Usefulness of paroxetine in depressed men with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
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.
Shirayama
Takeshi
T
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. sirayama@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp
Sakamoto
Takashi
T
Sakatani
Tomohiko
T
Mani
Hiroki
H
Yamamoto
Taku
T
Matsubara
Hiroaki
H
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*
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D017374:Paroxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors