Biomaterial Database

Cardiotoxicity of amitriptyline and doxepin. 1981

J M Tobis, and W S Aronow

The cardiotoxicity of the tricyclic antidepressants amitriptyline and doxepin were compared in an animal with acute overdose. The mean repetitive extrasystole threshold (RET) decreased 71.5% with amitriptyline and 27.5% with doxepin (mean blood levels 933 ng/ml and 1889 ng/ml). Physostigmine reversed these effects. Sodium bicarbonate had a variable effect on the lowered RET. The toxic arrhythmogenic effects of the tricyclic antidepressants can be measured by RET and are partly autonomic tone manipulation. In the same blood level range, doxepin is less toxic than amitriptyline.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010830	Physostigmine	A cholinesterase inhibitor that is rapidly absorbed through membranes. It can be applied topically to the conjunctiva. It also can cross the blood-brain barrier and is used when central nervous system effects are desired, as in the treatment of severe anticholinergic toxicity.	Eserine
D004285	Dogs	The domestic dog, Canis familiaris, comprising about 400 breeds, of the carnivore family CANIDAE. They are worldwide in distribution and live in association with people. (Walker's Mammals of the World, 5th ed, p1065)	Canis familiaris,Dog
D004316	Doxepin	A dibenzoxepin tricyclic compound. It displays a range of pharmacological actions including maintaining adrenergic innervation. Its mechanism of action is not fully understood, but it appears to block reuptake of monoaminergic neurotransmitters into presynaptic terminals. It also possesses anticholinergic activity and modulates antagonism of histamine H(1)- and H(2)-receptors.	Apo-Doxepin,Aponal,Deptran,Desidox,Doneurin,Doxepia,Doxepin Hydrochloride,Doxepin Hydrochloride, Cis-Trans Isomer Mixture (approximately 1:5),Doxepin beta,Doxepin-RPh,Espadox,Mareen,Novo-Doxepin,Prudoxin,Quitaxon,Sinequan,Sinquan,Xepin,Zonalon,Apo Doxepin,ApoDoxepin,Doxepin RPh,Hydrochloride, Doxepin,Novo Doxepin
D005117	Cardiac Complexes, Premature	A group of cardiac arrhythmias in which the cardiac contractions are not initiated at the SINOATRIAL NODE. They include both atrial and ventricular premature beats, and are also known as extra or ectopic heartbeats. Their frequency is increased in heart diseases.	Ectopic Heartbeats,Extrasystole,Premature Beats,Premature Cardiac Complexes,Cardiac Complex, Premature,Extrasystoles,Premature Cardiac Complex,Beat, Premature,Beats, Premature,Complexes, Premature Cardiac,Ectopic Heartbeat,Heartbeat, Ectopic,Heartbeats, Ectopic,Premature Beat,Premature Cardiac Complices
D006321	Heart	The hollow, muscular organ that maintains the circulation of the blood.	Hearts
D000639	Amitriptyline	Tricyclic antidepressant with anticholinergic and sedative properties. It appears to prevent the re-uptake of norepinephrine and serotonin at nerve terminals, thus potentiating the action of these neurotransmitters. Amitriptyline also appears to antagonize cholinergic and alpha-1 adrenergic responses to bioactive amines.	Amineurin,Amitrip,Amitriptylin Beta,Amitriptylin Desitin,Amitriptylin RPh,Amitriptylin-Neuraxpharm,Amitriptyline Hydrochloride,Amitrol,Anapsique,Apo-Amitriptyline,Damilen,Domical,Elavil,Endep,Laroxyl,Lentizol,Novoprotect,Saroten,Sarotex,Syneudon,Triptafen,Tryptanol,Tryptine,Tryptizol,Amitriptylin Neuraxpharm,Apo Amitriptyline,Desitin, Amitriptylin,RPh, Amitriptylin
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001639	Bicarbonates	Inorganic salts that contain the -HCO3 radical. They are an important factor in determining the pH of the blood and the concentration of bicarbonate ions is regulated by the kidney. Levels in the blood are an index of the alkali reserve or buffering capacity.	Bicarbonate,Bicarbonate Ions,Hydrogen Carbonates,Bicarbonate Ion,Carbonic Acid Ions,Hydrogen Carbonate,Carbonate, Hydrogen,Carbonates, Hydrogen,Ion, Bicarbonate,Ions, Bicarbonate,Ions, Carbonic Acid