TRANSIENT CARDIAC PACING IS INSUFFICIENTLY USED TO TREAT ARRHYTHMIA ASSOCIATED WITH THIORIDAZINE

All cases of arrhythmias associated with thioridazine were reviewed (1 77 cases). No case of severe ventricular arrhythmia was reported in ch ildren. In adults, at therapeutic doses, ventricular tachycardia or fi brillation (VT/VF) or torsade de pointes was observed mainly in patien ts with concomitant risk factors. At doses higher than 800 mg, atriove ntricular (A-V) and bundle branch blocks were associated with VT/VF. M ortality was higher in patients with A-V blocks. Although transient ca rdiac pacing is known to be efficacious to control phenothiazine-induc ed arrhythmias, it was rarely used.