Irregular EKG and medication

[happily single]

Easter Sunday my ds10 was hospitalized for lithium toxicity, which resolved. However, several ekg's have revealed what his dr is calling a "pause". These ekg's were conducted on seperate ekg machines, so I'm sure it's not the machine. The test results have been sent to a cardiologist and we should be hearing back anytime now, but of course I'm a nervous wreck. He is currently hospitalized for his austim and is being closely watched, so I feel better with that, but the doc's are "medical" doc's and don't have all the answers.

Has anyone ever experienced a pause on an ekg? The doctor said it was most likely caused by his meds, but they aren't changing the meds yet.

 

[LauraVV]

Easter Sunday my ds10 was hospitalized for lithium toxicity, which resolved. However, several ekg's have revealed what his dr is calling a "pause". These ekg's were conducted on seperate ekg machines, so I'm sure it's not the machine. The test results have been sent to a cardiologist and we should be hearing back anytime now, but of course I'm a nervous wreck. He is currently hospitalized for his austim and is being closely watched, so I feel better with that, but the doc's are "medical" doc's and don't have all the answers.

Has anyone ever experienced a pause on an ekg? The doctor said it was most likely caused by his meds, but they aren't changing the meds yet.

I would ask the doc to tell you exactly what type of rhythm problem was found.

Lithium is not recommended for children under age 12.

http://www.drugs.com/pro/lithium.html
"Pediatric Use: Since information regarding the safety and effectiveness of Lithium carbonate in children under 12 years of age is not available, its use in such patients is not recommended."

Side effects listed
"Cardiovascular – cardiac arrhythmia, hypotension, peripheral circulatory collapse, bradycardia, sinus node dysfunction with severe bradycardia (which may result in syncope)"

 

[wdwdreamingdcj]

Lithium does have the side effect of causing abnormal EKG's. But EKG's can are set up to read for adults so they are sent to pediatric cardiologist (at least where I used to work) for an actually read. I don't know what other medications your son is on may want to check out drugdigest.com to see if interactions. Yes pharm is supposed to monitor for this but it can be missed. Good Luck!

 

[happily single]

Thanks for the reply. He has had 2-3 EKG's since being off of lithium and they all have "High QRS" so we are going to his own personal cardiologist next week.

 

[wdwdreamingdcj]

Hope all turns out well. Just being nosy wondering if Lithium was being used to treat Out burst related to autism? I only ask because last I knew drug of choice was Risperdal. Good Luck!!!

 

[happily single]

Joe has numerous diagnosis, PDD being one of them. I was very very resistant to using Lithium, Depokote or the like. He had one dose of Risperdal when he was very young and I didn't like the way it made him look (scared to death). Just within the past 2 weeks I agreed to try Rispederal again since he is in a hospital setting and they closely monitor him. All seems well.

We did go to see his cardiologist on Monday who agreed that the 2 EKG's within the past few weeks are abnormal, but no different from the ones she has been completing since 2003-I never knew they were abnormal then.

So Saturday we go for an echo. Sorry to go on. Feel free to ask any other questions

 

[wdwdreamingdcj]

I am glad your cardiologist is looking into it. Its hard when you're working with kids because the diagnosis can be hard to nail down as well as the right medications. My thoughts are with you.