Hydroxyzine and QT Prolongation: What You Need to Know About the Cardiac Risk

Posted By John Morris    On 19 Nov 2025    Comments (11)

Hydroxyzine and QT Prolongation: What You Need to Know About the Cardiac Risk

Hydroxyzine QT Prolongation Risk Calculator

Patient Risk Assessment

This calculator helps assess the risk of QT prolongation when considering hydroxyzine. Based on clinical guidelines and recent evidence, it evaluates key risk factors.

Key Guidelines

Max Daily Dose:

  • Adults: 100 mg
  • Over 65: 50 mg
  • Children: 2 mg/kg (max 40 kg)

ECG Warning: Normal QTc < 450 ms (men), < 470 ms (women)

Alternative: Consider safer antihistamines like cetirizine or fexofenadine

Risk Assessment Results

Score: 0
Low Risk

Recommendations: Hydroxyzine may be considered with caution

Important: Always review medications with CredibleMeds database (www.crediblemeds.org)

Hydroxyzine has been used for over 60 years to treat anxiety, itching, and nausea. It’s cheap, effective, and widely prescribed-especially for older adults and patients with skin conditions. But in recent years, doctors have started warning that this common antihistamine can trigger a dangerous heart rhythm problem called QT prolongation, which can lead to a life-threatening arrhythmia known as Torsade de Pointes. This isn’t theoretical. It’s happened. And it’s preventable-if you know the signs and risks.

What Is QT Prolongation, and Why Does It Matter?

Your heart beats because of electrical signals that travel through muscle tissue. The QT interval on an ECG measures how long it takes for the heart’s lower chambers to recharge between beats. If that interval gets too long, the heart can misfire, leading to chaotic, rapid rhythms. Torsade de Pointes isn’t just an abnormal ECG reading-it can cause fainting, seizures, or sudden death if not treated immediately.

Hydroxyzine doesn’t cause this in everyone. But it blocks a specific ion channel in heart cells-the hERG potassium channel-that’s critical for keeping the heartbeat regular. When this channel is blocked, the heart takes longer to reset. That’s QT prolongation. And once it starts, even a small trigger-like low potassium, another medication, or just a single dose-can push the heart into dangerous territory.

Who’s at Risk?

The risk isn’t the same for everyone. Hydroxyzine is generally safe for healthy, young adults with no heart issues. But certain factors turn it from a mild sedative into a potential cardiac threat:

  • Age over 65: Older adults clear the drug slower. Even standard doses can build up in the system.
  • Low potassium or magnesium: Common in people on diuretics, with kidney disease, or poor nutrition. These electrolytes help stabilize heart rhythms.
  • Other QT-prolonging drugs: Taking hydroxyzine with antibiotics like azithromycin, antidepressants like citalopram, or heart meds like amiodarone multiplies the risk.
  • Pre-existing heart conditions: History of arrhythmias, heart failure, or congenital long QT syndrome.
  • Slow metabolism: People with CYP2D6 gene variants (poor metabolizers) break down hydroxyzine much slower, increasing exposure.
  • Dialysis patients: Often have electrolyte imbalances and are frequently prescribed hydroxyzine for itching-making them a high-risk group.

A 2022 case report described a 68-year-old woman with no prior heart disease who developed Torsade de Pointes after taking just 50 mg of hydroxyzine for anxiety. She was also on amiodarone. That combination was a recipe for disaster.

Dosing Limits and Regulatory Changes

Back in the 1990s, doctors sometimes prescribed up to 300 mg of hydroxyzine per day. That’s no longer acceptable. In 2015, after reviewing over 50 documented cases of QT prolongation and Torsade de Pointes linked to hydroxyzine, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) made major changes:

  • Maximum daily dose for adults: 100 mg (down from higher, unregulated amounts)
  • Maximum daily dose for adults over 65: 50 mg
  • Children: 2 mg per kg of body weight, up to a maximum of 40 kg

The FDA followed suit, adding hydroxyzine to its official list of drugs with known QT prolongation risk in 2019. Prescribing information now includes strong warnings about cardiac monitoring.

These changes didn’t come out of nowhere. Between 1955 and 2016, 59 confirmed cases of QT prolongation or Torsade de Pointes were linked to hydroxyzine. Before 2015, there were only a handful of case reports. Now, we know the pattern.

Three patients with translucent heart overlays showing hydroxyzine blocking ion channels, surrounded by warning drug names.

How Hydroxyzine Compares to Other Antihistamines

Not all antihistamines carry the same risk. Here’s how hydroxyzine stacks up:

Cardiac Risk Comparison of Common Antihistamines
Drug Generation QT Prolongation Risk hERG Inhibition
Hydroxyzine First Known Risk (CredibleMeds) High
Diphenhydramine First Possible Risk Moderate
Cetirizine Second Minimal Risk Very Low
Loratadine Second Minimal Risk Very Low
Fexofenadine Second Very Low Risk Negligible

Second-generation antihistamines like cetirizine and loratadine barely touch the hERG channel. They’re safer choices for long-term use, especially in older patients. Hydroxyzine, on the other hand, binds tightly to the channel-even at low doses-making it one of the riskiest first-generation options.

