Effect of amitriptyline antidotes on repetitive extrasystole threshold
Open Access
- 30 April 1980
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Nature in Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics
- Vol. 27 (5) , 602-606
- https://doi.org/10.1038/clpt.1980.85
Abstract
The effect of amitriptyline that leads to ventricular tachycardia was evaluated by the repetitive extrasystole threshold (RET) technique in 18 dogs. The RET was 28.8 ± 7.9 mamp before and 8.2 ± 5.3 mamp after amitriptyline, p < 0.001. Physostigmine, propranolol, sodium bicarbonate, and left stellate ganglionectomy reversed the effect of amitriptyline on RET. We conclude that amitriptyline overdose predisposes to sudden death by lowering the ventricular fibrillation threshold. This cardiotoxic effect is mediated partly through the central nervous system and can be inhibited by increased plasma binding (bicarbonate), cholinergic stimulation (physostigmine), beta adrenergic blockade (propranolol), and sympathetic denervation (left stellate ganglionectomy). Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1980) 27, 602–606; doi:10.1038/clpt.1980.85This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:
- Repetitive extrasystole as an index of vulnerability to ventricular fibrillationAmerican Journal of Physiology-Legacy Content, 1976