Cardiac abnormalities in poisoning with tricyclic antidepressants.
Of 80 consecutive admissions to a general hospital for drug overdose, 10 had taken one or other of the tricyclic antidepressants. All 10 had abnormalities of cardiac conduction as shown by prolonged Q-T(e) intervals, and eight had S-T segment and T-wave changes. Five of the 10 patients had arrhythmias and two of these died. Continuous electrocardiographic monitoring is recommended in patients with overdosage of tricyclic antidepressants.
D000328:Adult; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000506:poisoning; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000506:poisoning*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced; D003891:Desipramine / Q000506:poisoning; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007099:Imipramine / Q000506:poisoning; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000506:poisoning
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000639:Amitriptyline; D009661:Nortriptyline; D007099:Imipramine; D003891:Desipramine