Editorial

Drug-induced QT Prolongation

Authors: James M. Wooten, PHARMD

Abstract

What do the following drugs all have in common?—grepafloxacin (Raxar), terfenadine (Seldane), cisapride (Propulsid), and astemizole (Hismanal). Each of these were once commercially available products, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat a variety of ailments. Unfortunately, postmarketing surveillance revealed that each of these agents could cause prolongation of the QT interval which potentially could lead to the development of a life threatening arrhythmia (ie, torsade de pointes).1,2,3

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References

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2. Gussak I, et al. Drug induced cardiac toxicity: Emphasizing the role of electrocardiography in clinical research and drug development. J Electrocard 2004;37:19–24.
 
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