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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 no
longer available
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
Ciprofloxacin |
|
Cisapride* |
|
Citalopram |
|
Clarithromycin |
|
Clomipramine
Clozapine |
|
Cocaine |
|
Cold remedies |
|
Cotrimoxazole |
|
d,l-sotalol* |
|
Desipramine
Dexmethylphenidate |
|
Diphenhydramine |
|
Disopyramide |
|
Dobutamine |
|
Dofetilide |
|
Dolasetron |
|
Domperidone |
|
Dopamine |
|
Doxepin |
|
Droperidol* |
|
Ebastine |
|
Encainide* |
|
Ephedrine |
|
Erythromycin |
|
Felbamate |
|
Fenfluramine |
|
Flecainide |
|
Fluconazole |
|
Fluoxetine |
|
Fluphenazine |
|
Foscarnet (HIV) |
|
Fosphenytoin (prodrug of Phenytoin)
Galantamine |
|
Gatifloxacin
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 |
|
Midodrine |
|
Moexipril / Hydrochlorthiazide |
|
Moxifloxacin |
|
Naratriptan |
|
Nicardipine |
|
Nifekalant (Japan) |
|
Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline) |
|
Nortriptyline |
|
Octreotide
Ofloxacin |
|
Ondansetron |
|
Organophosphates
Paroxetine |
|
Pentamidine |
|
Pericycline |
|
Phentermine
Phenylephrine |
|
Phenylpropanolamine |
|
Pimozide |
|
Prenylamine* |
|
Probucol |
|
Procainamide |
|
Prochlorperazine |
|
Propafenone
Protriptyline |
|
Pseudoephidrine |
|
Quetiapine |
|
Quinidine |
|
Quinine
Ranolazine |
|
Risperidone |
|
Ritodrine
Roxithromycin |
|
Salbutamol (Albuterol) |
|
Salmeterol |
|
Sertindole
Sertraline |
|
Sibutramine |
|
Sotalol |
|
Sparfloxacin |
|
Spiramycin |
|
Sumatriptan |
|
Tacrolimus |
|
Tamoxifen
Telithromycin |
|
Terbutaline |
|
Terfenadine* |
|
Terodiline* |
|
Thioridazine* |
|
Tizanidine
Tolterodine |
|
Trazodone |
|
Trifluoperazine |
|
Trimethoprim sulfa (bactrim)
Vardenofil |
|
Vasopressin |
|
Venlafaxine
Voriconazole |
|
Zimelidine |
|
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 |
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Antimalarial |
|
Psychiatric drug -
Phenothiazine Antibiotic -
Quinolone |
|
Serotonin agonist /
antagonist |
|
Psychiatric drug - Other |
|
Antibiotic - Macrolide |
|
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 |
|
Antihistamine |
|
Antiarrhythmic
(Class 1) |
|
Stimulant |
|
Antiarrhythmic
(Class 3) |
|
Serotonin agonist /
antagonist |
|
Other |
|
Stimulant |
|
Psychiatric drug -
Tricyclic antidepressant |
|
Psychiatric drug - Other |
|
Antihistamine |
|
Antiarrhythmic
(Class 1) |
|
Stimulant |
|
Antibiotic - Macrolide |
|
Anticonvulsant |
|
Stimulant |
|
Antiarrhythmic
(Class 1) |
|
Antibiotic - Antifungal |
|
Psychiatric drug - Other |
|
Psychiatric drug -
Phenothiazine |
|
Antibiotics - Antiviral |
|
Anticonvulsant
Inhibitor (dementia, Alzheimer's) |
|
Antibiotic - Quinolone
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 |
|
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 |
|
Psychiatric drug - Other |
|
Stimulant
Stimulant |
|
Stimulant |
|
Psychiatric drug - Other |
|
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 |
|
Psychiatric drug - Other
Anti-depressant |
|
Stimulant |
|
Antiarrhythmic
(Class 3) |
|
Antibiotic - Quinolone |
|
Antibiotic - Macrolide |
|
Anti-migraine |
|
Anti-cancer |
|
Anti-cancer
Antibiotic - Macrolide |
|
Stimulant |
|
Antihistamine |
|
Anti-anginal / vasodilator |
|
Psychiatric drug -
Phenothiazine |
|
Other
Bladder antispasmodic |
|
