The authors studied the effects of imipramine hydrochloride at plasma
concentrations associated with antidepressant activity in seven patients
hospitalized for severe depressive illness. They found that the drug
usually produced prolongation of intraventricular cardiac conduction.
Although this was generally well tolerated, the authors suggest that
patients with preexisting conduction system disease may be at increased
risk when taking tricyclic antidepressants. They feel that the orthostatic
hypotension seen in all seven patients represents a potentially serious
problem with tricyclic antidepressants. They discuss the antiarrhythmic
properties associated with imipramine and significant interactions between
imipramine and drugs taken by patients with cardiovascular disease.Abstract Teaser