an EKG. When I did mine at the ER it didn't take long. Although, they may take it more seriously in your situation.
I wouldn't jump to thinking it's from biaxin. Especially since you aren't taking it any longer. I do not believe (although I'm not positive) that the medication causes permanent long QT. I believe that it's something that occurs in certain people while they're taking it, and abates when biaxin is stopped.
posted
Its been five days... and the irregular beats are still going. Don't even have anxiety about it at this point. Just have to wonder what the heck is going on. Happy Thanksgiving to me. Man this all gets old.
beths
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18864
posted
Not sure..but usually biaxin can cause a longer QT interval - but the effects stop when you stop biaxin.
Posts: 1276 | From maryland | Registered: Jan 2009
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