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Last Updated: Dec 27th, 2006 - 19:07:47 |
Seven prescription drugs cause more than 16,000 sudden heart attack deaths each year in the UK, Europe and the U.S., according to a study published in the European Heart Journal.
Among the seven drugs studied, two are antibiotics erythromycin and clarithromycin and the others are cisapride (Propulsid) and domperidone, used to treat gastro-intestinal conditions. Also included are anti-psychotic medications chlorpromazin (Thorazine), haloperidol (Haldol)and pimozide (Orap).
These drugs interfere with the heartbeat rhythms or prolong the heart's QTC interval, and cause sudden death from heart attack.
Researchers studied 775 cases of sudden heart death between 1995 and 2003. They found that 320 cases were caused by the seven drugs. The results indicated that there are 1,200 deaths each year in the UK and 15,000 in Europe and the U.S.
Researchers found that the risks were highest among those who had used the drugs for less than 90 days, and among women and older patients.
QTC prolongation has already been used as a surrogate marker for the prediction of drug side effects.
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