Tequin

[mtlieb]

Hi All,

My PCP gave me some samples of Tequin 400mg today to see if we can hold this infection at bay until i have the second sinus surgery. Tequin is one of the fluoroquinolone antibiotics.

As always i did some internet research to see if there were any reasons why i shouldn't take it, and the only dangerous drug interaction listed was with Betapace. I'm on Atenolol so i guess i'm okay, but it's still a beta blocker, and so is Betapace right? Also, the Tequin literature warns against taking it if you have QTc prolongation, and that sounds kinda familiar, like i've seen that on one of my test results. Is this common with HCM?

Anyway, i took the darn pill, and my heart is beating like it's going to jump out of my chest, but just about any antibiotic tends to do that to me so i'm not going to get very excited about it right now. At this point i'm willing to make some trade-offs anyway if at least one problem gets taken care of ;)

Any thoughts on Tequin and HCM and/or beta blockers?

Thanks,

Jim

[Cynaburst]

Hi Jim,

Betapace is an anti-arrythmic as well as a beta blocker. It is a super-charged beta blocker, and is basically much stronger than the regular beta blocker that you (and I, actually also) take. It is like 2 kinds of medicine in one.

Long QT is a type of arrythmia that itself can cause sudden death. It can degenerate into torsades des pointes and kill you. Basically, it is another type of hereditary condition that causes sudden cardiac death. As far as I know, people with HCM don't have a long QT interval as well. We just get garden variety a fib, v tach and v fib (which isn't good either, just different.) I wouldn't worry about it too much as long as you feel ok with the drugs. I personally fainted after taking Levaquin once and wouldn't ever take another quinolone, but that's me.

How are you feeling otherwise? I read your post the other day, and feel terrible that you aren't getting more answers. As far as I can tell, neurologists don't do anything unless you are dying. That's my own experience with them. My cardiologists are so much better....

Good luck,

Cynthia

[Linda]

Jim, Long QT Syndrome is a separate condition as Cynthia says, but many of the heart meds can prolong the QT interval. If this happens, the same risk exists for that person. Torsades des pointes is a form of Ventricular tach. Yes, V tach takes different forms and requires individual treatments. Betapace is one of those meds, so you've seen the warning. Betapace is very different from Atenolol, as Cynthia notes. Call your cardiologist today, check with your pharmacist, and make sure the ENT doc is aware of your heart condition and other meds. If you don't feel right after taking the med, don't take a chance. This is serious business, make sure it's not a serious problem for you.

EP Laurie, are you still reading the message board? Haven't heard from you in a while. Do you have anything to add? Thanks, Linda

[Lisa Salberg]

Ditto to Lindas posting
Lisa

[BigHeart]

I found a similar problem with the antibiotic Levaquin (Levofloxacin) which can also increase the QT interval.
Two drugstores did not find an interaction in their databases, but several of my own drug interaction programs showed a class one possible fatal interaction. My doctor took this seriously and after further research, told me not to take Norpace at the same time as Levaquin.