Short term effects of antiepileptic drugs on the heart using electrocardiograph as an assessment tool of investigation: a pilot case finding study

ABSTRACT

Background: Antiepileptic drugs can induce changes in the electrocardiograph [ECG] records including prolongation of QT interval but there is no evidence to link this effect with the sudden death that reported in epilepsy. The new generations of antiepileptic drugs showed variable effect on the heart. Lamotrigine did not prolonged the QT interval in healthy subjects while levetiracetam prolonged the QT interval in patients cardiac channelopathy presented with congenital long QT syndrome