Question

A 21-year-old woman presents to the Emergency Department after an intentional ingestion. On physical examination, she is lethargic, flushed, hot to the touch, and her pupils are dilated. Vital signs include BP 130/90 mm Hg, HR 130 beats/minute, and RR 22 breaths/minute. After several minutes, she has a generalized tonic clonic seizure. What is the mechanism by which this class of medications causes cardiac toxicity?a. AV nodal blockadeb. Fast inward sodium channel blockadec. Inhibition of the sodium/potassium-ATPase pumpd. Rapid outward potassium channel blockade

Answer 1

Answer:

Option (b).

Explanation:

Heart is the pumping organs of the body. Human heart is divided into four chambered two auricles and two ventricles. The excess intake of the antidepressant drugs may inhibit the heart functioning.

Cardiac toxicity may be defined as the condition in which heart is damaged by the harmful chemicals. The sodium ions channels are important for the conduction of the heart cells. The fast blockage of sodium ions can cause the condition tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) overdose shown by the patient.

Thus, the correct answer is option (b).