Prolonged QT interval on ECG before starting antipsychotics, anyone experienced this?

[PurpleLovecats]

Has anyone had a prolonged QT interval on an ECG and did you find out why?

Also got sinus tachycardia And abnormal depolarisation if that’s relevant.

ECG was requested prior to dispensing antipsychotics

I have a prolonged QT interval, due to Long QT syndrome, discovered after my child was born with it and my family had genetic testing.
Turns out there’s a 50/50 spread throughout our family.
Erythromycin can prolong the QT interval, so can many other medications.
I keep an app - credible meds on my phone to check for interactions but I rarely buy anything over the counter.
What do you want to know? I will help if I can.

I guess I’m worried they won’t prescribe the medication I need due to the diagnosis.

They can look for alternative medications. This has to be taken very seriously as certain medications can be life threatening for people with Long QT. Your psychiatrist can liaise with cardiology for advice.

Thank you, that’s very helpful.

Prolonged QT syndrome is a common side effect in some medications they are typically ones that have been around longer. For the most part newer medications won't get approved with this risk factor so it might reduce the number of medication options available to you or it might need extra monitoring. I have worked in early drug discovery and we now have to screen for prolonged QT early in the development process which didn't use to be the case.

Thank you for explaining x

Having a long QT interval does not always mean you have a long QT syndrome - it can be due to pretty simple things like electrolytes being a bit wonky/other medications or medical problems….lots of which are correctable. If the psych team aren’t sure what’s going on they’ll be able to discuss it with cardiologists who’ll be able to advise whether it looks like something that’s likely to remain a problem or something that’s more likely to be fixable and help them come up with a sensible plan.

Thanks. My gp surgery don’t seem worried about it although looking in my notes it has been present at my last few ecgs but I’ve never been referred to cardiology.
Will have to see what the psych thinks.

Is it the QT or the cQT - makes a difference to how interesting it is.

Just says QT

I had a long qt interval on an ecg, and 3 immediate family members have had cardiac arrests before. I had some repeated ecgs at the hospital, they were fine so I got a letter back saying maybe long qt but as only once and no one in family diagnosed not diagnosed. Never had any issues since

Oh that’s interesting, so have subsequent ecgs been normal? I’ve just looked through mine and it’s been there for a few now.

Yeah only once