Cardiovascular Adverse Effects of Psychotropic Medications.
- Author:
Ung Gu KANG
1
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. kangug@plaza.snu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Psychotropics;
Cardiovascular side effect;
Drug interaction;
Arrhythmia
- MeSH:
Arrhythmias, Cardiac;
Brain;
Cardiovascular Diseases;
Cardiovascular System;
Central Nervous System;
Depression;
Drug Interactions;
Heart;
Humans;
Ion Channels;
Mental Disorders;
Prevalence;
Prognosis;
Psychotropic Drugs;
Receptors, Neurotransmitter
- From:Korean Journal of Psychopharmacology
2001;12(3):177-186
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
The adverse cardiovascular effects of some psychotropic drugs are well known. The brain and the heart share same neurotransmitter receptors and ion channels. This means that the medications affecting the central nervous system also have effects on the cardiovascular system and vice versa. In the patients with psychiatric disorders such as depression, the prevalence of cardiovascular disorder is increased. Conversely, depression is common in the patients with cardiovascular diseases and the presence of depression affects the prognosis of cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, recent increase in the geriatric population accompanies the increase in the patients with comorbid chronic cardiovascular and mental disorders. These suggest that an adequate consideration about the cardiovascular problems is mandatory in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. In this article, the author reviews the adverse cardiovascular effects of psychotropic medications in the theoretical and clinical aspects. The author also briefly summarizes the interactions between cardiovascular and psychotropic medications. Finally, the author presents two cases of potentially serious cardiovascular adverse effects of psychotropics, and then proposes a brief strategy for the prevention of these problems.
