ENGLISH ABSTRACT
JOURNAL ARTICLE
REVIEW
Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

[Lengthening of QT interval by antipsychotic drugs].

Der Nervenarzt 2006 March
Prolongation of myocardial repolarisation, i.e. lengthening of the QT interval on surface electrocardiogram, has been recognised as a side effect of many drugs, including antipsychotics. In predisposed individuals, abnormal excessive QT prolongation and severe ventricular arrhythmias (the ventricular tachycardia type 'torsade de pointes', or TdP) may occur. In almost all cases, additional factors are present that increase the propensity of patients to develop TdP, such as serum hypokalemia, the combination of drugs prolonging repolarisation, overdosing, intoxication, and factors interfering with drug metabolism and excretion. Serum hypokalemia and/or bradycardia may induce TdP alone, in the absence of drugs prolonging the QT interval. Experimental studies demonstrate that prolongation of myocardial repolarisation is a class effect of neuroleptics. Clinically, the extent to which individual drugs prolong the QT interval varies. Among the antipsychotics, thioridazine has the greatest propensity to induce abnormal QT prolongations and TdP. Case reports of TdP with other antipsychotics have been published. Physicians prescribing physicians these drugs must be aware that they can induce proarrhythmia in individual cases. They should also be aware of the circumstances which are necessary for abnormal QT prolongation and TdP to develop. Patients should be monitored with regard to these risk factors before and during drug treatment.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app