QT PROLONGING DRUGS

Course overview

THE HEART HAS AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS IT TO CONTRACT IN A RHYTHM. A KEY ASPECT OF THIS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS DEPOLARIZATION AND REPOLARIZATION. THE FOCUS OF THIS ACTIVITY IS ON THE QT INTERVAL. IT IS MEASURED FROM THE Q WAVE UNTIL THE T WAVE, AND THE QT INTERVAL CLINICALLY REPRESENTS THE REPOLARIZATION OF THE VENTRICLES. MANY COMMONLY USED MEDICATIONS EXHIBIT QT-PROLONGING EFFECTS. HOWEVER, THE DEGREE OF QT PROLONGATION IS NOT SEVERE ENOUGH TO WARRANT CAUTION IN HEALTHY PATIENTS. THIS ACTIVITY OUTLINES THE MECHANISM OF ACTION, IMPORTANT ADVERSE EFFECTS, CONTRAINDICATIONS, MONITORING, AND TOXICITY OF QT-PROLONGING MEDICATIONS, SO THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM CAN DIRECT PATIENT THERAPY IN TREATING CONDITIONS WHERE PATIENTS ARE USING THESE AGENTS, IN PARTICULAR WHEN THEY HAVE MULTIPLE SUCH AGENTS.