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Volume 360:2136-2138 May 14, 2009 Number 20
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Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs and the Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death

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by Ray, W. A.
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To the Editor: Ray et al. (Jan. 15 issue)1 report that both typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs were associated with a doubling of the risk of sudden cardiac death, a risk that was dose-dependent and untested for time dependence. The authors state that the likely mechanism of action is an increase in the risk of serious ventricular arrhythmias, although they acknowledge that other mechanisms may be involved. Increased mortality among the severely mentally ill is well known, and although the illnesses themselves are associated with increased mortality,2,3,4 their undertreatment may lead to even higher mortality.5 An increased risk of cardiac . . . [Full Text of this Article]



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