CARDIOVASCULAR MANIFESTATIONS AFTER AMITRIPTYLINE POISONING IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS

Abstract

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) were introduced in the 1950s for the treatment of depression. In adults, TCAs are used to treat depression, migraine headache prophylaxis, neuralgic pain, including pain associated with cigarette poisoning, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Despite the current limited use of ADT, hospitalizations and deaths associated with ADT use are increasing. Therefore, this work sought to verify the profile of amitriptyline poisoning in the last five years through articles downloaded from the Web of Science database - all databases - between the years 2019 and 2023. According to the results, TCA toxicity can mainly induce cardiovascular manifestations, leading to respiratory depression, sinus tachycardia, or even more dangerous tachydysrhythmias and even bradycardia with or without heart block. These findings indicate that TCA toxicity can be fatal, and this information is of great importance to facilitate understanding and appropriate management by health professionals involved in the care of patients with depression and other diseases that require the use of amitriptyline.