Antipsychotic-related QTc prolongation, torsade de pointes and sudden death

Refractory mania and inability to consent: an important role for involuntary ECT

We present the case of a 23-year-old man with a first episode of severe mania, which was refractory to pharmacotherapy. The case demonstrates a rapid response and full recovery after the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The ECT was administered involuntarily under Section 59(1) (b) of the Irish Mental Health Act 2001 as the patient was unable to consent to the treatment. The case highlights the benefits of ECT for this serious condition and emphasises the importance of retaining the legislative capacity to provide such an effective treatment for patients unable to consent because of severe psychotic illness.

Evidence review and clinical guidance for the use of ziprasidone in Canada

While indicated for schizophrenia and acute mania, ziprasidone's evidence base and use in clinical practice extends beyond these regulatory approvals. We, an invited panel of experts led by a working group of 3, critically examined the evidence and our collective experience regarding the effectiveness, tolerability and safety of ziprasidone across its clinical uses. There was no opportunity for manufacturer input into the content of the review. As anticipated, ziprasidone was found to be effective for its indicated uses, although its utility in mania and mixed states lacked comparative data. Beyond these uses, the available data were either unimpressive or were lacking. An attractive characteristic is its neutral effect on weight thereby providing patients with a non-obesogenic long-term treatment option. Key challenges in practice include the need for dosing on a full stomach and managing its early onset adverse effect of restlessness. Addressing these issues are critical to its long-term success.

QTc Prolongation in Patients Acutely Admitted to Hospital for Psychosis and Treated with Second Generation Antipsychotics

QTc interval prolongation is a side effect of several antipsychotic drugs, with associated risks of torsade de pointes arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. There is an ongoing debate of whether or not electrocardiogram (ECG) assessments should be mandatory in patients starting antipsychotic drugs. To investigate QTc prolongation in a clinically relevant patient group 171 adult patients acutely admitted to an emergency ward for psychosis were consecutively recruited. ECGs were recorded at baseline and then at discharge or after 6 weeks at the latest (discharge/6 weeks), thus reflecting the acute phase treatment period. The mean QTc interval was 421.1 (30.4) ms at baseline and there was a positive association between the QTc interval and the agitation score whereas the QTc interval was inversely associated with the serum calcium level. A total of 11.6% had abnormally prolonged QTc intervals and another 14.3% had borderline prolongation. At discharge/6 weeks, the corresponding proportions were reduced to 4.2% and 5.3%, respectively. The reduction of the proportion with prolonged QTc intervals reached statistical significance (chi-square exact test: P = 0.046). The finding of about one-quarter of the patients with borderline or prolonged QTc intervals could indicate mandatory ECG recordings in this population. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT00932529.

Antipsychotic-induced metabolic and cardiovascular side effects in schizophrenia: a novel mechanistic hypothesis

The use of antipsychotics is hindered by the frequent occurrence of metabolic and cardiovascular side effects, resulting in worsened quality of life and greater mortality as a result of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders in schizophrenia patients than the comparable general population. The various antipsychotics induce extrapyramidal symptoms, impaired glucose and lipid metabolism, weight gain, hypertension and arrhythmias, with variable frequency. Second-generation antipsychotics appear to have several advantages over first-generation antipsychotics, including a claimed better action on cognitive function and the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, and lower frequency of extrapyramidal side effects; however, their use is associated with a greater frequency of metabolic and cardiovascular disturbances. The mechanisms of these important side effects are not well understood, and generic approaches (psychoeducational programmes and symptomatic therapies) have been proposed to limit their severity. Extensive data from the literature indicate that autonomic nervous system dysfunction--intrinsic to schizophrenia and strongly exacerbated by antipsychotic treatment--is the cause of the pervasive metabolic and vascular dysfunctions associated with schizophrenia. In this article, we marshal further literature data to argue that the metabolic and cardiovascular side effects of antipsychotics are primarily mediated by their ability to block peripheral dopamine receptors, which physiologically modulate sympathetic activity. We also propose that these effects might be overcome by providing peripheral dopaminergic stimulation.

New serotonin/dopamine antagonists for the treatment of schizophrenia: are we making real progress?

The introduction of second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs), heralded by clozapine in 1990, represented an important advance in the pharmacologic treatment of schizophrenia. However, several recent comparative effectiveness trials found that non-clozapine SGAs provided little or no advantage in efficacy over first-generation antipsychotics, and all agents had substantial safety and tolerability concerns. Clearly, there remains a great unmet need for more effective and better-tolerated antipsychotics. Relatively potent antagonism of serotonin 5-HT2A receptors coupled with relatively weaker antagonism of dopamine D2 receptors is the central pharmacological characteristic shared by most SGAs. This profile continues to be a favored model for developing new SGAs, commonly defined as serotonin/dopamine antagonists. In the past ten years, aripiprazole, paliperidone, asenapine, iloperidone, and lurasidone have been introduced. Studies suggest that the newer agents have similar short-term efficacy to earlier serotonin/dopamine antagonists, and several demonstrate at least modest improvements in safety and tolerability profiles, particularly metabolic measures. However, as a group, the newer serotonin/dopamine antagonists are pharmacologically heterogeneous, and their side-effect burden can still be considerable. Moreover, their putative clinical advantages have not yet been well demonstrated via direct comparative studies. The absence of such evidence adds to the challenges in defining their place among more established treatment choices, or in providing clinicians with clear indications to guide treatment choices for individual patients. Long-term, head-to-head comparative studies are required to clarify the risk/benefit profiles of the newer antipsychotics and their roles in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Examination of baseline risk factors for QTc interval prolongation in patients prescribed intravenous haloperidol

BACKGROUND

Intravenous haloperidol can increase the risk for corrected QT interval (QTc) prolongation, torsades de pointes (TdP) and sudden death. There are a number of risk factors reported in the literature for QTc prolongation and TdP with intravenous haloperidol.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of baseline risk factors for QTc prolongation and TdP in hospitalized medical inpatients prescribed intravenous haloperidol.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study of medically ill hospitalized inpatients prescribed intravenous haloperidol between 30 June 2007 and 1 January 2010. Records were ascertained for the presence of baseline risk factors for QTc prolongation and TdP.

