Related Experiment Videos
Phenothiazine-induced ECG abnormalities: effect of a glucose load
Archives of General Psychiatry
|August 1, 1977
Summary
This study found that phenothiazine medications, like perphenazine, can cause abnormal ECG readings after meals in schizophrenia patients. This effect was more pronounced in women, highlighting the impact of glucose load on cardiac repolarization.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Phenothiazines are antipsychotic drugs used in schizophrenia treatment.
- Previous studies suggest phenothiazines can affect cardiac repolarization.
- The role of glucose load in phenothiazine-induced ECG changes requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of a glucose load on electrocardiogram (ECG) repolarization abnormalities in schizophrenia patients treated with perphenazine or a combination of amitriptyline and perphenazine.
- To compare these effects with placebo treatment.
- To explore potential sex differences in ECG response.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, double-blind study involving 54 schizophrenia patients.
- Patients were assigned to placebo, perphenazine (20 mg/day), or amitriptyline (125 mg/day) with perphenazine (20 mg/day) for 12 weeks.
- ECGs were recorded after an overnight fast and after a 600-calorie meal.
Main Results:
- Patients on perphenazine or amitriptyline-perphenazine showed a statistically significant increase in repolarization abnormality after the meal.
- Placebo-treated patients did not exhibit such increases.
- The incidence of post-meal repolarization abnormality was higher in female patients compared to male patients.
Conclusions:
- The findings support the hypothesis that glucose load may cause or facilitate phenothiazine-induced ECG changes.
- These results have practical implications for interpreting ECG abnormalities in patients taking phenothiazines.
- Sex differences in response warrant further research.