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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffTreatment for inherited long QT syndrome can involve medications, medical devices, surgery or lifestyle changes. The goal of treatment is either to prevent the long QT heart from ever beating out of control or to prevent sudden death.
It's often possible to eliminate drug-induced long QT syndrome simply by switching medications, with your doctor's direction. Some people, however, may need additional treatment.
Medications
Medications used to treat long QT syndrome include:
- Beta blockers. Examples of this heart drug include nadolol (Corgard) and propranolol (Inderal). These drugs slow the heart rate and prevent the dangerously fast heartbeats that can come about in times of stress, fear or exertion for people with long QT syndrome.
- Potassium. Potassium is a mineral in your body, derived from your diet, that's important for the health of your heart's electrical system. Potassium supplements may improve the heart's recharging system and may be helpful for people with certain forms of long QT syndrome.
Your doctor may suggest treatment for long QT syndrome even if you don't experience frequent signs or symptoms of the disorder.
If you do need treatment, take the medications your doctor prescribes for long QT syndrome as directed. While medications won't cure the condition, they provide some protection against potentially fatal disruptions of your heart rhythm. You may need to take a medication such as a beta blocker indefinitely.
Medical devices and surgical procedures
Your doctor may consider two other treatments for you:
- A pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). These devices can monitor for and, if necessary, stop a potentially fatal arrhythmia. Each device is implanted under the skin of your chest and will correct your heart's rhythm if it detects a disrupted heart rhythm.
- Left-sided sympathetic denervation surgery. In this procedure, specific nerves in your chest are surgically cut. These nerves are part of the body's sympathetic nervous system, which controls automatic functions in the body including regulation of heart rhythm. This surgery is generally reserved for people considered at high risk of sudden death.
Lifestyle changes
In addition to medications or surgery, your doctor will likely recommend lifestyle changes to reduce your symptoms. These could include avoiding strenuous exercise or contact sports, reducing loud, startling noises, and staying away from situations that could make you excited or angry.
If your symptoms are mild or don't occur very often, your doctor may recommend only lifestyle changes as treatment for your condition.
