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Drug-related QT prolongation ⚠️ 🫀 💊
Drug-related QT prolongation ⚠️ 🫀
Understand the risk
Some medicines delay ventricular repolarisation; hypokalaemia, hypomagnesaemia, bradycardia and interacting medicines can amplify the risk of torsades de pointes.
Before prescribing or after an alert
- Review symptoms (syncope, palpitations, seizures), ECG/QTc, electrolytes, renal function and other QT-prolonging medicines. Correct reversible factors.
- Check the specific drug SPC/BNF and local QT-risk policy; the significance of a measured QTc depends on the ECG, QRS width, method and clinical context.
- Urgent senior/cardiology assessment is required for symptoms, marked QT prolongation or ventricular arrhythmia; avoid reflexively adding further QT-prolonging antiemetics/antipsychotics.
- The MHRA specifically cautions about haloperidol in frail older people, including ECG/electrolyte monitoring and avoidance in Parkinson or Lewy body dementia.
UK sources (checked 4 Nov 2026): MHRA: haloperidol in older people
Clinical safety: educational editorial draft, not an authorised NHS prescribing order. Clinical/pharmacy sign-off pending. Check local policies, BNF/BNFC, up-to-date guidance and individual patient factors before any treatment.
| The content on this website is provided for educational and informational purposes only to support exam preparation (e.g., MLA, MRCP, USMLE) and learning. This is NOT medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional guidance. It does not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional, official guidelines (e.g., NICE, GMC, BNF), or supervised clinical practice. Always verify information with current, authoritative sources. Makindo and its contributors accept no liability for any reliance on this content, including errors, omissions, or any resulting harm, loss, or consequences. By using this site, you agree to these terms. |
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