title: Psychotropics and sudden cardiac death.
abstract: Over the past two decades there has been a large increase in the number of patients prescribed psychotropic medications. Many of these agents are associated with QTc prolongation which is considered a marker for increased risk of sudden cardiac death due to malignant arrhythmias such as Torsades de pointes (TdP). Psychotropics rarely lead to sudden death in healthy individuals on a single QTc prolonging medication. However, factors such polypharmacy, recent initiation of a QTc prolonging medication, bradycardia, electrolyte abnormalities and preexisting arrhythmias increase the likelihood of psychotropic-induced sudden cardiac death. Therefore, clinicians must recognize which psychotropics and risk factors are associated with increased risk in order to minimize the risks of psychotropic QTc prolongation.
authors: Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island; Instructor in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Senior Pharmacist Specialist, Cambridge Health Alliance.
authors: Jessica L
authors: JL
authors: Gören
authors: Tuan Anh
authors: TA
authors: Dinh
mesh_terms: D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
keywords: QT; Torsades; arrhythmia; cardiac; psychotropic; side effect