BACKGROUND: QTc interval prolongation can occur as a result of treatment with both conventional and novel antipsychotic medications and is of clinical concern because of its association with the potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmia, torsade de pointes. METHODS: One case is described in which a patient with schizophrenia, who was being treated for dyslipidemia, developed a prolonged QTc interval while taking quetiapine and lovastatin. RESULTS: QTc returned to baseline when the lovastatin dose was reduced. CONCLUSIONS: QTc prolongation associated with antipsychotic medication occurs in a dose-dependent manner. We therefore hypothesize that the addition of lovastatin caused an increase in plasma quetiapine levels through competitive inhibition of the cytochrome P(450) (CYP) isoenzyme 3A4. Our case highlights the potential for a drug interaction between quetiapine and lovastatin leading to QTc prolongation during the management of dysipidemia in patients with schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND:QTc interval prolongation can occur as a result of treatment with both conventional and novel antipsychotic medications and is of clinical concern because of its association with the potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmia, torsade de pointes. METHODS: One case is described in which a patient with schizophrenia, who was being treated for dyslipidemia, developed a prolonged QTc interval while taking quetiapine and lovastatin. RESULTS:QTc returned to baseline when the lovastatin dose was reduced. CONCLUSIONS:QTc prolongation associated with antipsychotic medication occurs in a dose-dependent manner. We therefore hypothesize that the addition of lovastatin caused an increase in plasma quetiapine levels through competitive inhibition of the cytochrome P(450) (CYP) isoenzyme 3A4. Our case highlights the potential for a drug interaction between quetiapine and lovastatin leading to QTc prolongation during the management of dysipidemia in patients with schizophrenia.
Authors: Karine Titier; Pierre-Olivier Girodet; Hélène Verdoux; Mathieu Molimard; Bernard Bégaud; Wilhelm Haverkamp; Malcolm Lader; Nicholas Moore Journal: Drug Saf Date: 2005 Impact factor: 5.606
Authors: Mehrul Hasnain; W Victor R Vieweg; Robert H Howland; Christopher Kogut; Ericka L Breden Crouse; Jayanthi N Koneru; Jules C Hancox; Geneviève C Digby; Adrian Baranchuk; Anand Deshmukh; Ananda K Pandurangi Journal: Ther Adv Psychopharmacol Date: 2014-06