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Drug interactions

Cisapride + Hydroxychloroquine

Severity: Contraindicated

Cisapride and Hydroxychloroquine: 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

Hydroxychloroquine can prolong the QT interval and, with cisapride, increases the risk of torsades de pointes.

What this interaction means in plain words

Cisapride and Hydroxychloroquine 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.

Cisapride belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract; Hydroxychloroquine belongs to Musculoskeletal.

Evidence level: Moderate

Why it happens

Additive inhibition of cardiac potassium channels with QT prolongation.

What to do

Avoid the combination and use an alternative prokinetic. If unavoidable, monitor the ECG and keep potassium and magnesium within normal limits.

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.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I take Cisapride with Hydroxychloroquine?

MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Cisapride and Hydroxychloroquine 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. Hydroxychloroquine can prolong the QT interval and, with cisapride, increases the risk of torsades de pointes.

How serious is the interaction between Cisapride and Hydroxychloroquine?

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 use an alternative prokinetic. If unavoidable, monitor the ECG and keep potassium and magnesium within normal limits.

What other medicines interact with Cisapride?

MediHelp also lists interactions of Cisapride with, for example, Apomorphine, Artemether, Azithromycin. The full list is on the Cisapride page.

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