Effect of Alprazolam on Ischemia and Reperfusion-Induced Ventricular Arrhythmias in the Isolated Perfused Rat Heart

Abstract

The effects of the triazolobenzodiazepine anxiolytic, alprazolam, on the incidence of ischemia- and reperfusion-induced ventricular arrhythmias was studied in the isolated buffer-perfused rat heart. Administration of alprazolam before and after myocardial ischemia resulted in a dosage-dependent reduction in the incidence and duration of reperfusion-induced ventricular fibrillation and was significant at a concentration of 1 × 10^–3 mol/l alprazolam. This cardioprotective effect was not extended to ischemia-induced ventricular dysrhythmias. In conclusion, our findings provide evidence that benzodiazepine drugs are able to provide a cardioprotective effect in the experimental setting of myocardial ischemia followed by coronary reperfusion.

Pre‐medication and renal pre‐conditioning: a role for alprazolam, atropine, morphine and promethazine

“…The present study similarly showed more potent tissue protection in alprazolam treated groups with simultaneous reduction in SCr and BUN concentrations after I/R injury. Administration of alprazolam before and after myocardial ischemia resulted in a dosage-dependent reduction in the incidence and duration of reperfusion-induced ventricular fibrillation [33]. Likewise in our study alprazolam 0.64 mg/kg had a profound effect on reversing both functional parameters and histopathological scores (Table I) where the level of SCr was same as sham operation group.…”

“…Benzodiazepines drugs are able to protect cardiac tissue in the experimental setting of myocardial ischemia reperfusion [33]. Moreover full and partial agonists of benzodiazepine given just after cerebral ischemia induced capable protection against I/R injury for at least 35 days [34,35].…”

Anxiolytic medication use is not associated with anxiety level and does not reduce complications after acute myocardial infarction

“…). Although Kingma and Kingma () found that alprazolam protected against reperfusion‐induced dysrhythmias in rats, the occurrence of ischaemic ventricular dysrhythmias was not reduced. Vogel et al .…”

“…Nevins et al (1969) found diazepam was arrhythmogenic in canines with digitalisinduced ventricular tachycardia.. Other investigators postulated that benzodiazepines were associated with myocardial electrical instability (Vogel et al 1996, Bechir et al 2007. Although Kingma and Kingma (1989) found that alprazolam protected against reperfusion-induced dysrhythmias in rats, the occurrence of ischaemic ventricular dysrhythmias was not reduced. Vogel et al (1996) demonstrated that short-term oral lorazepam increased heart rate and decreased heart rate variability indices.…”