RESULTS

A total of 175 subjects were identified as receiving intravenous haloperidol during the study period. Mean age was 62.9 ± 19.1 years, and 48.6% of subjects were female. At baseline, 85.7% of subjects had ≥1 risk factor for QTc prolongation and TdP, with the majority of these subjects (58.0%) having between two and five risk factors. Of the total study sample, 74.9% had a baseline ECG; mean QTc value was 457 msec (± 40.8 msec). Greater than 50% of subjects had a sex-specific QTc value higher than the increased risk threshold of 450 msec in males or 460 msec in females at baseline. Following intravenous haloperidol administration, 46.9% of subjects had a follow-up ECG obtained within 24 hours. At the time of intravenous haloperidol administration, 93.1% of subjects had a potassium value available and 62.9% had a magnesium value. Approximately 30% of subjects had either a potassium or magnesium value below the normal laboratory range. Of the 175 subjects, 43.4% were taking ≥1 concomitant QTc prolongation medication at the time of intravenous haloperidol administration.

CONCLUSIONS

Consistent with previously published reports, patients in this study prescribed intravenous haloperidol had multiple risk factors, both modifiable and non-modifiable, at baseline for QTc prolongation and TdP. The modifiable risk factors may be important targets of interventions aimed at optimizing the safety of the use of intravenous haloperidol, while the non-modifiable risk factors may warrant closer scrutiny with consideration of alternative therapies and continuous monitoring.

Sudden cardiac death and antipsychotic medications: literature review

The review summarises the evidence from international publications on sudden cardiac death (SCD) in psychiatric patients receiving neuroleptics. Modern SCD definitions are presented, together with the relevant epidemiological data. The pathogenesis of fatal cardiac arrhythmias, caused by cardiotoxic effects of antipsychotic medications, is discussed. Electrocardiographic changes, in particular QT interval changes, as well as risk factors of SCD and main principles of its prevention, are described in detail.

Wide spectrum of inhibitory effects of sertraline on cardiac ion channels

Sertraline is a commonly used antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) class. In these experiments, we have used the whole cell patch clamp technique to examine the effects of sertraline on the major cardiac ion channels expressed in HEK293 cells and the native voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels in rat ventricular myocytes. According to the results, sertraline is a potent blocker of cardiac K(+) channels, such as hERG, I(Ks) and I(K1). The rank order of inhibitory potency was hERG >I(K1)> I(Ks) with IC(50) values of 0.7, 10.5, and 15.2 µM, respectively. In addition to K(+) channels, sertraline also inhibited I(Na) and I(Ca), and the IC(50) values are 6.1 and 2.6 µM, respectively. Modification of these ion channels by sertraline could induce changes of the cardiac action potential duration and QT interval, and might result in cardiac arrhythmia.

Physical restraint and near death of a psychiatric patient

Physical restraint is used as a last resort emergency measure to calm and safeguard agitated and/or aggressive psychiatric patients. This can sometimes cause injuries, and rare fatalities have occurred. One mechanism of injury and death while in physical restraint is that of severe asphyxiation. We present the case of a hospitalized man in his mid-30s, suffering from schizophrenia. The patient was obese. He became aggressive and had to be manually restrained with a "takedown." After having been put in the prone position on the floor with a significant weight load on his body, he lost respiration and consciousness. Subsequently, he was given CPR. He regained consciousness and respiration, while the cyanosis receded in 1-2 min. Psychiatrists and pathologists should be aware that physically restraining a patient in the prone position with a significant weight load on the torso can, in rare cases, lead to asphyxiation.

The effects of aripiprazole on electrocardiography in children with pervasive developmental disorders

OBJECTIVES

Psychotropic medications, including the atypical antipsychotics, have historically been scrutinized for cardiac effects and risk of sudden death. Aripiprazole is an atypical antipsychotic approved for pediatric use in schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder, and autistic disorder. Adult studies have evaluated aripiprazole's effects on electrocardiograms, but no pediatric studies have been published to date.

METHODS

Electrocardiographic data were collected from children and adolescents participating in a 14-week, prospective, open-label study (n=25) of aripiprazole for irritability in pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified and Asperger's disorder. A 12-lead electrocardiogram was obtained at the baseline and end point visits. The electrocardiograms were evaluated for abnormal findings, and the PR, QRS, QT(c), and RR intervals were recorded. The QT interval was corrected using Bazett's, United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Pharmacology Division, and Fridericia's formulas.

RESULTS

Twenty-four subjects received both baseline and posttreatment electrocardiograms. The mean age was 8.6 years (range 5-17 years). The average final aripiprazole dose was 7.8 mg/day (range 2.5-15 mg/day). There were no significant differences noted with the PR, QRS, RR, and QT(c) intervals after aripiprazole therapy. Also, there was no significant correlation between the dose given and the percent change in the QT(c). No post-treatment QT(c) exceeded 440 ms.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this is the first systematic evaluation of the cardiac effects of aripiprazole in children and adolescents. The results are consistent with previously published literature in adults that aripiprazole has no significant cardiac effects and can be deemed a low risk for causing sudden death. It will be important to confirm these findings in a randomized controlled trial.

