Produced by Cardiac Risk in the Young 

  
  HomeSADS                
 sudden arrhythmic death syndrome		  
   
about
sads		 heart
functions		 sudden
death		 causes
of sads		 family implications cardiac
tests		 lifestyle
advice		 drugs to
avoid		 technical
terms
 
         
   

Drugs to avoid

Anyone with a condition affecting the heart that can cause sudden cardiac death needs to take extra care with medicines. All medicines - both those prescribed by your doctor and any you buy over the counter - must be checked, as some can increase the risk of sudden death.

For people with LQTS there are specific medications that can have a serious effect by further prolonging the QT interval. We give a list of these medicines below. This list includes drugs that can stimulate and irritate the heart by causing adrenaline-like effects. You must always check with your GP or cardiologist before taking any new medication, as this list will change with time.

In people with Brugada Syndrome the number and range of drugs that may make the condition worse is unknown and caution must be used. Antiarrhythmics, beta-blockers and some antidepressants are known to interact badly with it.

Drugs which people with Long QT Syndrome should avoid

Below is a list of the drugs that people with Long QT Syndrome should avoid.  A similar list can also be found by clicking here.

Neither of these lists should be considered exhaustive, and you should always check with your GP and pharmacist if your doctor prescribes any new drugs for you, as these lists may not be complete.

* = Drugs which are unlicensed, withdrawn or suspended in the UK market

 

A - Z List

 

 
Adrenaline (Epinephrine)

Ajmaline*

Alfuzosin
Almokalant*
Amantidine
Amiodarone

Amitriptyline

Amoxapine*

Amphetamine
Arsenic trioxide

Astemizole*

Atomoxetine
Azelastine

Azimilide*

Azithromycin
Bepridil*

Bretylium

Chloral hydrate
Chloroquine

Chlorpromazine

Cibenzoline*

Ciprofloxacin
Cisapride*
Citalopram
Clarithromycin
Clobutinol*

Clomipramine

Clozapine
Cocaine
Cold remedies
Cotrimoxazole
d-sotalol*

Desipramine*

Dexmethylphenidate
Dihydroquinidine*
Diphenhydramine
Disopyramide
Dobutamine
Dofetilide*
Dolasetron
Domperidone
Dopamine
Doxepin
Dronedarone*
Droperidol*
Ebastine*
Encainide*
Ephedrine
Ersentilide*
Erythromycin
Felbamate*
Fenfluramine
Flecainide
Fluconazole
Fluoxetine
Fluphenazine
Foscarnet (HIV)

Fosphenytoin (prodrug of Phenytoin)

Galantamine

Gatifloxacin*

Geldanamycin*

Gemifloxacin*
Granisetron
Grepafloxacin*
Halofantrine*
Haloperidol
Hydroxyzine
Ibutilide*
Imipramine
Indapamide
Isoprenaline (Isoproterenol)
Isradipine
Itraconazole
Ketanserin*

Ketoconazole

Levalbuterol
Levofloxacin
Levomethadyl*

Lidoflazine*

Lithium
Maprotiline
Mesoridazine
Metaproterenol

Methadone

Methylphenidate
Mexiletine
Midodrine
Moexipril / Hydrochlorthiazide
Moxifloxacin
Naratriptan
Nicardipine
Nifekalant*
Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline)
Nortriptyline

Octreotide

Ofloxacin
Ondansetron

Organophosphates*

Paroxetine
Pentamidine
Perflutren lipid microspheres
Pericycline

Phentermine

Phenylephrine
Phenylpropanolamine
Pimozide
Pirmenol*
Prenylamine*
Probucol
Procainamide
Prochlorperazine

Propafenone

Protriptyline*
Pseudoephidrine
Quetiapine
Quinidine*

Quinine

Ranolazine
Risperidone

Ritodrine

Roxithromycin*
Salbutamol (Albuterol)
Salmeterol
Sematilide*

Sertindole

Sertraline
Sibutramine
Solifenacin
Sotalol
Sparfloxacin*
Spiramycin
Sumatriptan
Sunitib
Tacrolimus

Tamoxifen

Telithromycin
Terbutaline
Terfenadine*
Terikalant*
Terodiline*
Thioridazine*

Tizanidine

Tolterodine
Trazodone
Trifluoperazine

Trimethoprim sulfa (bactrim)

