title: Usefulness of paroxetine in depressed men with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
abstract: The occurrence and the duration of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) are influenced by vagal tone. Paroxetine, an antidepressant, can modulate vagal tone at the level of the mid-brain and inhibit the vasovagal reflex. In this study, oral paroxetine 10 mg/day was administered to patients with multidrug-resistant paroxysmal AF. Nine consecutive men responded favorably to the drug. In 3 patients, AF resolved completely. One patient could not tolerate the drug because of nausea and nervousness. These preliminary results suggest that paroxetine could be a choice in the pharmacologic treatment of paroxysmal AF.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. sirayama@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shirayama
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Tomohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakatani
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mani
authors.forename: Taku
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsubara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D017374:Paroxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors