Pro-arrhythmic effect of escitalopram and citalopram at serum concentrations commonly observed in older patients - a study based on a cohort of 19,742 patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

For a decade, patients have been advised against using high citalopram- and escitalopram-doses due to risk for ventricular arrhythmia and cardiac arrest. Still, these drugs are widely used to treat depression and anxiety especially in older patients. It is unclear why they are cardiotoxic and at what serum concentrations patients are at risk for arrhythmias. Thus, how many patients that are at risk for iatrogenic cardiac arrest is unknown.

Methods

We studied the arrhythmogenic effects of citalopram, escitalopram and their metabolites on human cardiomyocytes. Concentrations showing pro-arrhythmic activity were compared with observed drug and metabolite serum concentrations in a cohort of 19,742 patients (age 12-105 years) using escitalopram or citalopram in Norway

SUBMITTER: Faraj P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10474154 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature