Fatal cardiac arrhythmia after oral sumatriptan.
Typically, 3% to 5% of patients experience sensations of heaviness, pressure, and tightness in the chest after administration of sumatriptan, but there is little ECG evidence of ischemia. The serious cardiovascular incidents after consuming sumatriptan have been associated mostly with the subcutaneous dosage form of this drug and with patients with underlying cardiovascular risk factors. We report a case of fatal cardiac arrhythmia in an otherwise perfectly healthy patient with migraine after consuming a single 100-mg dose of oral sumatriptan.
Laine
K
K
Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland.
Raasakka
T
T
Mäntynen
J
J
Saukko
P
P
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018170:Sumatriptan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis
D018170:Sumatriptan