Tachycardia, orthostatic hypotension and profound weakness due to concomitant use of fluoxetine and nifedipine

Pharmacopsychiatry. 1997 Nov;30(6):274-5. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-979508.

Abstract

The use of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine is associated with only minor cardiovascular effects. However, due to a possible inhibitory effect on the metabolism of calcium channel blockers it may potentiate the activity of nifedipine, causing profound adverse cardiovascular effects. This report describes the appearance of profound weakness, orthostatic hypotension and tachycardia following the initiation of fluoxetine treatment in a nifedipine-treated 80-year-old patient.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antihypertensive Agents / adverse effects*
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / adverse effects*
  • Drug Interactions
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Fatigue / chemically induced*
  • Female
  • Fluoxetine / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / drug therapy
  • Hypotension, Orthostatic / chemically induced*
  • Nifedipine / adverse effects*
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / adverse effects*
  • Tachycardia / chemically induced*

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Calcium Channel Blockers
  • Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
  • Fluoxetine
  • Nifedipine