Pharmacopsychiatry 2007; 40(6): 294-295
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-992147
Letter

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Torsade de Pointes during Combined Treatment with Risperidone and Citalopram

D. Blaschke 1 , A. S. Parwani 1 , M. Huemer 1 , S. Rolf 1 , L.-H. Boldt 1 , R. Dietz 1 , W. Haverkamp 1
  • 1Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Medizinische Klinik mit Schwerpunkt Kardiologie, Berlin, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

received 27.11.2006 revised 19.07.2007

accepted 23.07.2007

Publication Date:
21 November 2007 (online)

Introduction

Drug-induced long QT syndrome may be associated with potentially life-threatening arrhythmias of the torsade de pointes (TDP) type. Several drugs have been demonstrated to be potentially associated with abnormal QT prolongation and TDP, particularly antiarrhythmic drugs such as quinidine, propafenone, and procainamide, some antimicrobial and antimalarial drugs like erythromycin, cotrimoxazole, chloroquine, several psychotropic agents, e.g., tricyclic antidepressants and antipsychotics [2] [3]. Factors that increase the risk for TDP include hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, bradycardia, female gender, left ventricular hypertrophy, and heart failure. Furthermore, increased drug plasma concentrations resulting from drug interactions, renal or liver insufficiency leading to drug accumulation, overdosing and/or intoxication also significantly increase the risk [2]. We report the case of a woman with abnormal QT prolongation and TDP induced by a combination of risperidone and citalopram.

References

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  • 6 Ravina T, Ravina P, Gutierrrez J. Acquired long QT syndrome: Risperidone-facilitated triggered activity and Torsades de Pointes during complete AV block.  I. Int J Cardiol. 2006;  25 , [Epub ahead of print]

Correspondence

Dr. med. D. Blaschke

Charité- Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Campus Virchow-Klinikum

Medizinische Klinik mit Schwerpunkt Kardiologie

Augustenburger Platz 1

13353 Berlin

Germany

Phone: +49/30/450 653 366

Fax: +49/30/450 553 957

Email: daniela.blaschke@charite.de