IntroductionTreatment with antypsychotics is associated with cardiovascular side effects. This results from mechanism of action of antypsychotics. Arrhythmias are the serious side effects. Treatment with antipsychotics may prolong QTc and increase the risk of dangerous supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias.ObjectivesThe main aims of the research are the following: If Any antypsychotics agents may prolong QT interval? If monotherapy with olanzapine, zyprasidone, arypiprazole and politherapy with perphenazine and olanzapine may induce any arrhythmias?MethodsData for this study were collected from 65 patients hospitalized in the Department of Adult Psychiatry and treated with olanzapine and perphenazine (n = 10) and with olanzapine (n = 20), aripiprazole (n = 20), ziprasidone (n = 15). All patients had 12 leads ECG two times: before admitting the drugs and during the treatment. All ECG were assessed on the presence of any abnormalities and QTc was calculated manually by using Bazzet formula.ResultsAmong treated patients no QTc prolongation was observed. There was no prolonged QTc over 450 ms in Male and 470 ms in female patients treated with antypsychotics in mono and politherapy. Potassium level in all patients was within the norm. Bradykardia (< 50/min) and tachykardia (>100/min) was not observed among participants.ConclusionsAtypical antypsychotics such as olanzapine, arypiprazole, zyiprasidon are cardiovascular safe drugs. They did not induce dangerous for life arrhythmias especially ventricular arrhythmia (known as torsades de pointes), which can progress to ventricular fibrillation and sudden death. Politherapy with olanzapine and first generation agents perphenazine is a safe combination and did not induce any cardiovascular side effects.
Malignant Ventricular Arrhythmias Resulting From Drug-Induced QTc Prolongation: A Retrospective Study
