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Astemizole

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Astemizole is a selective non-sedative histamine blocker.

  • weight gain occasionally occurs with prolonged treatment.
  • astemizole has the potential to induce ventricular arrhythmias
    • high blood levels of astemizole can occur in paients with hepatic disease or patients treated with drugs that result in inhibition of the cytochrome P450 enzymes
    • patients treated with drugs which prolong the QTc interval or with preexisting QTc interval prolongation may also develop ventricular arrhythmias when astemizole blood levels are in the therapeutic range
  • astemizole has been withdrawn by its manufacturers on a worldwide basis because of this potential to cause ventricular arrhythmias

Reference:

  • Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance (February 1999), 25, 1-4.

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