Abstract
Venlafaxine, a structurally novel antidepressant, belongs to a new generation of anti depressants - the serotonin/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors. In clinical trials, venlafaxine was found safe and effective in most patients. However, significant changes in vital signs (hyper- and hypotension) and cardiac conduction abnormalities were observed in a few patients, notably in elderly patients. We present a case of an elderly woman with a pre-existing history of ischaemic heart disease, who was treated with venlafaxine, and developed acute myocardial ischaemia within the first week of treatment. This is the first report of a possible association between an acute cardiovascular event and venlafaxine. The association of venlafaxine treatment with ischaemic events could be explained by its unique pharmacological and haemodynamic properties.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 193-195 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Journal of Psychopharmacology |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1999 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Cardiotoxicity
- Serotonin/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors
- Venlafaxine
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Pharmacology (medical)