Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Desensitization and Tachyphylaxis

Desensitization and Tachyphylaxis

Tachyphylaxis is described as a rapid decrease in response to a drug after repeated or continuous administration of the same drug dose. It is a phenomenon where the body becomes less responsive to a particular substance or intervention over time, requiring higher doses or stronger interventions to achieve the same effect. It results from adaptive changes in the body's receptors, signaling pathways, or physiological processes that occur in response to prolonged exposure to a stimulus.
Several...

Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs

Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs), including Desipramine (Norpramin), Imipramine (Tofranil), Clomipramine (Anafranil), and Amitriptyline (Elavil), inhibit serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake and also block other receptors. They are used for depression, pain conditions, and insomnia. Common adverse effects include anticholinergic effects, sedation, orthostatic hypotension, and weight gain. They have a narrow therapeutic window and so require plasma-level monitoring. Abrupt discontinuation can...

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

Atypical antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), and vilazodone (Viibryd), offer unique mechanisms of action. Bupropion weakly inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, aiding depression treatment and smoking cessation, with a low risk of sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine enhances serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, leading to sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. As a result, it helps treat...

Toxidromes: Clinical Features

Toxidromes: Clinical Features

Toxidromes are specific patterns of symptoms resulting from toxic substance exposure. They help in the identification and treatment of poisoning. The symptoms of each toxidrome group indicate poisoning by a certain class of chemicals or drugs.1. Sympathomimetic: Stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. Symptoms include agitation, increased heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), respiratory rate (RR), temperature, and pupil size. Drugs like cocaine and amphetamines, along with tremors and...

ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias

ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias

Arrhythmia is a condition characterized by an irregular heart rhythm, with ECG changes that differ based on its origin and nature. The types of arrhythmias discussed below include atrial, junctional, and ventricular arrhythmias.Atrial ArrhythmiasPremature Atrial Complexes (PACs): PACs are early atrial beats caused by stress, caffeine, alcohol, electrolyte imbalances, hypoxia, hyperthyroidism, or certain medications (e.g., bronchodilators and decongestants). The ECG shows early P waves with an...

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or shock therapy, remains a critical biomedical intervention for severe, treatment-resistant depression. While its origins can be traced back to Hippocrates' observations that malaria-induced convulsions alleviated mental illness, modern ECT has evolved significantly from its earlier, more primitive applications. First introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and his colleagues, ECT involves inducing controlled seizures using electrical currents. In its early years,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

A survey of child and adolescent psychiatry residents : demographic characteristics, program selection factors, training satisfaction, and career choice.

Academic psychiatry : the journal of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training and the Association for Academic Psychiatry·2014

Same author

Muscle activity during running in water and on dry land: matched physiology.

International journal of sports medicine·2013

Same author

Approaches to psychiatric assessment in epidemiological studies of children.

Journal of epidemiology and community health·2008

Same author

Summary of the practice parameter for the use of stimulant medications in the treatment of children, adolescents, and adults.

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry·2001

Same author

Summary of the practice parameter for the prevention and management of aggressive behavior in child and adolescent psychiatric institutions with special reference to seclusion and restraint.

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry·2001

Same author

Sudden death related to selected tricyclic antidepressants in children: epidemiology, mechanisms and clinical implications.

Paediatric drugs·2001

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 21, 2026

Methods for ECG Evaluation of Indicators of Cardiac Risk, and Susceptibility to Aconitine-induced Arrhythmias in Rats Following Status Epilepticus

Methods for ECG Evaluation of Indicators of Cardiac Risk, and Susceptibility to Aconitine-induced Arrhythmias in Rats Following Status Epilepticus

Published on: April 5, 2011

Case study: two additional sudden deaths with tricyclic antidepressants

C K Varley¹, J McClellan

¹Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

|March 1, 1997

Summary

Two children died suddenly while being treated with tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). These cases add to concerns regarding the safety of TCAs, like desipramine and imipramine, in pediatric patients.

More Related Videos

Implantation of Electroencephalogram and Electrocardiogram Telemetry Devices in Neonatal Rabbit Kits

Implantation of Electroencephalogram and Electrocardiogram Telemetry Devices in Neonatal Rabbit Kits

Published on: February 28, 2025

Effect of Yi-Nao-Jie-Yu Prescription on Post-Stroke Depression in Rats using Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Combined with Behavioral Restraint

Effect of Yi-Nao-Jie-Yu Prescription on Post-Stroke Depression in Rats using Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Combined with Behavioral Restraint

Published on: January 9, 2026

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 21, 2026

Methods for ECG Evaluation of Indicators of Cardiac Risk, and Susceptibility to Aconitine-induced Arrhythmias in Rats Following Status Epilepticus

Methods for ECG Evaluation of Indicators of Cardiac Risk, and Susceptibility to Aconitine-induced Arrhythmias in Rats Following Status Epilepticus

Published on: April 5, 2011

Implantation of Electroencephalogram and Electrocardiogram Telemetry Devices in Neonatal Rabbit Kits

Implantation of Electroencephalogram and Electrocardiogram Telemetry Devices in Neonatal Rabbit Kits

Published on: February 28, 2025

Effect of Yi-Nao-Jie-Yu Prescription on Post-Stroke Depression in Rats using Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Combined with Behavioral Restraint

Effect of Yi-Nao-Jie-Yu Prescription on Post-Stroke Depression in Rats using Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Combined with Behavioral Restraint

Published on: January 9, 2026

Area of Science:

Pediatric pharmacology
Cardiovascular safety in children
Adverse drug reactions

Background:

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are used to treat various conditions in children.
Previous reports have documented sudden deaths in children on desipramine.
Concerns exist regarding the cardiovascular safety of TCAs in pediatric populations.

Observation:

This case study details the sudden deaths of two additional children undergoing treatment with TCAs.
One child received desipramine at 3.3 mg/kg/day.
The second child was treated with imipramine (6 mg/kg/day) and thioridazine (1 mg/kg/day).

Findings:

The deaths of these two children, associated with desipramine and imipramine/thioridazine, are presented.
These events contribute to the existing body of evidence on TCA-related adverse events in children.
The findings highlight potential risks associated with specific TCA dosages and combinations.

Implications:

These cases underscore the need for careful monitoring of children treated with TCAs.
Further research into the mechanisms of sudden death associated with TCAs in pediatric patients is warranted.
Clinicians should weigh the benefits against the risks when prescribing TCAs for pediatric use, considering alternative treatments if necessary.