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Does Diphenhidramine Cause Arrhythmia?
Question: Is it possible for ongoing use of diphenhydramine to cause an arrhythmia? If so, would the arrhythmia stop when I stop taking the diphenhydramine?
Brief Answer:
Diphenhidramine has a potential to trigger arrhythmia.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would like to explain that diphenhydramine has the potential to prolong the QT interval (seen on surface ECG), and thus predispose to life-threatening arrhythmia, such as torsades de pointes. So, one should be careful when using diphenhidramine, especially cardiac patients (with cardiomyopathy), those with hepatic or renal dysfunctions, etc. When the drug is stopped, the potential for triggering such arrhythmia disappears.
Hope to have been helpful. Greetings! Dr. Iliri
Diphenhidramine has a potential to trigger arrhythmia.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would like to explain that diphenhydramine has the potential to prolong the QT interval (seen on surface ECG), and thus predispose to life-threatening arrhythmia, such as torsades de pointes. So, one should be careful when using diphenhidramine, especially cardiac patients (with cardiomyopathy), those with hepatic or renal dysfunctions, etc. When the drug is stopped, the potential for triggering such arrhythmia disappears.
Hope to have been helpful. Greetings! Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Would it take time for the diphenhydramine to get out of my system? Like if I took it last on a Friday night, could an arrhythmia still happen on Sunday morning?
Brief Answer:
Every possible side affects is inexistent after stopping that drug.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX!
You are not at risk for any arrhythmia, caused by diphenhidramine, as you have stopped it, and no potential cardiac side effects would persist after that. Just relax!
Best Regards! Dr. Iliri
Every possible side affects is inexistent after stopping that drug.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX!
You are not at risk for any arrhythmia, caused by diphenhidramine, as you have stopped it, and no potential cardiac side effects would persist after that. Just relax!
Best Regards! Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
The reason I ask is because I didn't think to tell my doctor about the diphenhydramine and he put my on Propafenone to treat the arrhythmia. I've left him a message to tell him about it, but he hasn't called me back yet (I left a message yesterday morning - so I'm not just being impatient.) If I had taken the pain reliever for the last time on a Friday night (after taking it for months maybe 5x/week), would it be out of my system right away? I had an episode on Sunday morning after that. So I'm just wondering if the diphenhydramine builds up in the system when taking it for that long. (Yes, I know that was a bad thing to do.)
Just trying to get all the information I can before I talk to him. It's possible that I don't even need the Propafenone. He didn't know about the diphenhydramine.
Just trying to get all the information I can before I talk to him. It's possible that I don't even need the Propafenone. He didn't know about the diphenhydramine.
Brief Answer:
You have to discuss with your doctor about that issue.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again XXXX!
As you have stopped Diphenhydramine compound at least 5 days till now, chances that it may influence actually the development of any arrhythmia are almost zero. I don't know the kind of arrhythmia propafenone is prescribed for by your doctor. Probably that arrhythmia has nothing to do with diphenhydramine intake. As your doctor is totally informed about the arrhythmia you have experienced, based on already performed tests, he could give the most objective opinion regarding any possible implications of diphenhydramine on arrhythmia generation, and also would judge the right way about the upcoming management strategy.
Greetings!
You have to discuss with your doctor about that issue.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again XXXX!
As you have stopped Diphenhydramine compound at least 5 days till now, chances that it may influence actually the development of any arrhythmia are almost zero. I don't know the kind of arrhythmia propafenone is prescribed for by your doctor. Probably that arrhythmia has nothing to do with diphenhydramine intake. As your doctor is totally informed about the arrhythmia you have experienced, based on already performed tests, he could give the most objective opinion regarding any possible implications of diphenhydramine on arrhythmia generation, and also would judge the right way about the upcoming management strategy.
Greetings!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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