Drug interactions
Artemether / lumefantrine + Hydroxyzine
Severity: Major
Artemether / lumefantrine and Hydroxyzine: major interaction.
Last updated Sources: Health Canada product monograph
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 can prolong the QT interval, so giving them together may raise the risk of torsades de pointes and other serious ventricular arrhythmias. The risk is greater with electrolyte disturbances, bradycardia or underlying heart disease.
What this interaction means in plain words
Artemether / lumefantrine and Hydroxyzine can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for.
Why it happens
Additive blockade of cardiac hERG potassium channels leading to delayed ventricular repolarization.
What to do
Avoid the combination where possible and choose a non-QT-prolonging antihistamine or anxiolytic. If unavoidable, obtain a baseline ECG, correct potassium and magnesium, and monitor the QTc.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Does the benefit of taking both outweigh the risk in my case?
- Do I need any blood test, ECG or other check while on both?
- What early warning signs should I watch for, and what should I do if they appear?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Artemether / lumefantrine and Hydroxyzine, 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 7 days on the web. No card needed.
References
Other interactions of Hydroxyzine
- Droperidol + Hydroxyzine Contraindicated
- Hydroxyzine + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Hydroxyzine + Thioridazine Contraindicated
- Hydroxyzine + Vandetanib Contraindicated
- Alfentanil + Hydroxyzine Major
- Amiodarone + Hydroxyzine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Artemether / lumefantrine with Hydroxyzine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Artemether / lumefantrine and Hydroxyzine can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for. Both drugs can prolong the QT interval, so giving them together may raise the risk of torsades de pointes and other serious ventricular arrhythmias. The risk is greater with electrolyte disturbances, bradycardia or underlying heart disease.
How serious is the interaction between Artemether / lumefantrine and Hydroxyzine?
MediHelp rates it major, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid the combination where possible and choose a non-QT-prolonging antihistamine or anxiolytic. If unavoidable, obtain a baseline ECG, correct potassium and magnesium, and monitor the QTc.
What other medicines interact with Hydroxyzine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Hydroxyzine with, for example, Droperidol, Pimozide, Thioridazine. The full list is on the Hydroxyzine 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.