World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) Guidelines for Biological Treatment of Schizophrenia, part 1: update 2012 on the acute treatment of schizophrenia and the management of treatment resistance

These updated guidelines are based on a first edition of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry Guidelines for Biological Treatment of Schizophrenia published in 2005. For this 2012 revision, all available publications pertaining to the biological treatment of schizophrenia were reviewed systematically to allow for an evidence-based update. These guidelines provide evidence-based practice recommendations that are clinically and scientifically meaningful and these guidelines are intended to be used by all physicians diagnosing and treating people suffering from schizophrenia. Based on the first version of these guidelines, a systematic review of the MEDLINE/PUBMED database and the Cochrane Library, in addition to data extraction from national treatment guidelines, has been performed for this update. The identified literature was evaluated with respect to the strength of evidence for its efficacy and then categorised into six levels of evidence (A-F; Bandelow et al. 2008b, World J Biol Psychiatry 9:242). This first part of the updated guidelines covers the general descriptions of antipsychotics and their side effects, the biological treatment of acute schizophrenia and the management of treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

Sudden death of cardiac origin and psychotropic drugs

Mortality rate is high in psychiatric patients versus general population. An important cause of this increased mortality is sudden cardiac death (SCD) as a major side-effect of psychotropic drugs. These SCDs generally result from arrhythmias occurring when the posology is high and may attain a toxic threshold but also at dosages within therapeutic range, in the presence of risk factors. There are three kinds of risk factors: physiological (e.g., low cardiac rate of sportsmen), physiopathological (e.g., hepatic insufficiency, hypothyroidism) and "therapeutic" (due to interactions between psychotropic drugs and other medicines). Association of pharmacological agents may increase the likelihood of SCDs either by (i) a pharmacokinetic mechanism (e.g., increased torsadogenic potential of a psychotropic drug when its destruction and/or elimination are compromised) or (ii) a pharmacodynamical mechanism (e.g., mutual potentiation of proarrhythmic properties of two drugs). In addition, some psychotropic drugs may induce sudden death in cases of pre-existing congenital cardiopathies such as (i) congenital long QT syndrome, predisposing to torsade de pointes that eventually cause syncope and sudden death. (ii) A Brugada syndrome, that may directly cause ventricular fibrillation due to reduced sodium current through Nav1.5 channels. Moreover, psychotropic drugs may be a direct cause of cardiac lesions also leading to SCD. This is the case, for example, of phenothiazines responsible for ischemic coronaropathies and of clozapine that is involved in the occurrence of myocarditis. The aims of this work are to delineate: (i) the risk of SCD related to the use of psychotropic drugs; (ii) mechanisms involved in the occurrence of such SCD; (iii) preventive actions of psychotropic drugs side effects, on the basis of the knowledge of patient-specific risk factors, documented from clinical history, ionic balance, and ECG investigation by the psychiatrist.

Toxicology and overdose of atypical antipsychotics

BACKGROUND

Second-generation antipsychotic medications, or "atypical antipsychotics," are now first-line therapy in the treatment of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, and are additionally being used in a wide array of other psychiatric and non-psychiatric conditions in both adults and children. Overdose is frequently reported to poison control centers.

OBJECTIVES

We review the toxicology and general management of poisonings involving the atypical antipsychotic medications.

DISCUSSION

The most serious toxicity involves the cardiovascular system and the central nervous system. All typical and atypical antipsychotics cause sedation, which is pronounced in overdose. The most common cardiovascular effects that occur after atypical antipsychotic overdose are tachycardia, mild hypotension, and prolongation of the QTc interval. Other clinical syndromes in overdose include neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) and antimuscarinic delirium. Seizures may be observed. No antidotes exist for these poisonings, but they most often do well with supportive care.

CONCLUSION

Antipsychotic overdose produces a gamut of manifestations that affect multiple organ systems. Treatment is primarily supportive. Specific therapies for NMS, hypotension, and seizures are discussed.

Evidence-based treatment of delirium in patients with cancer

Delirium is the most common neuropsychiatric complication seen in patients with cancer, and it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Increased health care costs, prolonged hospital stays, and long-term cognitive decline are other well-recognized adverse outcomes of delirium. Improved recognition of delirium and early treatment are important in diminishing such morbidity. There has been an increasing number of studies published in the literature over the last 10 years regarding delirium treatment as well as prevention. Antipsychotics, cholinesterase inhibitors, and alpha-2 agonists are the three groups of medications that have been studied in randomized controlled trials in different patient populations. In patients with cancer, the evidence is most clearly supportive of short-term, low-dose use of antipsychotics for controlling the symptoms of delirium, with close monitoring for possible adverse effects, especially in older patients with multiple medical comorbidities. Nonpharmacologic interventions also appear to have a beneficial role in the treatment of patients with cancer who have or are at risk for delirium. This article presents evidence-based recommendations based on the results of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic studies of the treatment and prevention of delirium.

Ziprasidone and the corrected QT interval: a comprehensive summary of clinical data

BACKGROUND

Prolongation of the corrected QT interval (QTc) is understood to be a predictor of risk for ventricular arrhythmia; consequently, data on QTc effects of drugs are used by regulatory bodies to evaluate potential safety risks. Clinical pharmacology studies in adults receiving oral ziprasidone demonstrated a dose-dependent mean increase (4.5-19.5 milliseconds [ms]) in QTc over the range of 40-160 mg/d with a small incremental increase (22.5 ms) at 320 mg/d. In a comparative study of ziprasidone versus five antipsychotics, the mean QTc increase at steady state maximum concentration (C(max)) for ziprasidone was 15.9 ms. Accordingly, the effects of ziprasidone on QTc were studied in phase II-IV randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to provide clinicians and clinical researchers with a comprehensive analysis of QTc changes associated with ziprasidone based on data from Pfizer-sponsored phase II-IV RCTs in schizophrenia or bipolar disorder patients, safety reports and post-marketing surveillance.

