Sick sinus syndrome aggravated by carbamazepine therapy for epilepsy.
A case of sick sinus syndrome aggravated by carbamazepine prescribed for epilepsy is described. A 70 year old woman with previously stable psychomotor epilepsy experienced syncope of increased frequency after her anticonvulsant was changed to carbamazepine. ECG monitoring confirmed a severe sick sinus syndrome which improved on carbamazepine withdrawal. Failure to distinguish carbamazepine-induced cardiac syncope from epileptic attacks may lead to an increase in dosage and aggravation of syncope.
D000368:Aged; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012804:Sick Sinus Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced*
D002220:Carbamazepine