Reactions 1082 - 17 Dec 2005

Citalopram

Heart block in elderly patient: case reportA 75-year-old man experienced atrioventricular block during

treatment with citalopram for recurrent depressive symptoms.The man, who had a history of hypertension and

hypercholesterolaemia, presented with a 2-week history ofepisodic faintness associated with perceived cardiac beatirregularity, usually occurring between 5 and 7am. An ECGrevealed a first-degree atrioventricular block (P-R interval0.25 seconds). A second-degree atrioventricular block,Mobitz I type, with several phases between 11pm and 6amwas identified on a 24-hour recording.

Citalopram therapy was discontinued immediately; after2–3 days, the man’s faintness had ceased. A 24-hour recording4 weeks later showed normal sinus rhythm with a P-R intervalof 0.18 seconds; no conduction disturbances were observed.Gambassi G, et al. Atrioventricular blocks associated with citalopram. AmericanJournal of Geriatric Psychiatry 13: 918-919, No. 10, Oct 2005 - Italy 801028996

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Reactions 17 Dec 2005 No. 10820114-9954/10/1082-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved