title: Effects of psychotropic medications on the pediatric electrocardiogram and recommendations for monitoring.
abstract: Reports of sudden unexpected death in pediatric patients taking selected psychotropic drugs have raised the possibility of ventricular dysrhythmias as the cause of these deaths. The use of psychotropic drugs in the pediatric population has increased significantly in recent years with increasing reports of electrocardiogram abnormalities, particularly prolongation of the corrected QT interval. Many factors affect the susceptibility of the heart to conduction abnormalities and sudden ventricular dysrhythmias in pediatric patients taking psychotropic drugs. These complex relations include genetic predisposition, structural cardiac disease, drug-drug interactions, drug dosage, and drug metabolism and clearance. Many specific psychotropic drugs have been reported to prolong the QTc interval and increase the risk of ventricular dysrhythmias and sudden death. This article discusses the various factors that may influence the electrocardiogram in pediatric patients taking psychotropic drugs and recommendations for monitoring these patients.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Janet Weis Children's Hospital, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pennsylvania 17822, USA. pfrancis@geisinger.edu
authors: Paul D
authors: PD
authors: Francis
mesh_terms: D018663:Adrenergic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism; D004347:Drug Interactions; D062787:Drug Overdose; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D018754:Ventricular Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D018663:Adrenergic Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System