Bradycardia factitia

Abstract

Repeated intake of 240-400 mg non-retard verapamil by a 26-year-old male nurse brought about interference dissociation resulting from extreme sinus bradycardia, passive AV nodal rhythm and hypotension. Because of a history of myocarditis a recurrence was suspected and an organic cause of the arrhythmia assumed at first, until its self-inflicted origin was discovered. The case demonstrates the need to consider self-medication, even if at first denied, in the differential diagnosis of arrhythmias even in the absence initially of any clear-cut pointers towards it.