METHODS

The following analyses of data were conducted to obtain a comprehensive summary of QTc data on ziprasidone: (i) post hoc analyses (using primarily descriptive statistics) of pooled QTc data (Fridericia correction) from more than 40 phase II-IV adult ziprasidone RCTs organized according to the following subgroups: all monotherapy studies in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, all intramuscular (IM) studies, adjunctive studies in bipolar disorder and fixed-dose oral studies; (ii) post hoc analyses from 36 phase II-IV adult ziprasidone RCTs exploring the relationship between QTc change from baseline and baseline QTc in adults; (iii) post hoc analyses from phase II-IV adult ziprasidone RCTs modelling QTc change as a function of ziprasidone concentration in both adult (17 studies) and paediatric (5 studies) subjects; (iv) cardiac adverse event (AE) reports from all phase II-IV adult ziprasidone RCTs in schizophrenia; (v) a large simple trial entitled Ziprasidone Observational Study of Cardiac Outcomes (ZODIAC) in 18 154 subjects with schizophrenia (the only previously reported results included here); and (vi) cardiac-related AEs presented in a ziprasidone post-marketing surveillance report created in 2007.

RESULTS

A total of 4306 adults received ziprasidone in placebo- and active-comparator phase II-IV RCTs and had evaluable QTc data. One subject reached a QTc ≥480 ms; 33 (0.8%) had a QTc ≥450 ms. QTc prolongation ≥30 ms was observed in 389 subjects (9.0%); ≥60 ms in 30 (0.7%); and ≥75 ms in 12 (0.3%). In the placebo-controlled studies, mean change in QTc from baseline to end of study was 3.6 (± 20.8) ms in the ziprasidone group; the corresponding QTc change in the pooled placebo group was -0.3 (± 20.6) ms. Data from IM studies, and bipolar studies in which ziprasidone was used adjunctively with lithium, valproate or lamotrigine, demonstrated similar QTc effects. A scatter-plot of QTc prolongation against baseline QTc showed QTc prolongation ≥60 ms exclusively in adult subjects with a baseline QTc ≤400 ms. The final concentration-response analysis model, comprising 2966 data points from 1040 subjects, estimates an increase in QTc of 6 ms for each 100 ng/mL increase in ziprasidone concentration. The large simple trial (ZODIAC) failed to show that ziprasidone is associated with an elevated risk of non-suicidal mortality relative to olanzapine in real-world use. Post-marketing data over a 5-year period did not show a signal of increased cardiac AEs.

CONCLUSIONS

These analyses provide the first comprehensive summary of QTc changes associated with ziprasidone based on Pfizer-sponsored phase II-IV RCTs, safety reports and post-marketing surveillance. The results of the analyses of pooled data from phase II-IV RCTs in adults demonstrate a modest mean increase in QTc, infrequent QTc prolongation ≥60 ms (<1.0%) and rare observation of QTc ≥480 ms. These data are consistent with results from ziprasidone clinical pharmacology studies, safety reports and post-marketing surveillance. Taken together, they provide the most comprehensive evidence published to date that ziprasidone appears to be safe when used as indicated in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

QTc prolongation by psychotropic drugs and the risk of Torsade de Pointes

INTRODUCTION

Many psychotropic drugs can delay cardiac repolarization and thereby prolong the rate-corrected QT interval (QTc). A prolonged QTc often arouses concern in clinical practice, as it can be followed, in rare cases, by the life-threatening polymorphic ventricular tachyarrhythmia called torsade de pointes (TdP).

METHOD

We searched PubMed for pertinent literature on the risk of QTc prolongation and/or TdP associated with commonly used psychotropic drugs.

RESULTS

Thioridazine and ziprasidone confer the highest risk of QTc prolongation and/or TdP. There is also a clinically significant risk associated with haloperidol given intravenously in high doses. TdP has been reported in a few cases in association with the use of newer antipsychotic drugs (mainly quetiapine and amisulpride), most of the tri- and tetracyclic antidepressants, and the selective monoamine reuptake inhibitors citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, and venlafaxine. As a rule, however, QTc prolongation and/or TdP occur only in the presence of multiple additional risk factors, such as age over 65 years, pre-existing cardiovascular disease, bradycardia, female sex, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, a supratherapeutic or toxic serum concentration, or the simultaneous administration of other drugs that delay repolarization or interfere with drug metabolism.

CONCLUSION

Before prescribing a psychotropic drug, the physician should carefully assess its risks and benefits to avoid this type of adverse reaction, particularly when additional risk factors are present. The ECG and electrolytes should be regularly monitored in patients taking psychotropic drugs.

Risk of serious cardiac events in older adults using antipsychotic agents

BACKGROUND

Antipsychotic agents can lead to severe cardiovascular adverse events due to multiple mechanisms involving electrophysiologic and metabolic effects. Few epidemiologic studies have evaluated the risk of serious cardiovascular-related events in typical and atypical antipsychotic users.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to compare the risk of serious cardiac events in older adults taking typical antipsychotics with those taking atypical antipsychotics.

METHODS

Prescription and medical information were derived from the IMS LifeLink Health Plan Claims database. The study involved a retrospective cohort of older adults (≥50 years) taking atypical or typical antipsychotics from July 1, 2000, to December 31, 2007. The primary outcome measure was hospitalization or emergency room visit due to serious cardiac events, including thromboembolism, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, and ventricular arrhythmias within 1 year after the index date. The 2 groups were matched on a propensity score to minimize the baseline differences between the groups. Survival analysis was conducted on the matched cohort to assess the risk of serious cardiovascular events in typical versus atypical users.

