The EKG in the patient treated with tricyclic antidepressants
(Redirected from Heterocyclic antidepressant overdose)
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Associate Editor-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]
Electrocardiographic Findings
- EKG changes are observed in 20% of patients who are at therapeutic doses
- Prolongation of the QTc, displacement of the ST segment, T wave abnormalities, QRS widening, supraventricular and ventricular tachycardias can all occur.
- In overdose, widening of the QRS is frequent, and there is also QTc prolongation
Examples
Shown below is an image of EKG in a patient of nortriptyline intoxication demonstrating wide QRS complex and prolonged QT interval
![](/images/d/d8/ECG_nortr_intox.png)
Shown below is an image of EKG in a patient of nortriptyline intoxication demonstrating wide QRS and peaked T waves.
![](/images/7/78/ECG_TCA_intox.jpg)
Shown below are the EKG images of a patient with amitriptylin intoxication showing tachycardia with heart rate 130.
- Before treatment
![](/images/5/54/ECG_amitr_OD_before.jpg)
- After treatment
![](/images/9/96/ECG_amitr_OD_during.jpg)