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Summary
Clinical Toxicology
2004, Vol. 42, No. 1, Pages 67-71
Comparative Toxicity of Citalopram and the Newer Antidepressants After Overdose
C. A. Kelly, N. Dhaun, W. J. Laing, F. E. Strachan, A. M. Good and D. N. Bateman
Scottish Poisons Information Bureau, Royal Infirmary, Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Objective: To compare the toxicity of citalopram, venlafaxine, mirtazapine, and nefazadone after overdose. Methods: Two‐year retrospective review of consecutive patients admitted to the toxicology unit of Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Outcome measure included physiological variables, ECG recordings, peak creatine kinase, development of arrhythmias, seizure, tremor or agitation, and the need for admission to a critical care facility. Results: A total of 225 patients were studied. Venlafaxine was associated with a significantly higher pulse rate (p < 0.0001) and tremor (p = 0.007) than other antidepressants. Citalopram was associated with a significantly longer QT interval on ECG recording (p < 0.0001) but mean QTc durations were not significantly different between all drugs studied. No arrhythmias were recorded. Only venlafaxine and citalopram caused seizures and were associated with the need for admission to Intensive Care, but there was no significant difference between them. Conclusions: Mirtazapine and nefazadone appear safe in overdose and were associated with minimal features of neurological or cardiovascular toxicity. Citalopram is more likely to cause QT prolongation but other features of cardiovascular toxicity were uncommon. Both citalopram and venlafaxine are proconvulsants. Venlafaxine also causes more frequent features of the serotonin syndrome.
www.informahealthcare.com/doi/a...028747
Clinical Toxicology
2004, Vol. 42, No. 1, Pages 67-71
Comparative Toxicity of Citalopram and the Newer Antidepressants After Overdose
C. A. Kelly, N. Dhaun, W. J. Laing, F. E. Strachan, A. M. Good and D. N. Bateman
Scottish Poisons Information Bureau, Royal Infirmary, Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Objective: To compare the toxicity of citalopram, venlafaxine, mirtazapine, and nefazadone after overdose. Methods: Two‐year retrospective review of consecutive patients admitted to the toxicology unit of Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Outcome measure included physiological variables, ECG recordings, peak creatine kinase, development of arrhythmias, seizure, tremor or agitation, and the need for admission to a critical care facility. Results: A total of 225 patients were studied. Venlafaxine was associated with a significantly higher pulse rate (p < 0.0001) and tremor (p = 0.007) than other antidepressants. Citalopram was associated with a significantly longer QT interval on ECG recording (p < 0.0001) but mean QTc durations were not significantly different between all drugs studied. No arrhythmias were recorded. Only venlafaxine and citalopram caused seizures and were associated with the need for admission to Intensive Care, but there was no significant difference between them. Conclusions: Mirtazapine and nefazadone appear safe in overdose and were associated with minimal features of neurological or cardiovascular toxicity. Citalopram is more likely to cause QT prolongation but other features of cardiovascular toxicity were uncommon. Both citalopram and venlafaxine are proconvulsants. Venlafaxine also causes more frequent features of the serotonin syndrome.
www.informahealthcare.com/doi/a...028747
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Re: Venlafaxine also causes more frequent features of the serotonin syndrome.
Tue, October 27, 2009 - 12:27 AMThere is now a new understanding of serotonin syndrome in that it can be less severe than life threatening and even chronic worth looking up if you are not feeling well and taking antidepressants. Another thing I just learned is opiates also increase serotonin which increase your chances of ss please educate yourself.
