ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC CHANGES IN PATIENTS RECEIVING NEUROLEPTIC MEDICATION

The precise aetiology of sudden death in patients receiving neurolepti c medication is uncertain, but cardiac arrhythmias are a possible caus e. We investigated the link between neuroleptic medication and electro cardiographic changes predictive of malignant cardiac arrhythmias. Ele ctrocardiographs were performed on 111 patients receiving neuroleptic medication and on 42 unmedicated controls. Prolonged QTc intervals wer e more common in the patient sample, but QTc dispersion was not signif icantly increased. QTc interval prolongation was more likely in patien ts on doses above 2000 mg chlorpromazine equivalents daily (odds ratio 4.28, P < 0.02). Neuroleptic medication, especially at high doses, is associated with ECG changes that may herald more serious cardiac prob lems.