Calcium for Myocardial Depression from Verapamil

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Abstract
To the Editor: We recently used intravenous calcium chloride to reverse an unfavorable hemodynamic response to verapamil.A 76-year-old man, a smoker with a history of myocardial infarction, presented to the emergency department, reporting nausea and vague malaise of several hours' duration. He denied having any recent chest pain or symptoms of congestive heart failure; his medications were limited to Dyazide, furosemide (Lasix), and pilocarpine ophthalmic drops. The blood pressure was 112/80 mm Hg, and the heart rate was 160. Electrocardiography revealed regular, wide QRS tachycardia at 180 beats per minute that, although later believed to be most consistent . . .