RESULTS

A total of 5580 patients were selected in each antipsychotic users group after propensity score matching. Serious cardiac events were found in 666 (11.9 %) atypical antipsychotic users and 698 (12.4%) typical antipsychotic users. Survival analysis revealed that typical antipsychotic users were at increased risk of serious cardiovascular events compared with atypical antipsychotic users (hazard ratio = 1.21; 95% CI, 1.04-1.40) after controlling for other factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Moderate increases in risk of serious cardiac events are associated with older adults using typical antipsychotic agents compared with atypical users. Health care professionals should carefully evaluate the benefit/risk ratio of antipsychotic agents before prescribing these agents to a vulnerable population.

Antipsychotic drug administration does not correlate with prolonged rate-corrected QT interval in children and adolescents: results from a nested case-control study

BACKGROUND

The rate-corrected QT interval (QTc) prolongation is a risk factor for sudden cardiac death and may be induced by antipsychotic drugs.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the clinical characteristics associated with QTc prolongation (440 msec or greater) in children and adolescents hospitalized for treatment of psychiatric disorders.

METHOD

We determined the frequency of baseline prolongation of QTc in 811 psychiatric pediatric inpatients (15.5 ± 2.4 years of age). QTc duration was 440 msec or greater (range 441-481 msec) in 16 patients (1.97%). In a 1:5 nested case-control design, the 16 patients with prolonged QTc were age- and gender-matched with 80 patients with QTc of <421 msec.

RESULTS

Patients with normal and prolonged QTc had similar utilization of antipsychotics (43.8% vs. 40.8%) and daily chlorpromazine equivalents (165 ± 110 vs. 168 ± 218 mg). Hypokalemia (p = 0.009) and obesity (p = 0.032) were more common among patients with prolonged QTc. The correlation between obesity and QTc prolongation was confirmed in logistic regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

In a large cohort of youth hospitalized for treatment of psychiatric disorders, a prolonged QTc on admission was rare and correlated with the presence of obesity, but not with current use of antipsychotic drugs.

Sex difference in QTc prolongation in chronic institutionalized patients with schizophrenia on long-term treatment with typical and atypical antipsychotics

OBJECTIVE

The rate-corrected electrocardiographic QT (QTc) interval may significantly increase in patients with schizophrenia taking antipsychotics. The objective of this naturalistic study was to assess the prevalence of prolonged QTc interval in a large population of inpatients with chronic schizophrenia and to explore QTc relationship with demographic variables and prescribed treatments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Electrocardiograms were obtained from age- and sex-matched 456 controls and 1,006 inpatients with schizophrenia (male/female = 689/317) taking antipsychotics. QTc prolongation was defined as a mean value of two standard deviations above the controls. The adjusted relative risk was calculated using logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

QTc prolongation was present in 45 (4.5%) of 1,006 patients overall. Fewer men (3.2%, 22 of 689) than women (7.3%, 23 of 317) displayed QTc prolongation (p < 0.004). Moreover, QTc intervals were shorter in male (391 ± 31 ms) than female subjects (400 ± 37 ms) (p < 0.001). Clozapine was found to produce a longer QTc intervals compared to risperidone and typical antipsychotics. Furthermore, multiple regression analysis showed that significant predictors for QTc prolongation were comorbid cardiovascular disease, antipsychotic types, sex, and age (all p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Our present findings suggest that there are sex differences in the prevalence of QTc prolongation and QTc lengthening in schizophrenia. Antipsychotic types are risk factors for QTc prolongation, and risks are substantially higher for clozapine.

Sudden deaths in psychiatric patients

BACKGROUND

Studies using death certificates have indicated an excess of sudden cardiac deaths among users of antipsychotic drugs compared to the general population, but they may have underestimated the presence of other known causes of sudden and unexpected death.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the causes and risk factors for sudden death discovered by contemporaneous investigation of all deaths occurring over a 26-year period (1984-2009) in adults (119,500 patient-years) receiving care in one large psychiatric hospital in New York.

METHOD

Circumstances of death, psychiatric diagnoses, psychotropic drugs, and past medical history were extracted from the root cause analyses of sudden, unexpected deaths. After cases involving suicide, homicide, and drug overdoses were excluded, the remaining explained and unexplained cases of sudden death were compared regarding clinical variables and the utilization of antipsychotics.

RESULTS

One hundred cases of sudden death were identified. The death remained unexplained in 52 cases. The incidence of unexplained sudden death per 100,000 patient-years increased from 7 (95% CI, 3.7-19.4) in 1984-1998 to 125 (95% CI, 88.9-175.1) in 2005-2009. Explained and unexplained cases were similar regarding psychiatric diagnoses and use of all psychotropic classes, including first- and second-generation antipsychotics. Dyslipidemia (P = .012), diabetes (P = .054), and comorbid dyslipidemia and diabetes (P = .006) were more common in the unexplained group.

CONCLUSIONS

In a consecutive cohort of psychiatric patients, the unexplained sudden deaths were not associated with higher utilization of first- or second-generation antipsychotics. The role of diabetes and dyslipidemia as risk factors for sudden death in psychiatric patients requires careful longitudinal studies.

QT interval duration and dispersion in children and adolescents treated with ziprasidone

OBJECTIVE

To assess the incidence of symptoms (palpitations, syncope) and electrocardiographic signs (increased QT duration and dispersion) of an increased risk of torsades de pointes in youth treated with ziprasidone.

METHOD

Data for this study were collected as part of a prospective, observational, mixed inpatient and outpatient cohort study of youth who were administered antipsychotic treatment for the first time. For this study, we focus on 29 patients (mean ± SD age 15.3 ± 2.9 years) receiving ziprasidone (112.8 ± 50.6 mg/d; range, 20-240) for 99.3 ± 108.7 days. All patients had normal electrocardiograms (ECGs) and no serious medical illness at baseline. Patients had a mean of 2.7 ± 1.3 (median = 3; range, 1-7; total = 49) follow-up ECGs performed monthly for 3 months and every 3 months thereafter, with concurrent blood ziprasidone level measurements. Heart rate-corrected QT interval (QTc) duration and dispersion were measured manually in ≥ 6 ECG leads. QTc > 450-millisecond or ≥ 60-millisecond increase and QTc dispersion > 100 milliseconds were considered abnormal. The study was conducted from December 2001 to September 2007.

RESULTS

No patient reported syncope or symptomatic arrhythmias. Seven patients (24.1%) developed ECG abnormalities; 5 had peak QTc durations > 450 milliseconds, and 2 had peak QTc dispersion > 100 milliseconds. The baseline-to-peak QTc duration increased by 22.9 ± 21 milliseconds (P < .0001). The baseline-to-peak QTc dispersion increased by 6.1 ± 31.4 milliseconds (P = .30). The peak QTc duration and dispersion occurred after 47.6 ± 46.0 and 60.4 ± 73.2 treatment days, respectively. Baseline-to-peak QTc duration and dispersion changes were not correlated with ziprasidone dose (P = .65) or plasma levels (P = .50).

CONCLUSIONS

Ziprasidone was associated with a dose- and level-independent, significant prolongation of QTc duration in one-quarter of youth. However, prolongation of QTc dispersion was nonsignificant, and no patient experienced concomitant abnormal prolongation of both QTc duration and QTc dispersion. The dissociation between prolonged QTc duration and dispersion suggests low arrhythmogenic potential in youth with normal baseline ECGs.

Effects on prolongation of Bazett's corrected QT interval of seven second-generation antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia: a meta-analysis

The use of second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) for the treatment of schizophrenia has surged worldwide. Amisulpride, aripiprazole, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, sertindole and ziprasidone have now been commonly prescribed. Their effects on QT interval differ but evidence remains sparse and mostly inconclusive. Since prolongation of heart-rate corrected QT interval has been implicated as an useful surrogate marker to predict drug-related cardiac mortality and pro-arrhythmic potentials, it is timely and necessary to compare the effects of Bazett's corrected QT interval (QT(Bc)) prolongation for the commonly prescribed SGAs. A meta-analysis was conducted according to suggestions by the Quality of Reporting of Meta-analysis group with literature identified using various databases and augmented with hand-searching to assess the magnitude and risk on QT(Bc) prolongation by these seven SGAs for treatments in adult subjects with schizophrenia. Because of incomplete QT(Bc) data reporting, quetiapine could not be assessed by the meta-analytical approach in this study. Aripiprazole was the only SGA associated with both statistically significant lower risk and mean change in QT(Bc), with sertindole giving a statistically significant worsening effect on mean QT(Bc). Other analyses did not demonstrate any statistically significant pooled effects for the studied SGAs, neither on the magnitude over mean or mean change, nor the risk on QT(Bc) prolongation.

Cardiac safety of the electroconvulsive therapy-paliperidone combination: a preliminary study

Both electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and paliperidone (PLP) can induce, though infrequently, severe cardiac side-effects. Thus far, no studies are available on the cardiac safety of their co-administration. We report on the cardiac safety of the ECT-PLP combination in nine female inpatients who underwent this treatment modality. In a total of 83 ECT patient sessions, the ECT-PLP combination was well tolerated. No patient exhibited any noticeable prolongation of QTc interval and no adverse cardiac events, in particular arrhythmias, were noted.

Amisulpride overdose is frequently associated with QT prolongation and torsades de pointes

This study aimed to describe the effects of the antipsychotic amisulpride in overdose, including the frequency of QT prolongation and torsades de pointes. Cases of amisulpride overdose (>1 g) were recruited from 2 state poison centers and a tertiary toxicology unit over 5 years. A 1-page clinical research form was used to collect clinical information. Copies of all electrocardiograms were obtained. Electrocardiogram parameters (QRS and QT intervals) were manually measured as previously described, and plots of QT-heart rate (HR) pairs were compared with the QT nomogram. There were 83 patients with amisulpride overdoses with a median age of 29 years (interquartile range [IQR], 23-40 years), and 42 (51%) were female. The median dose ingested was 6 g (IQR, 3-13 g, range, 1.2-120 g). The median HR was 66 beats/min (IQR, 60-81 beats/min). Bradycardia occurred in 20 cases (24%), and hypotension in 19 (23%). From 440 electrocardiograms (average of 5 per case; range, 1-15), an abnormal QT-HR pair occurred in 61 cases (73%). Torsades de pointes developed in 6 cases (7%), with doses of 4, 4.6, 18, 24, 32, and 80 g. The patient taking 32 g died after a cardiac arrest. Widened QRS did not occur except transient rate-dependent bundle-branch block in 3 cases. There were significant associations of bradycardia, hypokalemia, and hypocalcaemia, with QT prolongation and torsades de pointes. Central nervous system effects were uncommon with coma in 7 cases, seizures in 2, and dystonic reactions in 2. Amisulpride overdose commonly causes QT prolongation, bradycardia, and hypotension. Torsades de pointes occurred commonly enough to suggest that amisulpride is highly cardiotoxic in overdose.

