Drug interactions
Hydroxychloroquine + Ibutilide
Severity: Major
Hydroxychloroquine and Ibutilide: major 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
Ibutilide is a class III antiarrhythmic with a high risk of torsades de pointes, and hydroxychloroquine adds further QT prolongation. The combination can provoke life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.
What this interaction means in plain words
Hydroxychloroquine and Ibutilide 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.
Hydroxychloroquine belongs to Musculoskeletal; Ibutilide belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Additive inhibition of cardiac potassium channels produces additive QT prolongation.
What to do
Avoid the combination. If ibutilide is needed for cardioversion in a patient on hydroxychloroquine, ensure continuous ECG monitoring with normal potassium and magnesium, and consider an alternative strategy.
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 Hydroxychloroquine and Ibutilide, 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.
Other interactions of Hydroxychloroquine
- Arsenic trioxide + Hydroxychloroquine Contraindicated
- Cisapride + Hydroxychloroquine Contraindicated
- Dronedarone + Hydroxychloroquine Contraindicated
- Hydroxychloroquine + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Hydroxychloroquine + Thioridazine Contraindicated
- Hydroxychloroquine + Vandetanib Contraindicated
Other interactions of Ibutilide
- Amiodarone + Ibutilide Contraindicated
- Amisulpride + Ibutilide Contraindicated
- Chlorpromazine + Ibutilide Contraindicated
- Clarithromycin + Ibutilide Contraindicated
- Desipramine + Ibutilide Contraindicated
- Dolasetron + Ibutilide Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Hydroxychloroquine with Ibutilide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Hydroxychloroquine and Ibutilide 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. Ibutilide is a class III antiarrhythmic with a high risk of torsades de pointes, and hydroxychloroquine adds further QT prolongation. The combination can provoke life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.
How serious is the interaction between Hydroxychloroquine and Ibutilide?
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. If ibutilide is needed for cardioversion in a patient on hydroxychloroquine, ensure continuous ECG monitoring with normal potassium and magnesium, and consider an alternative strategy.
What other medicines interact with Hydroxychloroquine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Hydroxychloroquine with, for example, Arsenic trioxide, Cisapride, Dronedarone. The full list is on the Hydroxychloroquine 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.
