Abstract

There has long been a concern that all psychotropics may have adverse cardiac effects including prolongation of the QT interval. The recent expanded use of the atypical antipsychotics has increased these concerns. This is a selective review of the effect of the major classes of psychotropic drugs on the QT interval. The review also includes a review of methadone given the high co-morbidity between major psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders.

Keywords: Acquired LQTS, drug-induced QT syndrome, methadone, psychiatry, psychotropics, QT interval, QT prolongation, sudden cardiac death, cardiometabolic risk, arrhythmogenic, mesoridazine, phenothiazines, hypomagnesemia, epidemiologic, tachyarrhythmias