Trimipramine

Vardenafil
Vasopressin

Venlafaxine

Voriconazole
Zimeldine*
Ziprasidone
Zolmitriptan
 

Stimulant

Antiarrhythmic (Class 1)

Alpha1-blocker

Antiarrhythmic (Class 3)

Antimalarial

Antiarrhythmic (Class 3)

Psychiatric drug - Tricyclic antidepressant

Psychiatric drug - Tricyclic antidepressant

Stimulant

Anti-cancer

Antihistamine

Psychiatric drug - Other

Antihistamine

Antiarrhythmic (Class 3)

Antibiotic - Macrolide

Anti-anginal / vasodilator

Antiarrhythmic (Class 3)

Sedative

Antimalarial

Psychiatric drug - Phenothiazine

Antiarrhythmic (Class 1)

Antibiotic - Quinolone

Serotonin agonist / antagonist

Psychiatric drug - Other

Antibiotic - Macrolide
Other

Psychiatric drug - Tricyclic antidepressant

Anti-psychotic

Stimulant

May contain stimulant drugs - always to check the label

Antibiotic - Antifungal

Antiarrhythmic (Class 3)

Psychiatric drug - Tricyclic antidepressant

Stimulant
Antiarrhythmic (Class 1)

Antihistamine

Antiarrhythmic (Class 1)

Stimulant

Antiarrhythmic (Class 3)

Serotonin agonist / antagonist

Other

Stimulant

Psychiatric drug - Tricyclic antidepressant
Antiarrhythmic (Class 3)

Psychiatric drug - Other

Antihistamine

Antiarrhythmic (Class 1)

Stimulant
Antiarrhythmic (Class 3)

Antibiotic - Macrolide

Anticonvulsant

Stimulant

Antiarrhythmic (Class 1)

Antibiotic - Antifungal

Psychiatric drug - Other

Psychiatric drug - Phenothiazine

Antibiotics - Antiviral

Anticonvulsant

Inhibitor (dementia, Alzheimer's)

Antibiotic - Quinolone

Anti-cancer

Antibiotic - Quinolone

Serotonin agonist / antagonist

Antibiotic - Quinolone

Antimalarial

Psychiatric drug - Other

Antihistamine

Antiarrhythmic (Class 3)

Psychiatric drug - Tricyclic antidepressant

Anti-hypertensive

Stimulant

Anti-hypertensive

Antibiotic - Antifungal

Serotonin agonist / antagonist

Antibiotic - Antifungal

Stimulant

Antibiotic - Quinolone

Psychiatric drug - Other

Anti-anginal / vasodilator

Anti-mania

Psychiatric drug - Other

Psychiatric drug - Other

Stimulant

Psychiatric drug - Other

Stimulant
Antiarrhythmic (Class 1)

Stimulant

Anti-hypertensive

Antibiotic - Quinolone

Anti-migraine

Anti-hypertensive

Antiarrhythmic (Class 3)

Stimulant

Psychiatric drug - Tricyclic antidepressant

Other

Antibiotic - Quinolone

Serotonin agonist / antagonist

Other

Anti-depressant

Antibiotic - Other
Other

Psychiatric drug - Other

Stimulant

Stimulant

Stimulant

Psychiatric drug - Other
Antiarrhythmic (Class 1)

Anti-anginal / vasodilator

Other

Antiarrhythmic (Class 1)

Psychiatric drug - Phenothiazine

Antiarrhythmic (Class 1)

Psychiatric drug - Tricyclic antidepressant

Stimulant

Psychiatric drug - Other

Antiarrhythmic (Class 1)

Antimalarial

Anti-anginal / vasodilator

Psychiatric drug - Other

Stimulant

Antibiotic - Macrolide

Stimulant

Stimulant
Antiarrhythmic (Class 3)

Psychiatric drug - Other

Anti-depressant

Stimulant
Other

Antiarrhythmic (Class 3)

Antibiotic - Quinolone

Antibiotic - Macrolide

Anti-migraine
Anti-cancer

Anti-cancer

Anti-cancer

Antibiotic - Macrolide

Stimulant

Antihistamine
Antiarrhythmic (Class 3)

Anti-anginal / vasodilator

Psychiatric drug - Phenothiazine

Other

Bladder antispasmodic

Psychiatric drug - Other

Psychiatric drug - Phenothiazine

Antibiotic - Other

Psychiatric drug - Tricyclic antidepressant

Anti-anginal / vasodilator

Other