What Doctors Should Do Before Prescribing

If you’re a provider, here’s the bare minimum you need to check before writing a prescription for hydroxyzine:

  1. Check the QTc interval with a 12-lead ECG. Normal is under 450 ms for men, under 470 ms for women. Anything above 500 ms? Don’t use hydroxyzine.
  2. Review all medications using the CredibleMeds database. If the patient is on another drug marked ‘Known Risk’ for TdP, avoid hydroxyzine.
  3. Test electrolytes. Potassium below 4.0 mmol/L? Magnesium below 1.8 mg/dL? Correct those first.
  4. Ask about heart history. Any past fainting spells? Unexplained seizures? Family history of sudden cardiac death?
  5. Use the lowest effective dose. For anxiety or itching, 10-25 mg may be enough. Avoid daily chronic use.
  6. Document your assessment. Many hospitals now require a checkbox in the EHR confirming cardiac risk review.

One 2022 study found that after hospitals implemented these checks, compliance jumped from 45% to 78%. And the number of cardiac events dropped.

What Patients Should Watch For

If you’re taking hydroxyzine, pay attention to your body:

  • Dizziness or lightheadedness-especially right after taking the pill
  • Palpitations or feeling like your heart skipped a beat
  • Fainting or near-fainting episodes
  • Unusual fatigue that doesn’t go away

These symptoms can show up within 10 minutes or up to 20 days after starting the drug. Don’t ignore them. Call your doctor. Get an ECG.

One Reddit user reported feeling their heart "flip-flop" 45 minutes after taking 25 mg. They didn’t think much of it-until they passed out the next day. Turns out, they had undiagnosed long QT syndrome. Hydroxyzine triggered their first cardiac event.

Doctor viewing an ECG with Torsade de Pointes rhythm, beside a tablet showing CredibleMeds warning and genetic test results.

Alternatives to Hydroxyzine

If you’re on hydroxyzine for anxiety or itching, there are safer options:

  • For anxiety: Low-dose SSRIs like sertraline, or buspirone. Non-pharmacological options like CBT are also effective.
  • For itching: Cetirizine, fexofenadine, or gabapentin (especially for chronic kidney disease-related itching). Topical corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors work for localized skin issues.
  • For sleep: Melatonin, diphenhydramine (with caution), or mirtazapine (low dose) are better than hydroxyzine for older adults.

Since 2015, prescriptions for gabapentin for pruritus have risen 62%. Mirtazapine use for insomnia in older patients jumped 45%. These aren’t just trends-they’re responses to real safety data.

The Future of Hydroxyzine

Hydroxyzine isn’t going away. It’s still useful for short-term procedural sedation or acute itching. But its role is shrinking.

  • The American Geriatrics Society now lists it as a Potentially Inappropriate Medication for older adults.
  • Research is underway to develop new versions of hydroxyzine that don’t block hERG channels. One candidate, VH-01, shows 87% less hERG inhibition in early trials.
  • Genetic testing for CYP2D6 poor metabolizers may soon become standard before prescribing.
  • By 2025, the European Society of Cardiology is expected to ban chronic hydroxyzine use entirely-limiting it to single doses for anxiety before procedures.

As one cardiologist put it: "Hydroxyzine isn’t inherently dangerous. But we’ve learned it needs the same level of cardiac vigilance as a blood thinner or antiarrhythmic. The era of treating it like a harmless bedtime pill is over."

Can hydroxyzine cause heart problems even if I’m young and healthy?

Yes, but it’s rare. Most cases occur in people with other risk factors like low potassium, another QT-prolonging drug, or undiagnosed heart conditions. Healthy young adults with no other medications and normal ECGs are at very low risk. Still, if you feel dizzy, faint, or have palpitations after taking it, stop and get checked.

Is hydroxyzine safe for seniors?

Only if absolutely necessary, and only at a maximum of 50 mg per day. Seniors metabolize the drug slower, so even standard doses can build up. Many older adults also take other medications or have electrolyte imbalances. The American Geriatrics Society recommends avoiding hydroxyzine entirely in people over 65 unless no safer option exists.

How do I know if a drug I’m taking also prolongs the QT interval?

Use the CredibleMeds website (www.crediblemeds.org). It’s free and lists drugs by risk level: Known Risk, Possible Risk, or No Risk. Hydroxyzine is in the "Known Risk" category. If you’re taking two or more drugs from the "Known Risk" list, don’t combine them.

Do I need an ECG before taking hydroxyzine?

If you’re over 65, have heart disease, take other medications, or have electrolyte issues-yes. Even if you’re young and healthy, if you’re taking hydroxyzine for more than a few days, a baseline ECG is a smart precaution. Many hospitals now require it before prescribing.

What should I do if I’ve been taking hydroxyzine for months?

Stop taking it immediately if you’re over 65, have heart issues, or are on other QT-prolonging drugs. Talk to your doctor about switching to a safer alternative like cetirizine, gabapentin, or a low-dose SSRI. Don’t quit cold turkey if you’re using it for anxiety-your doctor can help you taper safely.

Final Takeaway

Hydroxyzine isn’t evil. It’s a tool. And like any tool, it can be dangerous if used carelessly. For healthy people with no other meds and a normal ECG, it’s still a reasonable short-term option. But for older adults, those with heart conditions, or anyone on multiple medications-it’s a ticking time bomb. The data is clear. The guidelines are updated. The question isn’t whether hydroxyzine causes QT prolongation. It’s whether you’re checking for the risk before you prescribe or take it.

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