olanzapine and Heart-Arrest

Atypical antipsychotics are used in cardiac intensive care units (CICU) to treat delirium despite limited data on safety in patients with acute cardiovascular conditions. Patients treated with these agents may be at higher risk for adverse events such as QTc prolongation and arrhythmias. We performed a retrospective cohort study of 144 adult patients who were not receiving antipsychotics before admission and received olanzapine (n = 50) or quetiapine (n = 94) in the Michigan Medicine CICU. Data on baseline characteristics, antipsychotic dose and duration, length of stay, and adverse events were collected. Adverse events included ventricular tachycardia (sustained ventricular tachycardia attributed to the medication), hypotension (systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg attributed to the medication), and QTc prolongation (QTc increase by ≥60 ms or to an interval ≥500 ms). Twenty-six patients (18%) experienced an adverse event. Of those adverse events, 20 patients (14%) experienced QTc prolongation, 3 patients (2%) had ventricular tachycardia, and 3 patients (2%) had hypotension. Patients who received quetiapine had a higher rate of adverse events (25% vs 6%, p = 0.01) including QTc prolongation (18% vs 6%, p = 0.046). Intensive care unit length of stay was shorter in patients who received olanzapine (6.5 vs 9.5 days, p = 0.047). Eighteen patients (13%) had their antipsychotic continued at discharge from the hospital. In conclusion, QTc prolongation was more common in patients treated with quetiapine versus olanzapine although the number of events was relatively low with both agents in a CICU cohort.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antipsychotic Agents; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Coronary Care Units; Delirium; Endocarditis; Female; Heart Arrest; Heart Failure; Humans; Hypotension; Length of Stay; Long QT Syndrome; Male; Middle Aged; Olanzapine; Quetiapine Fumarate; Respiratory Insufficiency; Retrospective Studies; Shock, Cardiogenic; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction; Tachycardia, Ventricular

Topics: Amides; Anesthetics, Local; Animals; Antipsychotic Agents; Benzodiazepines; Bupivacaine; Epinephrine; Fat Emulsions, Intravenous; Female; Heart Arrest; Humans; Male; Mepivacaine; Olanzapine; Ropivacaine

Topics: Aged; Antipsychotic Agents; Benzodiazepines; Fatal Outcome; Female; Haloperidol; Heart Arrest; Heart Failure; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Lorazepam; Olanzapine; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Pulmonary Artery; Pulmonary Embolism; Restraint, Physical; Schizophrenia, Paranoid; Venous Thromboembolism

To report a case of fatal hyponatremia, marked hyperglycemia, and acute pancreatitis following simultaneous administration of paroxetine, fluphenazine, haloperidol and olanzapine.. A 44-year-old non-diabetic male was admitted unconsciously, with severe hyponatremia, hyperglycemia and bradypnea. The patient had a history of long-term treatment with paroxetine, fluphenazine, haloperidol and olanzapine. Upon arrival, the plasma sodium level was 104 mmol/l, and blood glucose was 940 mg/dl. The therapy consisted of ventilatory support and intensive correction of hyponatremia and hyperglycemia. 2 hours later, hypotension and refractory cardiac arrest occurred. The autopsy disclosed severe cerebral edema as cause of death, and a modest hemorrhagic pancreatitis.. Paroxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor which stimulates antidiuretic hormone (ADH) release and may cause the syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion with consecutive hyponatremia. Fluphenazine and haloperidol may contribute to this syndrome. Fluphenazine, and particularly olanzapine are associated with an increased incidence ofdiabetes. Olanzapine has been reported as a risk factor for acute pancreatitis. The Naranjo probability scale was not applicable because of almost immediate lethal outcome.. Polypharmacy increases the risk of various adverse reactions. Adverse effects of paroxetine and many anti-psychotic drugs, such as hyponatremia and hyperglycemia, should be monitored periodically to prevent complications. The role of olanzapine in the etiology of acute pancreatitis remains to be evaluated.

Topics: Adult; Antipsychotic Agents; Benzodiazepines; Brain Edema; Fatal Outcome; Fluphenazine; Haloperidol; Heart Arrest; Humans; Hyperglycemia; Hyponatremia; Inappropriate ADH Syndrome; Male; Mental Disorders; Olanzapine; Pancreatitis; Paroxetine; Polypharmacy; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors