Medication-Induced Palpitations: Causes, Common Drugs, and What to Do

When your heart skips, races, or pounds like it’s trying to escape your chest, it’s not always anxiety or caffeine. Sometimes, it’s a medication-induced palpitations, an abnormal heart rhythm triggered by prescription or over-the-counter drugs. Also known as drug-related arrhythmia, this reaction happens when a medication interferes with the heart’s electrical signals—sometimes mildly, sometimes dangerously. You might be taking it for depression, high blood pressure, asthma, or even a sinus infection, and not realize the culprit is in your medicine cabinet.

Common offenders include beta blockers, like propranolol and Innopran XL, which can paradoxically cause palpitations if dosed wrong or stopped abruptly. Antipsychotics, such as Abilify and Seroquel, are another big group—they affect heart rhythm by blocking certain ion channels. Even antifungals, like miconazole or griseofulvin, and antiarrhythmics, like amiodarone, can trigger this side effect, even though they’re meant to fix rhythm problems. It’s not rare. Studies show up to 1 in 5 people on certain cardiac or psychiatric meds report palpitations at some point.

It’s not just about the drug itself. Interactions matter. Taking an acid-reducing pill like omeprazole with another medication can change how your body absorbs it, leading to higher blood levels—and a racing heart. Thyroid meds, decongestants, asthma inhalers, even some herbal supplements like ginseng or ephedra, can all play a part. The real danger? People ignore it. They think, "It’s just nerves," or "It’ll pass." But if your palpitations come with dizziness, chest pain, or shortness of breath, it’s not normal. Monitoring serum levels of drugs like digoxin or amiodarone can catch toxicity before it becomes life-threatening.

What you need to know isn’t just what causes it—but what to do next. Don’t stop your meds cold. Talk to your doctor. Track when it happens, what you took, and how long it lasts. Bring a list of every pill, vitamin, and supplement you use. Sometimes, switching to a different drug in the same class—like choosing lurasidone instead of aripiprazole—can eliminate the problem. Other times, adjusting the dose or timing makes all the difference.

This collection of articles dives into the exact medications that cause these issues, how they interact, and what safer alternatives exist. You’ll find real comparisons between drugs like Viagra and Cialis, Abilify and its alternatives, and how even common painkillers like ibuprofen can affect heart rhythm in sensitive people. No fluff. No guesswork. Just clear, practical info to help you recognize the signs, understand the risks, and work with your provider to find a solution that keeps your heart steady and your treatment effective.