Adverse drug events associated with the use of analgesics, sedatives, and antipsychotics in the intensive care unit

As critically ill patients frequently receive analgesics, sedatives, and antipsychotics to optimize patient comfort and facilitate mechanical ventilation, adverse events associated with the use of these agents can affect all organ systems and result in substantial morbidity and mortality. Although many of these adverse effects are common pharmacologic manifestations of the agent, and therefore frequently reversible, others are idiosyncratic and thus unexpected. The critically ill are more susceptible to adverse drug events than nonintensive care unit patients due to the high doses and long periods for which each of these agents are often administered, the frequent use of intravenous formulations that contain adjuvants that may lead to toxicity in some instances, and the high prevalence of end-organ dysfunction that affects the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic response to therapy. This paper will review the most common and serious adverse drug events reported to occur with the use of sedatives, analgesics, and antipsychotics in the intensive care unit; highlight the pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and pharmacogenetic factors that can influence analgesic, sedative, and antipsychotic response and safety in the critically ill; and identify strategies that can be used to minimize toxicity with these agents.

Atypical antipsychotics for acute manic and mixed episodes in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder: efficacy and tolerability

The diagnosis of bipolar disorder (BD) in children is increasing, and often requires a comprehensive treatment plan to address a complex array of symptoms and associated morbidities. Pharmacotherapy, in combination with psychotherapeutic interventions, is essential for the treatment and stabilization of disrupted mood. Current evidence collectively demonstrates, by randomized controlled design, that atypical antipsychotics have efficacy for the treatment of acute manic or mixed symptoms in children and adolescents with BD. Additional longitudinal and biological studies are warranted to characterize the effects of atypical antipsychotics on all phases and stages of bipolar illness development in children and adolescents.

Patients presenting with acute toxin ingestion

Organ toxicity caused by poisons or drug therapy is diverse and may not be commonly encountered clinically. In general, commonly encountered conditions caused by drug/toxin pharmacology can be classified into 7 categories by shared mechanisms of organ injury. This review of drug/toxin-induced injury discusses drug or toxin-induced pathology that the clinician may encounter and therapeutic approaches to these syndromes.

Safety of the electroconvulsive therapy-ziprasidone combination

In clinical practice, a nonnegligible proportion of patients with mood or psychotic disorders undergo electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) concomitantly with pharmacotherapy. Ziprasidone, a combined serotonin and dopamine receptor antagonist, is a second-generation antipsychotic agent with a lower incidence of extrapyramidal motor symptoms and prolactin elevation and a safer profile of adverse effects on plasma lipids, glucose levels, and body weight than other antipsychotics. To the best of our knowledge, there are as yet no available reports on the safety of the ECT-ziprasidone combination. We report here on a series of 8 female inpatients who underwent ECT while receiving ziprasidone (20-80 mg/d) as part of their regimen. Seven patients were treated for major depressive episode in the context of unipolar major depressive disorder (n = 5) or of bipolar disorder I (n = 2), whereas 1 patient was treated for exacerbation of schizophrenic symptoms. In all cases, the combination was well tolerated with only minimal adverse effects and unremarkable changes in corrected QT interval.

Sevoflurane causes greater QTc interval prolongation in elderly patients than in younger patients

BACKGROUND

Sevoflurane and droperidol prolong the QT interval, and advancing age is not only associated with a prolongation of the QT interval but is also a risk factor for drug-induced QT interval prolongation. In this study, we compared the effect of sevoflurane and droperidol on the corrected QT (QTc) interval and the dispersion of ventricular repolarization (time interval from the peak to the end of the T wave [Tp-e]) in elderly patients with those in younger patients.

METHODS

Under sevoflurane anesthesia (1.5%-2.5%) with an antiemetic dose of droperidol (1.25 mg), the QT interval and the Tp-e interval, which indicates transmural dispersion of repolarization across the myocardial wall, were measured in 30 elderly patients (70 years and older) and in 30 younger patients (20-69 years) for 2 hours. The QT interval was normalized for heart rate (QTc) using 3 different formulas: Bazett, Matsunaga, and Van de Water. Data are presented as mean +/- sd.

RESULTS

The elderly group was 24.4 years older (P < 0.05) than the younger group. The QTc intervals in the 2 groups before anesthesia were not significantly different. Using all 3 formulas, the QTc interval in the elderly patient group was significantly prolonged by sevoflurane (the QTc intervals at preanesthesia and 60, 75, 90, and 120 minutes after sevoflurane exposure were 0.434 +/- 0.028 seconds, 0.450 +/- 0.037 seconds, 0.463 +/- 0.037 seconds, 0.461 +/- 0.037 seconds, and 0.461 +/- 0.038 seconds, respectively, with the Bazett formula). The sevoflurane-induced QTc interval prolongation in the elderly patient group was significantly greater than that in the younger patient group (0.450 +/- 0.037 seconds vs 0.432 +/- 0.034 seconds, 60 minutes after sevoflurane exposure; 0.463 +/- 0.037 seconds vs 0.441 +/- 0.037 seconds, 75 minutes after sevoflurane exposure; and 0.461 +/- 0.038 seconds vs 0.436 +/- 0.030 seconds, 120 minutes after sevoflurane exposure with the Bazett formula), but the sevoflurane-induced QTc interval prolongation was neither further enhanced with time nor by droperidol. The Tp-e interval was not affected in either group.

CONCLUSION

Sevoflurane causes greater QTc interval prolongation in elderly patients than in younger patients. Although sevoflurane does not affect the transmural dispersion of repolarization and sevoflurane-induced QTc prolongation does not advance with time and by droperidol administration, QT interval prolongation and its associated arrhythmias should be carefully monitored during sevoflurane anesthesia in elderly patients.

Symptomatic bradycardia with oral aripiprazole and oral ziprasidone

OBJECTIVE

To describe the case of a patient who developed symptomatic bradycardia upon initiation of oral ziprasidone and later with oral aripiprazole, both of which resolved shortly after discontinuation of therapy.

