Fatal overdose with trazodone: case report and literature review

Trazodone in the Management of Major Depression Among Elderly Patients with Dementia: A Narrative Review and Clinical Insights

Objective

Major depressive disorder (MDD) often co-occurs with dementia and other neurological disorders, and treatment with antidepressants can improve symptoms, quality of life, and survival in these patients. This narrative review provides an expert opinion about the role and effectiveness of trazodone in the treatment of older adults with MDD and cognitive impairment due to physical illnesses, such as dementia.

Results

Because of its mechanism of action, trazodone can treat several depression symptoms often seen in people with dementia, including insomnia, agitation, anxiety, cognitive impairment, and irritability.

Conclusion

Trazodone may be beneficial for patients with dementia or other neurological disorders comorbid with MDD, especially when the clinical picture of depression includes or is comorbid to symptoms of insomnia, irritability, inner tension, anxiety, or psychomotor agitation.

Psychotherapeutic drug-induced life-threatening arrhythmias: A retrospective analysis using the Japanese adverse drug event report database

Background

Drug-induced life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias including torsade de pointes (TdP), ventricular tachycardia (VT), and ventricular fibrillation (VF) are serious cardiac side effects. Psychotherapeutic drugs are known to be risk factors for arrhythmias. The aim of this study was to evaluate psychotherapeutic drugs associated with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias using the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) database.

Methods

From the JADER database (April 2004 to September 2022), cases of TdP, VT, VF, and QT prolongation in patients taking psychotherapeutic drugs as 'suspected drugs' were extracted. The adjusted reported odds ratio (aROR) was calculated to identify potential drugs involved in combined TdP/VF/VT or combined QT prolongation/TdP.

Results

Of the 4,530,772 cases reported, life-threatening arrhythmia-related adverse events were reported in 1760 cases (QT prolongation 1261, TdP 192, VF 108, VT 199) among 909 patients; 58.9% of patients were female, and the highest incidence was among patients aged 80-89 years (18.6%), followed by patients aged 70-79 years (15.4%). The highest aROR for TdP/VF/VT was found for trazodone (17.1), followed by sulpiride (10.8), haloperidol (9.8), donepezil (9.1), and fluvoxamine (7.9). The highest aROR for QT prolongation/TdP was found for guanfacine (87.8), followed by sultopride (60.1), escitalopram (21.0), trazodone (12.8), and donepezil (9.3).

Conclusions

This study showed that typical antipsychotics, antidepressants, and antidementia drugs were associated with life-threatening arrhythmia-related adverse events in a Japanese clinical setting. These events were more frequent in women and elderly individuals.

Trazodone Overdose Manifesting as Hypotension and QT Prolongation

Trazodone is a medication used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD). It is in the serotonin-antagonist-and-reuptake-inhibitor class of medications with anti-cholinergic effects. Trazodone is known for its sedative effects and is hence often prescribed in those with MDD with concurrent insomnia. While few, there have been reports of patients overdosing on trazodone and developing QTc prolongation leading to fatal arrhythmias such as torsades des pointes and variable atrioventricular blocks. We present a case of a 45-year-old female with a past medical history of MDD and anxiety, who presented with dizziness, transient ataxia, and urinary incontinence following ingestion of five 100 mg trazodone tablets. Although her vitals were initially stable on admission, her EKG was concerning for QTc prolongation of 502 ms. A few hours later, she started developing hypotension and progressive QTc prolongation, with a peak of 586 ms. Given the high risk of decompensation, the patient was admitted to the ICU for further care where she received adequate supportive management in the form of fluid resuscitation, electrolyte repletion, serial EKGs every hour, and telemetry monitoring for arrhythmias, with eventual improvement in her clinical condition. Trazodone poisoning, while rare, can be fatal and hence requires close monitoring to prevent complications. Clinicians must be aware of these possible adverse outcomes when managing trazodone toxicity.

Forensic Aspects of a Fatal Intoxication Involving Acetaminophen, Citalopram and Trazodone: A Case Report

We report the case of a young man, a former heroin addict, found dead at home by the Police Forces in an advanced state of decomposition. Numerous blisters and unpacked tablets of medications were found all over the bed and on the floor of the room. Multiple injuries to the face, left arm and neck of the deceased were noted. The latter damages were attributed to post-mortem dog bites, since no indications of a possible defense against the animal were observed. The autopsy findings were unremarkable. Toxicological investigations performed on peripheral blood and urine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique showed the presence of acetaminophen, citalopram and trazodone. Combined drug intoxication was proposed as the cause of death since acetaminophen and trazodone concentrations were comparable with the ones found in fatal cases. Moreover, citalopram concentration in peripheral blood was above the toxic range and in accordance with levels found in fatalities due to poly-drug intoxication.

Single-substance trazodone exposures reported to US poison centers from 2000 to 2019

BACKGROUND

Individual case reports describe trazodone overdose resulting in QTc prolongation and cardiac arrhythmias. The clinical effects and outcomes associated with trazodone exposures on a large-scale basis are less well known.

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective was to characterize the severity of single substance trazodone exposures and identify any relationships that may exist between dose of trazodone and severity of exposure. The secondary objective was to describe these exposures from a demographic and clinical symptom standpoint.

METHODS

A retrospective review of single-substance trazodone exposures reported to the National Poison Data System (NPDS) from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2019 was performed. The primary objective was to characterize the severity of trazodone exposures and relationships between ingested dose and level of care required or medical outcome.

RESULTS

A total of 118,773 cases were included in the analysis of demographics and level of care required. A majority (59.5%) of cases did not require medical admission. Of the 81,698 cases with known medical outcomes, the most common clinical effects included mild-moderate CNS depression (49.7%), QTc prolongation (12.2% of cases in 2019), vomiting (9.0%), hypotension (7.0%), and tachycardia (7.0%). The median ingested dose associated with treatment, and release from the emergency department was 600 mg compared to 1500 mg in those admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Regarding medical outcome, median ingested dose ranged from 600 mg in those experiencing no effect to 1500 mg in those experiencing major effects. Cardiac-related clinical effects and the need for cardiac-specific interventions were overall infrequent. A dose-response relationship was identified for level of care and medical outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Many trazodone exposures can be characterized as low severity due to the infrequent need for healthcare facility admission and large proportion of cases that experienced no effects or only minor effects.

Comparison of LC-MS and LC-DAD Methods of Detecting Abused Piperazine Designer Drugs

Recreational use of piperazine designer drugs is a serious threat to human health. These compounds act on the body in a similar fashion to illegal drugs. They induce psychostimulatory effects as well as visual and auditory hallucinations to varying degrees. In many cases of poisoning and deaths, the presence of two or even several psychoactive substances have been demonstrated. Piperazine derivatives are often found in such mixtures and pose a great analytical problem during their identification. Additionally, some piperazine derivatives can be detected in biological material as a result of metabolic changes to related drugs. Therefore, it is necessary to correctly identify these compounds and ensure repeatability of determinations. This article presents a comparison of the methods used to detect abused piperazine designer drugs using liquid chromatography in combination with a diode-array detector (LC-DAD) or mass spectrometer (LC-MS). Each of methods can be used independently for determinations, obtaining reliable results in a short time of analysis. These methods can also complement each other, providing qualitative and quantitative confirmation of results. The proposed methods provide analytical confirmation of poisoning and may be helpful in toxicological diagnostics.

Antidepressant Drugs Effects on Blood Pressure

Individuals suffering from depressive disorders display a greater incidence of hypertension compared with the general population, despite reports of the association between depression and hypotension. This phenomenon may depend, at least in part, on the use of antidepressant drugs, which may influence blood pressure through different effects on adrenergic and serotoninergic pathways, as well as on histaminergic, dopaminergic, and cholinergic systems. This review summarizes extant literature on the effect of antidepressant drugs on blood pressure. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are characterized by limited effects on autonomic system activity and a lower impact on blood pressure. Thus, they represent the safest class—particularly among elderly and cardiovascular patients. Serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, particularly venlafaxine, carry a greater risk of hypertension, possibly related to greater effects on the sympathetic nervous system. The norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor reboxetine is considered a safe option because of its neutral effects on blood pressure in long-term studies, even if both hypotensive and hypertensive effects are reported. The dopamine–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor bupropion can lead to blood pressure increases, usually at high doses, but may also cause orthostatic hypotension, especially in patients with cardiovascular diseases. The norepinephrine–serotonin modulators, mirtazapine and mianserin, have minimal effects on blood pressure but may rarely lead to orthostatic hypotension and falls. These adverse effects are also observed with the serotonin-reuptake modulators, nefazodone and trazodone, but seldomly with vortioxetine and vilazodone. Agomelatine, the only melatonergic antidepressant drug, may also have limited effects on blood pressure. Tricyclic antidepressants have been associated with increases in blood pressure, as well as orthostatic hypotension, particularly imipramine. Oral monoamine–oxidase inhibitors, less frequently skin patch formulations, have been associated with orthostatic hypotension or, conversely, with hypertensive crisis due to ingestion of tyramine-containing food (i.e., cheese reaction). Lastly, a hypertensive crisis may complicate antidepressant treatment as a part of the serotonin syndrome, also including neuromuscular, cognitive, and autonomic dysfunctions. Clinicians treating depressive patients should carefully consider their blood pressure status and cardiovascular comorbidities because of the effects of antidepressant drugs on blood pressure profiles and potential interactions with antihypertensive treatments.

Suspected hepatotoxicity secondary to trazodone therapy in a dog

OBJECTIVE

To describe a case of suspected hepatotoxicity in a dog secondary to administration of trazodone.

CASE SUMMARY

A 6-year-old, neutered, mixed breed dog was evaluated for a progressive increased liver enzyme activity over a 6-week period. The patient originally presented for raisin toxicosis, and hence, was having serial blood work monitoring performed. Trazodone was initially started at that time due to severe separation anxiety while hospitalized (consistently 5 out of 7 days of the week, for a 6-week duration). Due to continued increased liver enzyme activity, extensive workup was performed which included abdominal ultrasound, leptospirosis titers, bile acids, and liver biopsies. Histopathologic findings were consistent with acute hepatotoxicity. In the absence of other toxicants and the close proximity to drug administration, a drug-induced hepatopathy secondary to trazodone was presumed. Following discontinuation of trazodone therapy, the hepatopathy completely resolved and the patient fully recovered.

NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED

While acute hepatotoxicity has been reported in human medicine secondary to the administration of trazodone, this is the first reported case of suspected hepatotoxicity in a dog secondary to trazodone therapy. Veterinary professionals should be aware of the rare potential adverse effect that may be seen in canine patients secondary to trazodone therapy. Appropriate clinicopathologic monitoring should occur in patients on chronic trazodone therapy.

A Case of Trazodone Overdose Successfully Rescued With Lipid Emulsion Therapy

Trazodone is a very common medication prescribed to patients who suffer from insomnia. The toxic effects of trazodone remain ill-defined with no current known antidote therapy. Lipid emulsion therapy has been described as general rescue therapy in toxicology. Unfortunately, only select substance overdoses respond to lipid emulsion therapy. The authors present a unique application of lipid emulsion therapy in a post-cardiac arrest situation involving a trazodone overdose.

Effect of 3 Single Doses of Trazodone on QTc Interval in Healthy Subjects

This study evaluated the effect of 3 doses of a trazodone hydrochloride 6% oral drops solution on the QT interval of healthy volunteers. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive a single dose of trazodone 20 mg, 60 mg, and 140 mg, moxifloxacin 400 mg, and trazodone‐matched placebo in 5 periods separated by 7‐day washouts, according to a double‐blind, crossover study design. Subjects were monitored continuously, and triplicate ECGs were extracted from baseline (predose) until 24 hours postdose. Blood samples for trazodone and moxifloxacin analyses were collected at the same time points. The concentration‐QTc relationship assessed on placebo‐adjusted change from baseline for Fridericia‐corrected QT (ΔΔQTcF) was the primary end point. ΔΔQTcF values of 4.5, 12.3, and 19.8 ms for the 20‐, 60‐, and 140‐mg doses were observed at the corresponding trazodone peak plasma concentrations. The upper bound of the 90%CI exceeded 10 ms for the 60‐ and the 140‐mg doses. Time‐matched analysis results were in line with these findings. No significant trazodone effect on heart rate or PR or QRS intervals and no clinically significant new morphological changes were present. In this moxifloxacin‐validated ECG trial, trazodone had a modest, dose‐dependent effect on cardiac repolarization, with no QTc prolongation observed with the 20‐mg dose and an effect exceeding the values set in E14 guideline with the 60‐ and 140‐mg doses. The effect on cardiac repolarization is unlikely to represent a clinical risk for ventricular proarrhythmia, but caution should be used with concomitant use of other medications that prolong QT or increase trazodone exposure.

Drug-specific risk of severe QT prolongation following acute drug overdose

Background: Severe QT prolongation (SQTP) has been identified as a strong predictor of adverse cardiovascular events in acute drug overdose, but drug-specific causes of SQTP in the setting of acute drug overdose remain unclear. We aimed to perform the most definitive study to date describing drug-specific risk of SQTP following acute drug overdose.Methods: This was a prospective multicenter cohort study at >50 hospital sites across the US using the ToxIC Registry between 2015 and 2018. Inclusion criteria were adults (≥18 years) receiving medical toxicology consultation for acute drug overdose. The primary outcome was SQTP, which was defined using the computer automated Bazett QT correction (QTc) on the ECG with the previously validated cut point of 500 milliseconds. Mean difference in QTc was also calculated for specific drugs. Drugs associated with SQTP were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression to control for known confounders of QT risk (age, sex, race, cardiac disease).Results: From 25,303 patients screened, 6473 met inclusion criteria with SQTP occurring in 825 (13%). Drugs associated with increased adjusted odds of SQTP included Class III antidysrhythmics (sotalol), sodium channel blockers (amitriptyline, diphenhydramine, doxepin, imipramine, nortriptyline), antidepressants (bupropion, citalopram, escitalopram, trazodone), antipsychotics (haloperidol, quetiapine), and the antiemetic serotonin antagonist ondansetron.Conclusions: This large US cohort describes drug-specific risk of SQTP following acute drug overdose. Healthcare providers caring for acute drug overdoses from any of these implicated drugs should pay close attention to cardiac monitoring for occurrence of SQTP.

Coma Reversal After Intravenous Lipid Emulsion Therapy in a Trazodone-Poisoned Patient

A 77-year-old woman developed a deep coma (Glasgow Coma Scale score at 3/15) after a trazodone overdose (maximal ingested dose, 4500 mg), and orotracheal intubation was required for mechanical ventilation. In addition, she presented sinus bradycardia (<40/min) with QTc prolongation, whereas arterial blood pressure was preserved. The administration of intravenous lipid emulsion (1.5 mL/kg as a bolus followed by a continuous infusion of 0.5 mL/kg per minute for 30 minutes) resulted in a rapid improvement of her neurological condition, with a Glasgow Coma Scale score rising from 3 to 10/15 at the end of intravenous lipid emulsion infusion. A significant increase in heart rate (from 39 to 54/min) was also observed. The treatment was well tolerated, and the patient did not experience ventricular dysrhythmias. In addition, the patient was found to have a reduced metabolic activity related to cytochrome P450 2D6 polymorphism.

Arrhythmias in Severe Trazodone Overdose

BACKGROUND Trazodone is widely used in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and insomnia. It is thought to have a safe cardiac profile due to the relative lack of anticholinergic effects. Publications about cardiac toxicities of trazodone are scant. CASE REPORT A 55-year-old woman presented with acute disorder of consciousness secondary to an intentional trazodone overdose. She was found to have seizure activity without cerebral edema. The initial electrocardiogram was unremarkable, with a normal QTc interval. She eventually developed QTc prolongation that evolved into ventricular tachycardia, and then into a transient right bundle-branch block, left anterior fascicular block, and variable degrees of atrioventricular nodal blocks at 12-24 h after ingestion. She then developed generalized tonic-clonic seizures, cardiogenic shock, and respiratory arrest. She was intubated and treated with antiepileptics, norepinephrine, and dopamine infusion. QTc interval prolongation gradually resolved and the various forms of heart block did not recur after at 24-36 h. She did not require transcutaneous pacing, and was successfully extubated with intact neurological function. CONCLUSIONS Fatal arrhythmias can occur in trazodone overdose. Close monitoring and supportive care are crucial for patient survival.

Management of Trazodone Overdose with Severe Hypotension

Trazodone is a medication that possesses antidepressant, anxiolytic, and hypnotic properties. Its mechanism of action includes blockade of serotonin type 2 receptors, weak inhibition of serotonin reuptake, blockade of histamine 1 receptors, and blockade of alpha-1-adrenergic receptors. We present a case of intentional ingestion of an estimated 2500 mg of trazodone leading to persistent hypotension, requiring aggressive fluid resuscitation, pressor support, and intensive care unit admission. Complications associated with trazodone overdoses are significant and clinicians should be aware of the associated symptoms and necessary management plans necessary for such ingestions.

Unintentional trazodone overdoses in children ≤6 years of age: data from poison center over a period of 16 years

CONTEXT

Trazodone is an atypical antidepressant with no established safety in children. Previous case reports showed no complications at doses 50-500 mg in children. Our study objective is to characterize the clinical effects, dose-related toxicity, and establish triage dose for acute trazodone ingestions in children ≤6 years of age.

METHODS

Cases with acute trazodone ingestions in children ≤6 years of age between 2000 and 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Data were analyzed for dose (mg/kg), clinical effects, management site, treatment, and outcome. Cases with coingestions, unknown outcome, or unknown dose were excluded.

RESULTS

A total of 84 patients (mean age 26.7 months, 35 females, 49 males) were included. Of those, 52 (61.9%) had no clinical effects; 29 (34.5%) had minor effects (vomiting, dizziness, headache); and three (3.6%) had moderate effects (ataxia, slurred speech, priapism). No major effects or deaths were observed. Moderate effects were manifested at doses ≥6.9 mg/kg. Priapism occurred in a 2-year-old child at a dose of 6.9 mg/kg. Sixteen (19%) patients were managed at home and 68 (81%) patients were referred to a HCF. Among those referred to a HCF, three (4.4%) patients had moderate effects with ingested dose ≥6.9 mg/kg. However, 27 (39.7%) patients of those referred to a HCF had an ingested dose <6 mg/kg and none of them manifested symptoms beyond minor effects. All referred patients had uneventful recovery and no sequela.

CONCLUSIONS

Children should be referred for further evaluation in acute unintentional trazodone ingestions with doses ≥6 mg/kg.

Assessment of trazodone-induced cardiotoxicity after repeated doses in rats

Trazodone (TRZ) is an antidepressant drug commonly used in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Although some studies demonstrated the adverse effects of TRZ related to cardiovascular system, the conflicting results were observed in these studies. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the cardiac adverse effects of TRZ in rats at repeated doses in our study. In accordance with this purpose, TRZ was administered orally to rats at 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg doses for 28 days. Electrocardiogram records, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase-myoglobin band, cardiac troponin-T (cTn-T) levels, DNA damage in cardiomyocytes, and histologic view of heart tissues were evaluated. In addition, glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured to determine the oxidative status of cardiac tissue after TRZ administration. Heart rate was decreased, PR interval was prolonged, and QRS and T amplitudes were decreased in 20 mg/kg TRZ-administered group compared to the control group. Serum AST and cTn-T levels were significantly increased in 10 and 20 mg/kg TRZ-administered rats with respect to control rats. DNA damage was significantly increased in these groups. Additionally, degenerative histopathologic findings were observed in TRZ-administered groups. Although there was no difference in MDA levels between groups, GSH levels were significantly decreased in 10 and 20 mg/kg TRZ-administered groups compared to the control group. Our results have shown that TRZ induced cardiotoxicity in rats dose-dependently. It is assumed that oxidative stress related to GSH depletion may be accompanied by these adverse effects.

Fatal Cerebral Edema, Seizures, and Hyponatremia After Trazodone Overdose

Trazodone is a serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor that is widely used for the treatment of depression and insomnia. Fatal overdose is rare and usually occurs when combined with other drugs or alcohol. Only a few lethal cases of pure trazodone overdose have been reported, all attributed to cardiotoxicity. We reported a 37-year-old woman who presented after ingesting 6.45 g of trazodone in a suicidal attempt. She was hyponatremic because of the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion and, shortly after, had a seizure and developed fatal cerebral edema. Others have described seizures and hyponatremia after pure trazodone overdose, but this is the first report of cerebral edema and death from a neurological complication. Careful monitoring and correction of sodium levels may be necessary in these patients.

Cellular mechanisms for trazodone-induced cardiotoxicity

The second-generation selective 5-HT2 receptor antagonists and reuptake inhibitors (SARIs) class antidepressants are known to have fewer cardiovascular side effects than the older ones. However, several case reports showed that trazodone, one of the second-generation SARIs, induces QT prolongation, cardiac arrhythmia, and ventricular tachycardia. Although these clinical cases suggested trazodone-induced cardiotoxicity, the toxicological actions of trazodone on cardiac action potentials (APs) beyond the human ether-a-go-go related gene (hERG) remain unclear. To elucidate the cellular mechanism for the adverse cardiac effects of trazodone, we investigated its effects on cardiac APs and ion channels using whole-cell patch clamp techniques in human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) and transiently transfected human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) with cardiac ion channel complementary DNA. Trazodone dose-dependently decreased the maximum upstroke velocity ( Vmax) and prolonged the AP duration, inducing early after depolarizations at 3 and 10 μM that triggered ventricular arrhythmias in hiPSC-CMs. Trazodone also inhibited all of the major ion channels ( IKr, IKs, INa, and ICa), with an especially high inhibitory potency on hERG. These data indicate that the prolonged AP duration and decreased Vmax due to trazodone are mainly the result of hERG and sodium ion inhibition, and its inhibitory effects on cardiac ion channels can be exhibited in hiPSC-CMs.

Trazodone and omeprazole interaction causing frequent second-degree Mobitz type 1 atrioventricular (AV) block (Wenckebach phenomenon) and syncope: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

This case report highlights serious cardiovascular adverse effects with a conventional dose of trazodone as a result of its potential interaction with omeprazole.

CASE REPORT

A 54-year-old man who was a former smoker, with dyslipidemia, coronary artery disease, and anxiety disorder developed lightheadedness and syncope the morning of admission. He was taking trazodone 50 mg daily, omeprazole 20 mg daily, and simvastatin 20 mg at bedtime. He doubled the dose of trazodone 50 mg on the night prior to presentation to calm his anxiety. An electrocardiogram revealed sinus rhythm at 60 beats per minute and second-degree Mobitz type 1 atrioventricular (AV) block with 5:4 AV conduction. Results of basic metabolic panel, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and chest radiograph were normal. A transthoracic echocardiogram revealed aortic valve sclerosis. We tested for Lyme disease given his history of hunting in the woods 8 months prior to presentation, but the titer was negative. Trazodone and omeprazole were discontinued. By the 3rd day of medication discontinuation, all symptoms had resolved and the frequency of second-degree AV Mobitz type 1 AV block had decreased to once per hour.

CONCLUSIONS

Due diligence and meticulous attention to detail needs to be exercised to uncover drug interactions as potential causes of lethal and nonlethal patient symptomatology, as in this case of syncope caused by concomitant use of trazodone and a widely prescribed medication, omeprazole.

Rediscovering trazodone for the treatment of major depressive disorder

Trazodone is a triazolopyridine derivative that belongs to the class of serotonin receptor antagonists and reuptake inhibitors (SARIs). The drug is approved and marketed in several countries worldwide for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adult patients. In clinical studies, trazodone has demonstrated comparable antidepressant activity to other drug classes, including tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-noradrenaline (norepinephrine) reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Moreover, the SARI action of trazodone may overcome the tolerability issues that are often associated with second-generation antidepressants such as SSRIs (i.e. insomnia, anxiety and sexual dysfunction). Recent focus has been placed on the development of a new prolonged-release once-a-day formulation of trazodone (TzCOAD), which may provide improved tolerability over the conventional immediate-release formulation of trazodone. Clinical studies have led to the recent approval in the USA of TzCOAD (as Oleptro™; Angelini Labopharm LLC, Princeton, NJ, USA), which may see resurgence of interest in the drug for the management of patients with MDD. Although trazodone is approved for the treatment of depression, evidence supports the use of low-dose trazodone as an off-label hypnotic for the treatment of sleep disorders in patients with MDD. The most common adverse effects reported with trazodone are drowsiness (somnolence/sedation), headache, dizziness and dry mouth. Other events reported, albeit with low incidence, include orthostatic hypotension (particularly in elderly patients or those with heart disease), minimal anticholinergic activity, corrected QT interval prolongation and torsade de pointes, cardiac arrhythmias, and rare occurrences of priapism and suicidal ideation. Overall, trazodone is an effective and well tolerated antidepressant (SARI) with an important role in the current treatment of MDD both as monotherapy and as part of a combination strategy. Trazodone is effective in controlling a wide range of symptoms of depression, while avoiding the negative effects on sleep seen with SSRI antidepressants. The recently approved prolonged-release formulation should provide further optimization of this antidepressant and may be useful for enabling an appropriate therapeutic dose to be administered with improved patient compliance.

Bradycardia following a single low dose of trazodone

Symptomatic bradycardia following a single low dose of oral trazodone is rare. Herein, we report the case of a patient with major depressive disorder who developed and was able to resolve symptomatic bradycardia following administration of a single low dose of trazodone 50mg, and then discontinuation. This is the first case report of symptomatic bradycardia which might be attributed to a single lowest dose of trazodone in the world.

Antidepressant drugs and cardiovascular pathology: a clinical overview of effectiveness and safety

OBJECTIVE

To review data examining the relationships between depression, antidepressants and cardiovascular disease.

METHOD

Structured searches of PubMed, Medline and Embase conducted in March 2008.

RESULTS

Depression and cardiovascular disease are closely associated clinical entities. Depression appears both to cause and worsen cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is in turn associated with a high incidence of depression. Depression is associated with increased mortality in cardiovascular disease, and after myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke. Many antidepressants have cardiotoxic properties. Tricyclic drugs are highly cardiotoxic in overdose and may induce cardiovascular disease and worsen outcome in established cardiovascular disease. Reboxetine, duloxetine and venlafaxine are known to increase blood pressure. Other antidepressants have neutral or beneficial effects in various cardiovascular disorders.

CONCLUSION

Sertraline, fluoxetine, citalopram, bupropion and mirtazapine appear to be safe to use after MI; the use of sertraline, and response to citalopram and mirtazapine may improve mortality. Paroxetine and citalopram appear to be safe to use in patients with established coronary artery disease. Limited data suggest that a variety of antidepressants are effective and safe to use after stroke.

Management of ventricular dysrhythmia secondary to trazodone overdose

Torsades de pointes (TdP), a life-threatening ventricular dysrhythmia, was recorded in a 30-year-old woman who had taken a deliberate overdose of trazodone. The patient was successfully defibrillated to normal sinus rhythm and given intravenous magnesium sulfate according to Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support guidelines. The patient was discharged and experienced no further complications.

The QT interval and psychotropic medications in children: recommendations for clinicians

The use of psychotropic medications in children has increased significantly in the last few years. There have been several case reports of sudden death in children taking specific psychotropic medications. Fears that these deaths might have been caused by ventricular arrhythmias have been enhanced by reports of electrocardiographic abnormalities, including prolongation of the QTc interval, in patients taking these medications. Several factors including genetic susceptibility, pre-existing cardiac disease, abnormalities of drug clearance and concomitant use of other medications known to affect the QTc interval can increase the susceptibility of the heart to conduction abnormalities. This article discusses the potential of particular psychotropic drugs to prolong the QTc interval in children, and examines other factors that may contribute to conduction abnormalities. We aim to provide clear clinical recommendations for the prescription of these drugs and the monitoring of children taking them.

Development of a solid phase extraction for 13 'new' generation antidepressants and their active metabolites for gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis

A solid phase extraction procedure (SPE) for 13 'new' antidepressants (venlafaxine, fluoxetine, viloxazine, fluvoxamine, mianserin, mirtazapine, melitracen, reboxetine, citalopram, maprotiline, sertraline, paroxetine and trazodone) together with eight of their metabolites (O-desmethylvenlafaxine, norfluoxetine, desmethylmianserine, desmethylmirtazapine, desmethylcitalopram, didesmethylcitalopram, desmethylsertraline and m-chlorophenylpiperazine) from plasma is optimized using HPLC-DAD as monitoring system. Special attention has been paid to the choice of washing and eluting solvent, resulting in a highly concentrated, clean and moisture free extract, also suitable for GC-MS. A total number of 10 sorbents (apolar, polymeric, ion-exchange and mixed mode) was evaluated. Based on recovery, reproducibility and absence of interfering substances the strong cation exchanger gave the best results. Recoveries were determined at low and high therapeutic and toxic levels and ranged between 70 and 109% for all compounds, except for trazodone (39%).

Effect of trazodone on hERG channel current and QT-interval

Trazodone has been associated with prolonged QT-interval and increased risk of polymorphous ventricular tachycardias clinically and has demonstrated in vitro inhibition of hERG (human ether-á-go-go-related gene) channel current. This study attempts to put the effects of trazodone into perspective by comparing its hERG inhibition to that of three agents known to inhibit I(Kr), and comparing the effects of trazodone and cisapride on action potential duration and the QT-interval in the rabbit Langendorff heart preparation. Trazodone inhibited hERG channel current in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 of 0.69 microM. Like astemizole, terfenadine and cisapride, trazodone inhibits hERG channel current at clinically relevant concentrations. Like cisapride, trazodone increased both the QT-interval and APD90 in the Langendorff heart preparation in a reverse frequency-dependent manner at clinically relevant concentrations. These data strongly suggest that trazodone prolongs the QT-interval through inhibition of hERG channel current.