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Arch Intern Med. 2001;161:612.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

A variety of drugs have been identified as the cause of QT prolongation and of risk of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. This association is recognized for selected psychotherapeutic agents such as phenothiazines and tricyclics. Antidepressant drugs that inhibit the central nervous system neuronal uptake of serotonin have not been reported to have this effect on the QT interval.¹

Report of a Case

A 52-year-old man had preoperative risk assesment for elective prostate surgery. Findings from physicial examination were normal, but those from an electrocardiogram (ECG) showed broad-based T waves and a markedly prolonged QTc interval of 0.56 second. An ECG recorded 3 months previously when treatment with fluoxetine hydrochloride (Prozac) was started (20 mg for 2 weeks and then 40 mg/d) for the management of depression showed a normal QTc interval of 0.38 second. In addition, single-drug therapy with verapamil hydrochloride, 240 mg, had been started 3 years earlier for essential hypertension (stage 1) and . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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