Qtc and amniodarone what does it all mean

[Mrsjonesgilbert]

On report I was told that the morning dose of Amnio po was held because the qtc was elevated. An EKG was ordered and done. (NSR) I calculated the qtc to be 0.49

The patient was scheduled to have another dose of Amnio at noon. I informed the nurse practioner and she d/c ed the Amnio because a high qtc is 0.50

The patient was also on Metropolol. Why didn't she d/c that too?

Dose only anti-arryhmia affect the qtc and what does it do?. I tryed to google it but the language was too confusing for me. I'm glad I had this patient because now I will always calculate the Qtc, something I am not use to doing.

[AgentBeast, MSN, RN]

The longer the QT interval (or the QTc which is the QT interval corrected for heart rate) gets the greater the risk of R on T phenomenon which can lead to Torsades de Pointes. Many medication can prolong the QT interval, such has Haldol, methadone, sotalol, Tikosyn, amiodarone and several others all lengthen the QT interval. Metoprolol on the other hand doesn't lengthen the QT interval and is actually the treatment of choice for folks with a long QT interval to prevent stress induced arrhythmias.

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

scott knocked it out of the park

[Mrsjonesgilbert]

Thank you so much

[Mrsjonesgilbert]

Wait a minute, Scott you said sotolol can also affect the Qtc. But sotolol is a beta blocker just like metropolol. Can you clarify?

[Mrsjonesgilbert]

Hi Scott can you reply to my post below I have another question for you. Thanks

[AgentBeast, MSN, RN]

Not all medications within the same general classification are created equal. For example carvedilol and labetalol in addition to their beta blocking effect also exert an alpha blocking effect. Sotalol is primarily a Class III antiarrhythmic (potassium channel blocker) drug that also has some Class II (beta blocking) effects. Metoprolol specifically blocks beta 1 adrenergic receptors and doesn't really do anything else.