Dr John M

cardiac electrophysiologist, cyclist, learner

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Antibiotics and the heart — Think hard

January 27, 2015 By Dr John

Screen Shot 2015-01-27 at 5.31.03 AMMy colleague and friend Dr. Melissa Walton-Shirley wrote a nice review article on antibiotics and cardiac issues over at theHeart.org.

It is worth a look. MWS is a heck of writer. Although she is writing to doctors, the issues she raises about antibiotics are relevant to everyone.

I recently reviewed a case in which a serious cardiac rhythm problem occurred in a patient given multiple medications, including an antibiotic.

In our current culture of pills-for-everything, even, “pre-diseases,” drug interactions and adverse effects have never been more important.

Neither patients nor doctors can know all these possible interactions, instead it is important to know that drugs do not come free.

Antibiotics, for instance, do more than just kill bad bacteria. They kill gut flora–the good bacteria; they affect the metabolism and absorption of other pills, and some antibiotics can alter electrical activity of the heart–your only heart.

Think hard about taking or prescribing pills. Use your smartphone apps. Enroll the pharmacist as a consultant.

Think.

JMM

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Related posts:

  1. Sudden death and a common antibiotic
  2. Five lessons from the Niacin failure
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  4. How safe is a Z-pak?

Filed Under: Doctoring, Healthy Living Tagged With: Antibiotics, drug interactions

John Mandrola, MD

Welcome, Enjoy, Interact. john-mandrola I am a cardiac electrophysiologist practicing in Louisville KY. I am also a husband to a palliative care doctor, a father, a bike racer, and a regular columnist at theHeart.org | Medscape

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For patients...Educational posts

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  • AF ablation — 2015 A Cautionary Note
  • AF Ablation in 2012–An easier journey?
  • Atrial Flutter — 15 facts you may want to know.
  • Benign PVCs: A heart rhythm doctor’s approach.
  • Caution with early Cardioversion
  • Decisions of 2 low-risk cases of PAF
  • Defining success in AF ablation in 2014
  • Four commonly asked questions on AF ablation
  • Inflammation and AF — Get off the gas
  • Ten things to expect after AF ablation
  • The medical decsion as a gamble
  • The most important verb in our health crisis
  • Wellness Requires Ownership

 

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