title: Sulpiride induced torsade de pointes.
abstract: Antipsychotic agents are known to be associated with a long QT interval and torsade de pointes. We report a 69 year old female who suffered from a syncopal attack at a psychiatric hospital and was referred to our center. Torsade de pointes with a long QT interval (QTc=680 ms) was observed on the 12 lead ECG in the emergency department and intensive care unit. A careful drug history revealed that sulpiride was the culprit agent. After stopping the medication, the QT interval returned to normal (420 ms). The patients taking sulpiride should be closely monitored, especially when it is used in combination with other antidepressant agents.
authors.forename: Bien-Hsien
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chih-Ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Hsia
authors.forename: Chung-Yin
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016171:Torsades de Pointes / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D013469:Sulpiride