Falconer, M and Molloy, D and Ingerhaug, J and Barry, Michael (2007) Methadone induced torsade de pointes in a patient receiving antiretroviral therapy. Irish Medical Journal, 100, (10), pp. 631-632.
External website: http://archive.imj.ie//ViewArticleDetails.aspx?Con...
Adverse drug reactions account for approximately 5% of acute medical admissions. A 34-year-old male patient receiving antiretroviral therapy, methadone and flurazepam presented to the Emergency Room following collapse with associated loss of consciousness. Cardiac monitoring demonstrated marked Q-T prolongation followed by the cardiac arrhythmia, torsade de pointes. The patient made a full recovery following withdrawal of the antiretroviral therapy and a reduction in methadone dose. Methadone is a recognised cause of this potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmia which is more likely to occur when methadone metabolism is inhibited by drugs such as HIV protease inhibitors
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