title: QT Prolongation and delayed atrioventricular conduction caused by acute ingestion of trazodone.
abstract: Trazodone possesses minimal anticholinergic properties and, therefore, is generally regarded as having less cardiotoxic potential than other antidepressants. This report describes a young woman who developed significant QT prolongation and delayed atrioventricular nodal conduction after acute trazodone overdose. The case adds to the existing literature because it has a number of strengths, namely that confounding drugs and alcohol were lacking, trazodone exposure was confirmed by drug assay, and early presentation to hospital gave a valuable opportunity to study the time-course of the cardiac effects. This case reminds us to consider the possibility of cardiotoxic effects after trazodone overdose, even in young patients with no established cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Scottish Poisons Information Bureau, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Service
authors.forename: W Stephen
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Waring
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000506:poisoning*; D001283:Atrioventricular Node / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D062787:Drug Overdose; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D014196:Trazodone / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D014196:Trazodone