[ECG disorders in the course of acute suicidal poisonings by verapamil].

Data based on experience of Regional Toxicological Centre in Poznań shown that most of patients self-poisoned with calcium channel blockers were cases of verapamil overdose (41 among 50 patients treated during years 1994-1999). Verapamil's greatest toxic effect is on the conduction system, with depression of the sinus node and of conduction through the atrioventricular node, but it also causes severe myocardial depression. Sings of verapamil toxicity are: sinus bradycardia, sinus arrest, narrow complex junctional bradycadia, varying degrees of AV block, acute congestive failure and cardiogenic shock, hypotonia. In this paper 4 cases with ECG disturbances in the course of verapamil intoxication are presented.