Tricyclic antidepressant use in a patient with bundle branch blocks and ventricular ectopy

Amoxapine, a dibenzoxapine tricyclic antidepressant, was used successfully to treat a depressed elderly woman with left anterior hemiblock, right bundle branch block, and ventricular ectopy. This case highlights the importance of serial electrocardiographic monitoring in depressed patients with cardiac abnormalities treated with tricyclic antidepressants. The apparent reduction of ectopy in this case indicates a possible quinidine-like action of amoxapine.