title: [Bradycardia factitia].
abstract: Repeated intake of 240-400 mg non-retard verapamil by a 26-year-old male nurse brought about interference dissociation resulting from extreme sinus bradycardia, passive AV nodal rhythm and hypotension. Because of a history of myocarditis a recurrence was suspected and an organic cause of the arrhythmia assumed at first, until its self-inflicted origin was discovered. The case demonstrates the need to consider self-medication, even if at first denied, in the differential diagnosis of arrhythmias even in the absence initially of any clear-cut pointers towards it.
authors.affiliation: Kardiologische Klinik, Herzzentrum Nordrhein-Westfalen, Bad Oeynhausen.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eckert
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Mertens
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mannebach
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gleichmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005162:Factitious Disorders; D006327:Heart Block / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D014700:Verapamil / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D014700:Verapamil
vernacular_title: Bradycardia factitia.