CASE SUMMARY

An 18-year-old female with bipolar disorder was started on oral ziprasidone 80 mg at night and the dose was subsequently increased to 120 mg for management of acute mania and delusions. The patient developed symptomatic bradycardia (heart rate 31-35 beats/min), which resolved after ziprasidone was decreased to 80 mg. Three months later, the patient was readmitted for treatment of bipolar mania with psychotic features in the context of medication nonadherence. She was started on oral aripiprazole 15 mg daily (subsequently increased to 20 mg) in conjunction with 600 mg lithium carbonate twice daily. The patient again developed symptomatic bradycardia that resolved after discontinuation of aripiprazole.

DISCUSSION

This is the first case report of symptomatic bradycardia associated with the use of ziprasidone or aripiprazole. The Naranjo probability scale suggests that the likelihood of the atypical antipsychotic as the cause of bradycardia is probable for both ziprasidone and aripiprazole. Symptomatic bradycardia with the use of other atypical antipsychotics has been reported in the literature. Little is known about the mechanisms that contribute to the antipsychotic-associated bradycardic response.

CONCLUSIONS

Further studies are needed to better determine the relationship between antipsychotics and reflex bradycardia. Although bradycardia remains a relatively uncommon phenomenon seen with the use of these medications, the severity of this potential adverse effect warrants consideration when initiating antipsychotic therapy.

Late potentials in the signal-averaged electrocardiogram in schizophrenia patients maintained on antipsychotic agents: a preliminary naturalistic study

In the present, preliminary, naturalistic study, cardiac ventricular late potentials (LPs), were measured in 33 physically healthy schizophrenia patients (13 - females and 26 - males, age - 45.5+/-8.8years) maintained on typical and atypical antipsychotic agents. These LPs represent delayed ventricular activation that might predispose to fatal ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD) in cardiac patients. Sixteen of the 33 patients ( approximately 48%) were found to be positive for LPs (compared to 3.7-6% in the general population). No association was found with any of the following: drug type, anti-cholinergic burden, daily dose of antipsychotic agents, age, gender, disease duration, QT(c) interval and QT dispersion. Further large-scale longitudinal prospective studies are warranted to substantiate our findings and to clarify their impact on the excess cardiac morbidity and mortality in schizophrenia patients.

Cyamemazine metabolites: effects on human cardiac ion channels in-vitro and on the QTc interval in guinea pigs

Monodesmethyl cyamemazine and cyamemazine sulfoxide, the two main metabolites of the antipsychotic and anxiolytic phenothiazine cyamemazine, were investigated for their effects on the human ether-à-go-go related gene (hERG) channel expressed in HEK 293 cells and on native INa, ICa, Ito, Isus or IK1 of human atrial myocytes. Additionally, cyamemazine metabolites were compared with terfenadine for their effects on the QT interval in anaesthetized guinea pigs. Monodesmethyl cyamemazine and cyamemazine sulfoxide reduced hERG current amplitude, with IC50 values of 0.70 and 1.53 μM, respectively. By contrast, at a concentration of 1 μM, cyamemazine metabolites failed to significantly affect INa, Ito, Isus or IK1 current amplitudes. Cyamemazine sulfoxide had no effect on ICa at 1 μM, while at this concentration, monodesmethyl cyamemazine only slightly (17%), albeit significantly, inhibited ICa current. Finally, cyamemazine metabolites (5 mg kg−1 i.v.) were unable to significantly prolong QTc values in the guinea pig. Conversely, terfenadine (5 mg kg−1 i.v.) significantly increased QTc values. In conclusion, cyamemazine metabolite concentrations required to inhibit hERG current substantially exceed those necessary to achieve therapeutic activity of the parent compound in humans. Moreover, cyamemazine metabolites, in contrast to terfenadine, do not delay cardiac repolarization in the anaesthetized guinea pig. These non-clinical findings explain the excellent cardiac safety records of cyamemazine during its 30 years of extensive therapeutic use.

The potential relationship between QTc interval prolongation and ziprasidone treatment: three cases

QTc interval prolongation may appear as a consequence of both typical and atypical antipsychotic treatments. Ziprasidone, which is effective in treating schizophrenia, is associated with QTc prolongation. Although the prolongation of QTc with ziprasidone treatment is often pronounced, there is a scarce number of cases reported about the relationship between ziprasidone and QTc prolongation. Of the three cases presented in this case series, two cases showed values exceeding 0.50 s with ziprasidone treatment.

Hypokalemia is associated with lengthening of QT interval in psychiatric patients on admission

Several studies have revealed a relatively high frequency of hypokalemia in the general psychiatric population. This may be explained by adrenergic stimulation observed in the acute phase of psychiatric disorders. Little is known about the effects of hypokalemia on cardiac repolarisation in these circumstances. The current study was designed to determine if the hypokalemia observed among patients with acute psychiatric disorders can cause significant QT interval prolongation, and thus increase the risk of ventricular arrhythmia. Electrocardiograms were obtained in 282 non-selected patients admitted to a psychiatric unit. Heart-rate adjusted QT intervals (QTc) were compared to serum potassium levels and to other risk factors for QT prolongation (bradycardia, age, gender, and administration of antipsychotics). Hypokalemia, diagnosed in more than 11% of the patients, was associated with a significantly longer QTc interval (means 423.5+/-40 ms vs 408.5+/-31 ms), as was female sex. Multiple linear regression analysis on the studied risk factors revealed that only hypokalemia and female sex were independently associated with lengthening of the QT interval. According to our results, hypokalemia seems to be one of the most important risk factors for QT prolongation. We therefore strongly recommend that psychiatric patients should be screened for hypokalemia on admission.