ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUGS AND THE RISK OF SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH

Year 2017, Volume: Volume 2 Issue: İssue 1 (1) - 2.İnternational Congress Of Forensic Toxicology, 167 - 167, 16.02.2017

Merve Demırbugen H. Sinan Süzen

Abstract

Recent pharmaco epidemiological
studies have previously demonstrated that, mortality rate in psychiatric
patients is higher than the general population. The group of antipsychotic
drugs which is a cornerstone in the treatment of psychotic patients, have been
associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD). One potential mechanism underlying
this adverse effect is the blockade of cardiac potassium channels. This
blockade which is the result of the antipsychotic medication, prolongs the QT
interval, increases the risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmia and affects the
cardiac rhythm adversely which may ultimately lead to cardiac arrest.

These SCDs
commonly result from arrhythmias in the presence of risk factors such as gender
(women), physiopathological conditions (in cases of pre-existing congenital
cardiopathies) and other therapeutics (drug interactions and/or overdose).
Beside this, some psychotropic drugs may be a direct cause of cardiac lesions
leading to SCD. 

Since it has
been suggested that major part of sudden deaths in psychiatric patients have a
cardiac origin, the aim of this review is to describe the risk of SCD related
to use of antipsychotic drugs, potential mechanisms in the occurrence of SCD,
patient specific and genetic risk factors and to compare the risk of SCD
associated with the use of different agents of antipsychotic drugs.

Keywords

ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUGS AND THE RISK OF SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH

References

• Merve DEMIRBUGEN, H. Sinan SÜZEN
• Ankara University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology Ankara, TURKEY