Skip to content

Drug interactions

Arsenic trioxide + Trazodone

Severity: Contraindicated

Arsenic trioxide and Trazodone: 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

Both drugs prolong the QT interval, and arsenic trioxide carries a well-known risk of torsades de pointes. Together the risk of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia is increased.

What this interaction means in plain words

Arsenic trioxide and Trazodone 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 belongs to Oncology; Trazodone belongs to Central Nervous System.

Evidence level: Moderate

Why it happens

Additive QT prolongation through cardiac repolarization effects.

What to do

Avoid the combination and choose a non-QT-prolonging alternative to trazodone. If unavoidable, monitor ECG and correct 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?

Bring a full list of your medicines, including over-the-counter products, supplements and herbal remedies, to every pharmacy visit.

Pro+ members

Unlock the full page

Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Arsenic trioxide and Trazodone, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.

  • Full clinical management advice
  • Additional notes
  • Evidence detail
  • Interaction checker for a whole prescription

Try Pro+ free for 14 days on the web. No card needed.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take Arsenic trioxide with Trazodone?

MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Arsenic trioxide and Trazodone 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. Both drugs prolong the QT interval, and arsenic trioxide carries a well-known risk of torsades de pointes. Together the risk of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia is increased.

How serious is the interaction between Arsenic trioxide and Trazodone?

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 trazodone. If unavoidable, monitor ECG and correct potassium and magnesium.

What other medicines interact with Trazodone?

MediHelp also lists interactions of Trazodone with, for example, Ibutilide, Isocarboxazid, Levoketoconazole. The full list is on the Trazodone page.

Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app

Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.

Browse A–Z · Drug interactions

Get the app Sign in