Members with cardiac conditions may like to consider registering with CredibleMeds to be kept up to date with any changes to the QT drugs to avoid list https://crediblemeds.org/everyone/.
We have recently received the following message through CredibleMeds:
March 19, 2020
Re: Recent revisions to QTdrugs.org Lists
Dear subscribers to CredibleMeds:
Like you, we at CredibleMeds are adjusting to changes in daily life required by the COVID-19 pandemic and we hope you and your loved ones are safe. Our communication at this time is only meant to keep you informed of recent changes to the QTdrugs list that might be important for your safe use of medicines, especially during these difficult times.
In such a crisis, drastic measures and innovative approaches are needed and can be justified, but one area under investigation requires a special caution. Several of the medicines now being tested for efficacy in the treatment of COVID-19 are on the list of drugs known to have a risk of Torsades de Pointes (TdP) arrhythmia. These include the antimalarials, chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine, that are being combined with azithromycin or with the antivirals, lopinavir/ritonavir. Each of these drugs alone can cause QT prolongation and chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin are on the CredibleMeds’ list of drugs known to cause TdP. Additional information on this topic is on our CredibleMeds home page.
Also, on December 26, 2019, the antipsychotic drug, chlorprothixene (Truxal®) was added to the Known Risk of Torsades de Pointes (TdP) list. The antidepressant, clomipramine (Anafranil®), was moved from the list with Possible Risk of TdP to the Conditional Risk list in the following conditions: hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, overdose and when taken with other drugs that prolong the QT interval.
Today, additional changes were made to QTdrugs. The antipsychotics, Lurasidone (Latuda®) and Lumateperone (Caplyta®) and the anticancer drug, Tazemetostat (Tazverik®) were added to the Possible Risk of TdP category. Cesium chloride, an ingredient in some “dietary supplements” was added to the Known Risk of TdP list. The following three appetite suppressants were added to the Special Risk category and the Drugs to Avoid in CLQTS category: Diethylpropion (Tenuate®), phendimetrazine (Bontril®) and benzphetamine (Didrex®).
Remember, the QTdrugs lists are always up-to-date in the CredibleMeds mobile app and can be obtained free for personal, non-commercial use by clicking these links:
Scientific Review Committee
Raymond L. Woosley, MD, PhD
Klaus Romero, MD, MS
C.Will Heise, MD
Tyler Gallo, PharmD
Jared Tate, PharmD
David Woosley, MPH