Psychiatric drug - Other |
|
Psychiatric drug -
Phenothiazine |
|
Antibiotic - Other
Phosphodiesterase inhibitor |
|
Other |
|
Psychiatric drug - Other Antibiotic - Antifungal |
|
Psychiatric drug - Other |
|
Psychiatric drug - Other |
|
Anti-migraine |
|
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Listed by type
Antiarrhythmics
Class 1: ajmaline,
disopyramide, encainide*, flecainide, procainamide, propafenone
quinidine
Class 3: almokalant*, amiodarone, azimilide, bretylium, dofetilide,
d,l-sotalol*, ibutilide, nifekalant (Japan), sotalol
Anti-anginals/vasodilators
bepridil, lidoflazine*,
prenylamine*, ranolazine, terodiline*
Anti-hypertensives
indapamide, isradipine, moexipril/hydrochlorthiazide,
nicardipine
Antihistamines
astemizole*, azelastine,
diphenhydramine, ebastine, hydroxyzine, terfenadine*
Serotonin
agonists and antagonists
cisapride*, dolasetron,
granisetron, ketanserin*, ondansetron
Antimicrobials
Macrolide
antibiotics: azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, roxithromycin, spiramycin, telithromycin
Quinolone antibiotics: ciprofloxacin, gatifloxacin, gemifloxacin, grepafloxacin*, levofloxacin,
moxifloxacin,
ofloxacin, sparfloxacin
Antifungals: cotrimoxazole,
fluconazole (caution with itraconazole), ketoconazole, voriconazole
Others: pentamidine,
trimethoprim sulfa (bactrim)
Antiviral: foscarnet
(HIV)
Antimalarials
amantidine, chloroquine,
halofantrine, quinine
Psychiatric
drugs
Tricyclic
antidepressants: amitriptyline, amoxapine, clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin,
imipramine,
nortriptyline, protriptyline
Phenothiazines: chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, prochlorperazine,
thioridazine*,
trifluoperazine
Others: atomoxetine, citalopram, clozapine, droperidol*, fluoxetine, haloperidol,
levomethadyl, lithium, maprotiline, mesoridazine,
methadone, paroxetine, pericycline, pimozide, quetiapine, risperidone, sertindole,
sertraline, trazodone, venlafaxine, zimelidine, ziprasidone
Anticonvulsant
felbamate,
fosphenytoin (prodrug of phenytoin)
Anti-migraine
naratriptan, sumatriptan,
zolmitriptan
Anti-cancer
arsenic trioxide, tacrolimus,
tamoxifen
Others
alfuzosin,
chloral hydrate, domperidone,
galantamine, octreotide, organophosphates,
probucol, tizanidine,
tolterodine, vardenafil, vasopressin
Stimulant
drugs
Some cold
remedies contain these drugs so it is
important always to check the label.
adrenaline (epinephrine), amphetamine, cocaine, dexmethylphenidate, dobutamine,
dopamine, ephedrine, fenfluramine,
isoprenaline (isoproterenol), levalbuterol, metaproterenol, methylphenidate, midodrine,
norepinephrine (noradrenaline), phentermine, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine,
pseudoephidrine, ritodrine, salbutamol (albuterol), salmeterol,
sibutramine, terbutaline
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Cardiac
Risk in the Young - CRY is a charity started in 1995 to minimise
the incidence and impact of sudden cardiac death in the young. CRY
aims to do this by raising awareness of the conditions that can
lead to sudden death and by providing support and information to
families who have suffered a loss. If you would like more
information please go to the CRY
Web site. If
you would like to talk to someone who can help you please go the
the support
pages |
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SADS