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Ventricular Dysrhythmias Associated with Poisoning and Drug Overdose: A 10-Year Review of Statewide Poison Control Center Data from California

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Abstract

Background

Ventricular dysrhythmias are a serious consequence associated with drug overdose and chemical poisoning. The risk factors for the type of ventricular dysrhythmia and the outcomes by drug class are not well documented.

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the most common drugs and chemicals associated with ventricular dysrhythmias and their outcomes.

Methods

We reviewed all human exposures reported to a statewide poison control system between 2002 and 2011 that had a documented ventricular dysrhythmia. Cases were differentiated into two groups by type of arrhythmia: (1) ventricular fibrillation and/or tachycardia (VT/VF); and (2) torsade de pointes (TdP).

Results

Among the 300 potential cases identified, 148 cases met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 132 cases (89 %) experienced an episode of VT or VF, while the remaining 16 cases (11 %) had an episode of TdP. The most commonly involved therapeutic classes of drugs associated with VT/VF were antidepressants (33/132, 25 %), stimulants (33/132, 25 %), and diphenhydramine (16/132, 12.1 %). Those associated with TdP were antidepressants (4/16, 25 %), methadone (4/16, 25 %), and antiarrhythmics (3/16, 18.75 %). Drug exposures with the greatest risk of death in association with VT/VF were antidepressant exposure [odds ratio (OR) 1.71; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.705–4.181] and antiarrhythmic exposure (OR 1.75; 95 % CI 0.304–10.05), but neither association was statistically significant. Drug exposures with a statistically significant risk for TdP included methadone and antiarrhythmic drugs.

Conclusions

Antidepressants and stimulants were the most common drugs associated with ventricular dysrhythmias. Patients with suspected poisonings by medications with a high risk of ventricular dysrhythmia warrant prompt ECG monitoring.

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Acknowledgment

No external funding was used to conduct this study. None of the authors have any conflicts of interest that might be relevant to the contents of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. California Poison Control System, San Francisco Division, University of California, San Francisco, USA

    Suad A. Al-Abri, Kent R. Olson & Thomas E. Kearney

  2. School of Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco, USA

    Claire Woodburn

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  1. Suad A. Al-Abri
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  2. Claire Woodburn
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Correspondence to Suad A. Al-Abri.

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Al-Abri, S.A., Woodburn, C., Olson, K.R. et al. Ventricular Dysrhythmias Associated with Poisoning and Drug Overdose: A 10-Year Review of Statewide Poison Control Center Data from California. Am J Cardiovasc Drugs 15, 43–50 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40256-014-0104-1

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