Ventricular Arrhythmia and Sudden Death Risk With Concomitant Antipsychotic and SSRI Use

Among patients initiating antipsychotics, is subsequent initiation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) associated with an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmia or sudden death?In this cohort study using sequential target trial emulation to analyze claims data of 307 818 US and 171 337 Taiwanese adults, concurrent use of antipsychotics and SSRIs was associated with an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmia or sudden death compared with antipsychotic use alone. The association was observed in both data sources.These results suggest that although ventricular arrhythmia or sudden death events were rare, their potential severity underscores the importance of cautious prescribing and monitoring when SSRIs are initiated in patients receiving antipsychotics.

Corresponding Author: Fang-Ju Lin, MSCP, PhD, Graduate Institute of Clinical Pharmacy and School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Department of Pharmacy, National Taiwan University Cancer Center, Address: No. 33, Linsen S Rd, Zhongzheng Dist, Taipei City 100, Taiwan (fjilin@ntu.edu.tw).

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