Clozapine-induced supraventricular tachycardia and its treatment with Verapamil

Abstract

Clozapine is known to be an effective antipsychotic for schizophrenia. Cardiovascular complications associated with initiation of clozapine include tachycardia, postural hypotension, and myocarditis. Factors associated with development of cardiovascular adverse events are not clearly known, and dose titration has been described to be one among the associated risk factors. We report a case of a 45-year-old man with treatment resistant schizophrenia who developed supraventricular tachycardia during initiation of clozapine and discuss the role of verapamil in its successful management.

Keywords

• Clozapine
• schizophrenia
• supraventricular tachycardia
• verapamil