ARRHYTHMIAS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG TOXICITY

Cardiac arrhythmias may result from poisoning by a variety of agents. Some cardiac disturbances are of limited concern. For example, sinus t achycardia may be due to excessive catecholaminergic agents and usuall y requires no specific therapy, resolving with only supportive care. N evertheless, other arrhythmias occur because of the specific cardiac p roperties of the ingested drugs and require specific antidotes. In the se circumstances, the clinician must understand the resultant pathophy siology so that therapy is appropriate. This review focuses on drugs t hat cause ventricular arrhythmias and bradyarrhythmias. Although many of the drugs that lead to these disturbances are cardiovascular medica tions, toxicities from other common agents are also discussed.