Table 2.
Drugs That Prolong QTc and Increase Risk of TdPa
| Drug | Indication for Use | Comments |
| Amiodarone | Antiarrhythmic/abnormal heart rhythm | Females > males, TdP risk regarded as low |
| Arsenic trioxide | Anticancer/leukemia | |
| Astemizole | Antihistamine/allergic rhinitis | No longer available in the United States |
| Bepridil | Antianginal/heart pain | Females > males |
| Chloroquine | Antimalarial/malaria infection | |
| Chlorpromazine | Antipsychotic/antiemetic/schizophrenia/nausea | |
| Cisapride | GI stimulant/heartburn | Restricted availability, females > males |
| Clarithromycin | Antibiotic/bacterial infection | |
| Disopyramide | Antiarrhythmic/abnormal heart rhythm | Females > males |
| Dofetilide | Antiarrhythmic/abnormal heart rhythm | |
| Domperidone | Antinausea/nausea | Not available in the United States |
| Droperidol | Sedative, antinausea/anesthesia adjunct, nausea | |
| Erythromycin | Antibiotic, GI stimulant/bacterial infection, increase | Females > males |
| GI motility | ||
| Halofantrine | Antimalarial/malaria infection | Females > males |
| Haloperidol | Antipsychotic/schizophrenia, agitation | When given intravenously or at higher-than-recommended doses, risk of sudden death, QT prolongation, and TdP increases |
| Ibutilide | Antiarrhythmic/abnormal heart rhythm | Females > males |
| Levomethadyl | Opiate agonist/pain control, narcotic dependence | |
| Mesoridazine | Antipsychotic/schizophrenia | |
| Methadone | Opiate agonist/pain control, narcotic dependence | Females > males |
| Pentamidine | Antiinfective/pneumocystis pneumonia | Females > males |
| Pimozide | Antipsychotic/Tourette's tics | Females > males |
| Probucol | Antilipemic/hypercholesterolemia | No longer available in the United States |
| Procainamide | Antiarrhythmic/abnormal heart rhythm | |
| Quinidine | Antiarrhythmic/abnormal heart rhythm | Females > males |
| Sotalol | Antiarrhythmic/abnormal heart rhythm | Females > males |
| Sparfloxacin | Antibiotic/bacterial infection | |
| Terfenadine | Antihistamine/allergic rhinitis | No longer available in the United States |
| Thioridazine | Antipsychotic/schizophrenia |
a
Adapted with permission from Arizona Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics.13 Readers should check for updates at www.qtdrugs.org/medical-pros/drug-lists/bycategory.cfm, as the information is subject to frequent change.
Abbreviations: GI = gastrointestinal, TdP = torsades de pointes.