Title:Aripiprazole Overdose and Transient 2:1 Second Degree Atrioventricular Block: Only A Coincidence?
Volume: 14
Issue: 2
Author(s): Lucia Russo, Angelo Di Vincenzo*, Alessandro Rizzo, Marco Rossato and Roberto Vettor
Affiliation:
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Padova, Padova,Italy
Keywords:
Antipsychotics, aripiprazole, depressive disorder, drug overdose, drug effects, heart rate, arrhythmias.
Abstract:
Background: Atypical antipsychotics, unlike traditional antipsychotics, are considered to
have limited cardiovascular side effects, but recent evidence drew attention to potential cardiac rhythm
disturbances during aripiprazole therapy. Prolonged QT-interval and increased heart rate were described
during treatment with therapeutic doses of aripiprazole, and some reports have even shown relevant
arrhythmias, such as ventricular trigeminy and supraventricular tachycardia, in patients treated
with this drug.
Case Report: Here, we report a case of a young female who attempted suicide with aripiprazole overdose
presenting with a concomitant 2:1 second degree atrioventricular block. Little is known on the
cardiac toxicity of atypical antipsychotics in overdose: reporting this case description, far from establishing
direct causality.
Results and Conclusion: We would promote further efforts to define the possible effects of the drug
on the cardiac conduction system, for a safer management of patients in clinical practice.
