Beta-blocker and Calcium-channel blocker toxicity

Relevant agents

• Beta-blockers: Atenolol, metoprolol, propranolol, sotalol
• Cardioselective calcium-channel blockers: Verapamil and diltiazem

Effects on the ECG

A prolonged PR interval is an early sign of beta-blocker or calcium-channel blocker toxicity — even in the absence of significant bradycardia.

Specific Agents

Two beta-blockers have additional important toxic effects:

Propanolol:

• Propranolol behaves more like a tricyclic antidepressant in overdose than a beta-blocker, due to its blockade of myocardial and CNS fast sodium channels
• Propranolol toxicity is associated with QRS widening and a positive R’ wave in aVR (signs of sodium channel blockade), which portend the onset of coma, seizures, hypotension and ventricular arrhythmias

Sotalol

• Sotalol blocks myocardial potassium channels, causing QT prolongation and Torsades de Pointes in overdose

ECG Examples

Example 1

Sinus bradycardia with 1st-degree AV block:

• Heart rate 45 bpm
• PR interval 240 ms

This type of ECG pattern is commonly seen in the early stages of beta-blocker / calcium-channel blocker poisoning.

Example 2

Slow junctional rhythm:

• Regular rhythm at 30 bpm
• Narrow QRS complexes
• No visible P waves

Example 3

Complete heart block:

• Sinus rhythm – P waves occur at a rate of around 90 bpm
• 3rd degree AV block – there is no relationship between the P waves and QRS complexes
• Slow escape rhythm (30 bpm) with a RBBB morphology – this could be either a ventricular escape rhythm or a slow junctional rhythm with RBBB

Example 4

This ECG demonstrates the key features of sotalol overdose:

• Sinus bradycardia
• Very long QT interval (~600ms)

NB. This patient is at significant risk of Torsades de Pointes.

Example 5

This ECG demonstrates some of the key features of propranolol overdose:

• 1st degree AV block
• Signs of sodium-channel blockade: QRS broadening (> 100 ms) and positive R’ wave in aVR (> 3mm)

NB. Normally the heart rate would be slower than this in a propranolol overdose (this is actually an ECG of flecainide poisoning — another sodium-channel blocking agent).

Related Topics

• Tricyclic antidepressant overdose (sodium-channel blocker toxicity)
• Digoxin toxicity
• Carbamazepine toxicity
• Quetiapine toxicity

References

• Dr Smith’s ECG Blog – Differential diagnosis of severe bradycardia (case discussions)

Advanced Reading

Online

• Wiesbauer F, Kühn P. ECG Mastery: Yellow Belt online course. Understand ECG basics. Medmastery
• Wiesbauer F, Kühn P. ECG Mastery: Blue Belt online course: Become an ECG expert. Medmastery
• Kühn P, Houghton A. ECG Mastery: Black Belt Workshop. Advanced ECG interpretation. Medmastery
• Rawshani A. Clinical ECG Interpretation ECG Waves
• Smith SW. Dr Smith’s ECG blog.

Textbooks

• Zimmerman FH. ECG Core Curriculum. 2023
• Mattu A, Berberian J, Brady WJ. Emergency ECGs: Case-Based Review and Interpretations, 2022
• Straus DG, Schocken DD. Marriott’s Practical Electrocardiography 13e, 2021
• Brady WJ, Lipinski MJ et al. Electrocardiogram in Clinical Medicine. 1e, 2020
• Mattu A, Tabas JA, Brady WJ. Electrocardiography in Emergency, Acute, and Critical Care. 2e, 2019
• Hampton J, Adlam D. The ECG Made Practical 7e, 2019
• Kühn P, Lang C, Wiesbauer F. ECG Mastery: The Simplest Way to Learn the ECG. 2015
• Grauer K. ECG Pocket Brain (Expanded) 6e, 2014
• Surawicz B, Knilans T. Chou’s Electrocardiography in Clinical Practice: Adult and Pediatric 6e, 2008
• Chan TC. ECG in Emergency Medicine and Acute Care 1e, 2004

LITFL Further Reading

• ECG Library Basics – Waves, Intervals, Segments and Clinical Interpretation
• ECG A to Z by diagnosis – ECG interpretation in clinical context
• ECG Exigency and Cardiovascular Curveball – ECG Clinical Cases
• 100 ECG Quiz – Self-assessment tool for examination practice
• ECG Reference SITES and BOOKS – the best of the rest