Increase of Heart Rate and QTc by Amitriptyline, But Not by Venlafaxine, Is Correlated to Serum Concentration

J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2015 Aug;35(4):460-3. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0000000000000336.

Abstract

Electrocardiographic pathologies are a common problem during antidepressant treatment. The authors investigated the association of serum concentrations of antidepressants and heart rate, QT, and QTc. Polymorphisms of NOS1AP (nitric oxide synthase 1 adaptor protein) rs10494366 and rs12143842 as potential influence factors also were considered. In the amitriptyline sample (n = 59), significant Spearman ρ correlations were found between serum concentration and QTc (r = 0.333, P = 0.010), as well as heart rate (r = 0.407, P = 0.001). Patients with a serum concentration greater than the therapeutic range (>200 ng/mL) exhibit significantly higher heart rates (87.0 ± 13.3 vs 80.0 ± 13.9, U test P = 0.011) and higher QTc values (443.8 ± 28.8 vs 427.9 ± 20.6, U test P = 0.022). Excluding the 26 patients with a serum concentration greater than the therapeutic range, patients with rs12143842 risk alleles exhibit higher heart rates and as a trend lower QT intervals with no difference in QTc. In the venlafaxine sample (n = 81), no significant association between serum concentration and heart rate, QT, or QTc was revealed. In summary, the risk for relevant electrocardiographic alterations induced by tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, is dependent on serum concentrations. NOS1AP polymorphisms may be a genetic vulnerability factor.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Amitriptyline / adverse effects
  • Amitriptyline / pharmacology*
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / adverse effects
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / pharmacology
  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / adverse effects
  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / pharmacology
  • Electrocardiography / drug effects
  • Female
  • Heart Rate / drug effects*
  • Heart Rate / physiology
  • Humans
  • Long QT Syndrome / blood*
  • Long QT Syndrome / chemically induced*
  • Long QT Syndrome / genetics
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Venlafaxine Hydrochloride / adverse effects
  • Venlafaxine Hydrochloride / pharmacology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic
  • NOS1AP protein, human
  • Amitriptyline
  • Venlafaxine Hydrochloride