Drug Side Effect:
A 31 year old female is brought to the emergency department after ingesting her antidepressant medicine of an unknown quality. She is comatose and having intermittent seizures. ECG in the emergency department shows a sinus tachycardia with 2:1 atrioventricular block and a prolonged QRS. Which of the following drugs did the patient most likely take?
A ) Buspirone
B ) Fluoxetine
C ) Lithium carbonate
D ) Amitriptyline
E ) Haloperidol
[expand title=”SHOW CORRECT ANSWER:”][sociallocker]Correct answer is D. Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline have atropine like (anticholinergic) side effects.[/sociallocker][/expand]