CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF LARGE DOSES OF METRAZOL AS EMPLOYED IN THE TREATMENT OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

Abstract

The present study lists changes in physical signs, blood pressure, and E.K.G.''s of 14 >? patients receiving metrazol alone, as well as metrazol during the course of insulin hypoglycemia. There are no pronounced or lasting changes in blood pressure associated with the metrazol treatment per se, and the changes which do occur reflect primarily the state of mental and emotional excitement or depression induced by the inj. The metrazol injs. as a rule induce a transitory mild to moderate acceleration of cardiac rate (10 to 30 beats per min.), and at times transitory irregularities such as auricular extrasystoles, sinus arrhythmia, and ventricular extrasystoles. Auricular fibrillation also is reported by Hadorn. Patients who are sym-pathico-tonic may show temporary signs of aortic dilation phenomena, analogous to the known effects of a mild hyper-adrenalinemia. Except in such patients, where the E.K.G.''s may indicate a slight tendency towards diminished coronary oxygenation, the E.K.G.''s after the convulsions invariably indicate either no change or improved coronary oxygenation. The theoretical implications of these findings are suggested and the relative safety of metrazol treatment as regards improbability of cardiac complications is stressed.