Electrocardiogram changes and arrhythmias in venlafaxine overdose

Geoffrey Isbister

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

    Abstract

    AIMS To investigate serial electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters, haemodynamic changes and arrhythmias following venlafaxine overdose. METHODS The study included 369 venlafaxine overdoses in 273 patients presenting to a toxicology unit where an ECG was available. Demographic information, details of ingestion, haemodynamic effects [heart rate and blood pressure (BP)] and complications (arrhythmias and conduction defects) were obtained. ECG parameters (QT, QRS) were measured manually and analysed by visual inspection, including plotting QT-HR pairs on a QT nomogram. RESULTS The median ingested dose was 1500 mg [interquartile range (IQR) 600-3000 mg; range 75-13 500 mg). Tachycardia occurred in 54% and mild hypertension (systolic BP >140 mmHg) in 40%. Severe hypertension (systolic BP >180 mmHg) and hypotension (systolic BP <90 mmHg) occurred in 3% and 5%, respectively. No arrhythmias occurred based on continuous telemetry, and conduction defects were found in only seven of 369 admissions; five of these conduction defects were pre-existing abnormalities. In 22 admissions [6%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4-10] there was an abnormal QT-HR pair, with larger doses being more likely to be associated with an abnormal QT. The median maximum QRS width was 85 ms (IQR 80-90 ms; range 70-145 ms) and the QRS was greater than 120 ms in only 24 admissions (7%, 95% CI 4-10). CONCLUSIONS Venlafaxine overdose causes only minor abnormalities in the QT and QRS intervals, unlikely to be associated with major arrhythmias, except possibly with large doses. � 2009 The Author. Journal compilation � 2009 The British Pharmacological Society.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)572-576
    Number of pages5
    JournalBritish Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
    Volume67
    Issue number5
    Publication statusPublished - 2009

    Fingerprint

    Cardiac Arrhythmias
    Electrocardiography
    Blood Pressure
    Hemodynamics
    Confidence Intervals
    Hypertension
    Telemetry
    Nomograms
    Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
    Tachycardia
    Hypotension
    Toxicology
    Eating
    Heart Rate
    Demography

    Cite this

    Isbister, Geoffrey. / Electrocardiogram changes and arrhythmias in venlafaxine overdose. In: British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2009 ; Vol. 67, No. 5. pp. 572-576.
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    abstract = "AIMS To investigate serial electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters, haemodynamic changes and arrhythmias following venlafaxine overdose. METHODS The study included 369 venlafaxine overdoses in 273 patients presenting to a toxicology unit where an ECG was available. Demographic information, details of ingestion, haemodynamic effects [heart rate and blood pressure (BP)] and complications (arrhythmias and conduction defects) were obtained. ECG parameters (QT, QRS) were measured manually and analysed by visual inspection, including plotting QT-HR pairs on a QT nomogram. RESULTS The median ingested dose was 1500 mg [interquartile range (IQR) 600-3000 mg; range 75-13 500 mg). Tachycardia occurred in 54{\%} and mild hypertension (systolic BP >140 mmHg) in 40{\%}. Severe hypertension (systolic BP >180 mmHg) and hypotension (systolic BP <90 mmHg) occurred in 3{\%} and 5{\%}, respectively. No arrhythmias occurred based on continuous telemetry, and conduction defects were found in only seven of 369 admissions; five of these conduction defects were pre-existing abnormalities. In 22 admissions [6{\%}, 95{\%} confidence interval (CI) 4-10] there was an abnormal QT-HR pair, with larger doses being more likely to be associated with an abnormal QT. The median maximum QRS width was 85 ms (IQR 80-90 ms; range 70-145 ms) and the QRS was greater than 120 ms in only 24 admissions (7{\%}, 95{\%} CI 4-10). CONCLUSIONS Venlafaxine overdose causes only minor abnormalities in the QT and QRS intervals, unlikely to be associated with major arrhythmias, except possibly with large doses. � 2009 The Author. Journal compilation � 2009 The British Pharmacological Society.",
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    Isbister, G 2009, 'Electrocardiogram changes and arrhythmias in venlafaxine overdose', British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, vol. 67, no. 5, pp. 572-576.

    Electrocardiogram changes and arrhythmias in venlafaxine overdose. / Isbister, Geoffrey.

    In: British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Vol. 67, No. 5, 2009, p. 572-576.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

    TY - JOUR

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    N2 - AIMS To investigate serial electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters, haemodynamic changes and arrhythmias following venlafaxine overdose. METHODS The study included 369 venlafaxine overdoses in 273 patients presenting to a toxicology unit where an ECG was available. Demographic information, details of ingestion, haemodynamic effects [heart rate and blood pressure (BP)] and complications (arrhythmias and conduction defects) were obtained. ECG parameters (QT, QRS) were measured manually and analysed by visual inspection, including plotting QT-HR pairs on a QT nomogram. RESULTS The median ingested dose was 1500 mg [interquartile range (IQR) 600-3000 mg; range 75-13 500 mg). Tachycardia occurred in 54% and mild hypertension (systolic BP >140 mmHg) in 40%. Severe hypertension (systolic BP >180 mmHg) and hypotension (systolic BP <90 mmHg) occurred in 3% and 5%, respectively. No arrhythmias occurred based on continuous telemetry, and conduction defects were found in only seven of 369 admissions; five of these conduction defects were pre-existing abnormalities. In 22 admissions [6%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4-10] there was an abnormal QT-HR pair, with larger doses being more likely to be associated with an abnormal QT. The median maximum QRS width was 85 ms (IQR 80-90 ms; range 70-145 ms) and the QRS was greater than 120 ms in only 24 admissions (7%, 95% CI 4-10). CONCLUSIONS Venlafaxine overdose causes only minor abnormalities in the QT and QRS intervals, unlikely to be associated with major arrhythmias, except possibly with large doses. � 2009 The Author. Journal compilation � 2009 The British Pharmacological Society.

    AB - AIMS To investigate serial electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters, haemodynamic changes and arrhythmias following venlafaxine overdose. METHODS The study included 369 venlafaxine overdoses in 273 patients presenting to a toxicology unit where an ECG was available. Demographic information, details of ingestion, haemodynamic effects [heart rate and blood pressure (BP)] and complications (arrhythmias and conduction defects) were obtained. ECG parameters (QT, QRS) were measured manually and analysed by visual inspection, including plotting QT-HR pairs on a QT nomogram. RESULTS The median ingested dose was 1500 mg [interquartile range (IQR) 600-3000 mg; range 75-13 500 mg). Tachycardia occurred in 54% and mild hypertension (systolic BP >140 mmHg) in 40%. Severe hypertension (systolic BP >180 mmHg) and hypotension (systolic BP <90 mmHg) occurred in 3% and 5%, respectively. No arrhythmias occurred based on continuous telemetry, and conduction defects were found in only seven of 369 admissions; five of these conduction defects were pre-existing abnormalities. In 22 admissions [6%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4-10] there was an abnormal QT-HR pair, with larger doses being more likely to be associated with an abnormal QT. The median maximum QRS width was 85 ms (IQR 80-90 ms; range 70-145 ms) and the QRS was greater than 120 ms in only 24 admissions (7%, 95% CI 4-10). CONCLUSIONS Venlafaxine overdose causes only minor abnormalities in the QT and QRS intervals, unlikely to be associated with major arrhythmias, except possibly with large doses. � 2009 The Author. Journal compilation � 2009 The British Pharmacological Society.

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    Isbister G. Electrocardiogram changes and arrhythmias in venlafaxine overdose. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2009;67(5):572-576.