Cardiac side effects of phenytoin and carbamazepine. A dose-related phenomenon?
Durelli L, Mutani R, Sechi GP, Monaco F, Glorioso N, and Gusmaroli G (1985) Cardiac side effects of phenytoin and carbamazepine. A dose-related phenomenon? Arch Neurol 42:11 1067–8.
Abstract: Three patients with dystrophia myotonica and echocardiographic signs of subclinical cardiopathy had cardiac side effects during oral treatment with phenytoin sodium or carbamazepine. These side effects were dose related: ventricular tachycardia appeared at a toxic serum phenytoin level in one patient and disappeared as the concentration fell within the therapeutic range, and atrioventricular block grade 1 developed in two patients at low serum carbamazepine levels, its severity increasing with the drug level. Given the risk of dangerous side effects, cardiac status needs to be carefully assessed before administration of phenytoin or carbamazepine in the treatment of dystrophia myotonica.
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Context
- Report of 3 patients with myotonic dystrophy. Supratherapeutic levels of PHT caused tachycardia in one patient. Grade I AV block was seen in 2 patients with CBZ and was dose-dependent.