Drug interactions
Amiodarone + Arsenic trioxide
Severity: Contraindicated
Amiodarone and Arsenic trioxide: contraindicated interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Arsenic trioxide markedly prolongs the QT interval and can cause torsades de pointes, and amiodarone adds to this risk. Labeling advises against combining it with other QT-prolonging drugs.
What this interaction means in plain words
Amiodarone and Arsenic trioxide are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two.
Amiodarone belongs to Cardiovascular; Arsenic trioxide belongs to Oncology.
Why it happens
Additive prolongation of cardiac repolarization.
What to do
Avoid the combination and choose a non-QT-prolonging alternative to amiodarone. If it cannot be avoided, monitor ECG continuously or frequently and maintain potassium and magnesium.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there an alternative to one of these two medicines for me?
- If both are essential, who is monitoring me and how often?
- Which symptoms mean I should stop and seek help straight away?
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Other interactions of Amiodarone
- Amiodarone + Amisulpride Contraindicated
- Amiodarone + Dofetilide Contraindicated
- Amiodarone + Dronedarone Contraindicated
- Amiodarone + Droperidol Contraindicated
- Amiodarone + Eliglustat Contraindicated
- Amiodarone + Elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir df Contraindicated
Other interactions of Arsenic trioxide
- Amisulpride + Arsenic trioxide Contraindicated
- Arsenic trioxide + Clomipramine Contraindicated
- Arsenic trioxide + Dronedarone Contraindicated
- Arsenic trioxide + Fluphenazine Contraindicated
- Arsenic trioxide + Gemifloxacin Contraindicated
- Arsenic trioxide + Hydroxychloroquine Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Amiodarone with Arsenic trioxide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Amiodarone and Arsenic trioxide are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two. Arsenic trioxide markedly prolongs the QT interval and can cause torsades de pointes, and amiodarone adds to this risk. Labeling advises against combining it with other QT-prolonging drugs.
How serious is the interaction between Amiodarone and Arsenic trioxide?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid the combination and choose a non-QT-prolonging alternative to amiodarone. If it cannot be avoided, monitor ECG continuously or frequently and maintain potassium and magnesium.
What other medicines interact with Amiodarone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Amiodarone with, for example, Amisulpride, Dofetilide, Dronedarone. The full list is on the Amiodarone page.
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