QT Prolongation: Risks, Medications, and How to Stay Safe

When your heart’s electrical cycle gets delayed, it’s called QT prolongation, a lengthening of the time it takes for the heart’s ventricles to recharge between beats. This isn’t just a lab number—it’s a silent risk that can trigger torsades de pointes, a dangerous type of irregular heartbeat that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest. It’s often caused by medications, and many people don’t know they’re taking one until it’s too late.

Drugs that mess with your heart’s rhythm aren’t always obvious. Antidepressants like trazodone, a common sleep and depression aid, antibiotics like azithromycin, anti-nausea meds like ondansetron, and even some antipsychotics can stretch out the QT interval. It’s not about dosage alone—some people are just more sensitive. Older adults, those with kidney or liver issues, or anyone on multiple meds are at higher risk. And if you’re already taking something like warfarin, a blood thinner that requires careful monitoring, adding another drug can create a hidden combo that your doctor might miss.

There’s no single test you can do at home, but symptoms like dizziness, fainting, or a racing heart after starting a new med should raise red flags. It’s not always about feeling sick—it’s about noticing when something feels off. Many cases are caught only after an ECG, which is why knowing your meds matters. If you’re on any of the drugs mentioned in posts about QT prolongation, drug interactions, or side effects like fainting or palpitations, you’re not alone. This collection pulls together real-world guidance on how to spot trouble, which meds to question, and how to talk to your doctor before something serious happens.