Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry

We report a case of antipsychotics induced torsade de pointes in a 42-year-old female schizophrenic patient. The patient had taken perphenazine 20 mg/day, chlorpromazine 100 mg/day, and trifluoperazine 15 mg/day irregularly for about 8 years. She experienced syncope and a few difficulties in breathing. On EKG(electrocardiography), QT interval was delayed and polymorphic QRS complexes and ventricular tachycardia were observed. Following a switch of the antipsychotics to haloperidol, known to have fewest effects on the cardiac rhythms among antipsychotics, the arhythymias disappeared. However after discharge, as dose of haloperidol was increased, the symptoms such as chest discomforts and syncopes reappeared. We concluded that the torsade de pointes was developed by antipsychotics. The most common cause of sudden death in patients receiving antipsychotic treatment appears to be ventricular tochycardia. Therefore, clinician should be well aware of the possible side effects of antipsychotics and be cautious in prescribing such drugs to their patients.

Keywords Antipsychotics;Side effects;Ventricular tachycardia.