Heart Arrhythmia: Causes, Medications, and What You Need to Know

When your heart skips, races, or flutters out of rhythm, you’re dealing with heart arrhythmia, an abnormal heartbeat caused by electrical signals in the heart that don’t fire properly. Also known as irregular heartbeat, it’s not always dangerous—but when it’s linked to certain drugs, it can be. Many people don’t realize that common medications—like antidepressants, antibiotics, or even some cold remedies—can throw off your heart’s rhythm. It’s not just about age or genetics. Sometimes, it’s just one pill you started last week.

One major red flag is QT prolongation, a delay in the heart’s electrical recovery phase that can lead to dangerous rhythms like torsades de pointes. Drugs like trazodone, certain SSRIs, and even some antibiotics are known to cause this. If you’ve been told your ECG looks "a little off," don’t ignore it. It’s not just a lab result—it’s your heart’s warning signal. And if you’re on multiple meds, especially for depression, blood pressure, or thyroid issues, the risk stacks up. That’s why people on levothyroxine or warfarin need to be extra careful: their meds already require tight control, and adding something that affects heart rhythm can tip the balance.

Not every flutter is a crisis. Some arrhythmias are harmless, like occasional premature beats after coffee or stress. But if you feel dizzy, short of breath, or like your chest is pounding when you’re sitting still, that’s not normal. And if you’ve recently switched generics—say, from a brand-name drug to a cheaper version—you might be dealing with subtle changes in how your body absorbs the active ingredient. That’s why some people react differently to generic medications, especially those with a narrow therapeutic index. A tiny difference in absorption can mean the difference between control and chaos.

What you’ll find here aren’t just generic explanations. These are real stories from people who’ve been there: the woman who stopped her SSRI and got palpitations, the man whose antibiotic triggered a near-fatal rhythm, the senior who didn’t know her dizziness was linked to her blood pressure pill. We cover how to track side effects, what to ask your pharmacist, and which meds are safest when your heart is already on edge. No fluff. No scare tactics. Just what you need to stay safe—and when to push back.