Advanced heart block aggravated by carbamazepine

Abstract

This report presents a serious adverse reaction to the anticonvulsant compound carbamazepine. A woman was admitted to hospital for recurrent attacks of syncope. She suffered from atrioventricular block of the Mobitz type II. Carbamazepine suppressed the conduction in her already defective Purkinje fibers and induced ventricular standstill with subsequent Adams Stokes attacks.