Drugs to Avoid

Drugs That Prolong the QT Interval and/or Induce Torsades de Pointes

The list is maintained by Raymond L. Woosley, MD, PhD,  President, AZCERT and SADS Scientific Advisor.

UPDATE as of 1/20/2013:

Recent information from the researchers at Credible Meds (formerly known as Arizona CERT/QT Drugs):

 

On December 30, 2012, the FDA approved a new drug for the treatment of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, bedaquiline (Brand name Sirturo^®). Because the FDA-approved label includes a black box warning that it can cause QT prolongation, we have added it to the list of drugs with "possible risk of torsades de pointes". 

 

Based upon our analysis of emerging evidence reporting QT prolongation, olanzapine has been added to the list of drugs with "possible risk of torsades de pointes".  The most common brand name is Zyprexa®, but others include Zidis®, Relprevv®, Olzapin®, Zalasta®, Zolafren®, Zypradhera®, and Oferta®.

 

For patients with congenital long QT syndrome (CLQTS), we recommend that, unless no other option is feasible, drugs on any of the QTdrugs lists should be avoided.  For this reason, bedaquiline and olanzapine will also be included on the list of Drugs to be Avoided by CLQTS Patients.

notes about the Lists:

Drugs are listed with up to 2 common brand names. There are many more brand names for some of the common drugs, such as pseudoephedrine and erythromycin. It is also important to look at the list of active drugs in medicines that contain a combination of drugs such as Zyrtec-D®, which contains pseudoephedrine. This means that you must look up each ingredient of the drug to see if it is on this list.

The list is sorted into four groups based on the risk for people with LQTS. It is recommended that those with inherited long QT syndrome not take any of the drugs on these lists. It is also recommended that people with LQTS avoid any herbal medicines/remedies as these may contain ingrediants that could cause an event.

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