Comments for consumers
This page/column contains information which may be of interest to consumers. The information is based on articles which appear in Australian Prescriber. As Australian Prescriber is written for health professionals, you should discuss any issues raised by this page/column with your doctor or pharmacist. They will be able to give a more detailed answer to your questions by reading the main article.
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Australian Prescriber Vol. 25 No. 3 2002
Drugs and the QTc interval
Electrical impulses control the heartbeat. Some medicines have side effects which can change the heartbeat. This can cause the heart to speed up and sometimes the heartbeat goes out of control. The patient may faint or sometimes collapse and die.
Some people are more likely to suffer this side effect. They may have a family history of fainting or sudden death at a young age.
Taking two or more medicines which can affect the electrical impulses increases the risk of the heart going out of control. In the past, some of these medicines could be bought without a prescription. It is therefore always important to tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the other medicines you are taking when you get a new prescription.
