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Cardiac Effects of Different Tricyclic Antidepressant Drugs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

G. D. Burrows ,
J. Vohra ,
D. Hunt ,
J. G. Sloman ,
B. A. Scoggins  and
Brian Davies
G. D. Burrows
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050
J. Vohra
Affiliation:
Department of Cardiology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050
D. Hunt
Affiliation:
Department of Cardiology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050
J. G. Sloman
Affiliation:
Department of Cardiology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050
B. A. Scoggins
Affiliation:
Howard Florey Institute of Experimental Physiology and Medical Research, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052
Brian Davies
Affiliation:
University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050, Australia
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Summary

The effects of tricyclic antidepressants on the heart are reviewed. Statistically significant increases in heart rate and in atrioventricular conduction times were found following the administration of tricyclic drugs to 32 depressed patients. The method of His bundle electrocardiography was used to study atrioventricular conduction in ambulant patients and in patients admitted after an overdose of tricyclic antidepressant drugs. Distal conduction defects were frequently found in patients following tricyclic overdosage, but these were not seen with doxepin overdosage. Impaired distal conduction was also found in occasional patients on therapeutic doses of tricyclic drugs. Some animal experiments giving similar results to the above clinical findings are also described. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 129 , Issue 4 , October 1976 , pp. 335 - 341
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1976 

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