When your heart suddenly races, skips, or pounds like it’s trying to escape your chest, it’s not just anxiety—it could be medication-induced palpitations, abnormal heartbeats triggered by prescription or over-the-counter drugs. Also known as drug-related arrhythmias, this isn’t rare. It happens when a medicine messes with your heart’s electrical system, and many people don’t realize their meds are to blame.
Some common culprits include antidepressants like citalopram, an SSRI that can lengthen the QT interval and lead to dangerous heart rhythms, and beta-blockers like betaxolol, used for glaucoma but still absorbed into the bloodstream and affecting heart rate. Even over-the-counter cold meds with pseudoephedrine, thyroid pills like levothyroxine, and certain antibiotics can do it. The problem isn’t always the active ingredient—it’s the anticholinergic burden, the combined effect of multiple drugs that block acetylcholine, slowing heart rate control and increasing arrhythmia risk. People on several meds at once, especially older adults, are most at risk.
It’s not just about feeling your heartbeat. If you’re on a drug linked to QT prolongation, a delay in the heart’s electrical recovery that can trigger sudden cardiac arrest, you need monitoring. That’s why doctors check EKGs before and after starting drugs like escitalopram or certain antibiotics. Side effects like dizziness, fainting, or shortness of breath along with palpitations? That’s not normal. It’s a red flag.
You might think generics are safe swaps, but with narrow therapeutic index drugs, even tiny changes in dose or formulation can tip you into trouble. That’s why therapeutic drug monitoring matters—especially if you’ve switched brands or started a new pill. And if you’re on steroids, antidepressants, or heart meds, don’t ignore a racing pulse. It could be your body telling you something’s off.
The good news? Most medication-induced palpitations stop when you adjust the dose, switch drugs, or remove the trigger. But you won’t know unless you connect the dots between your pills and your symptoms. Below, you’ll find real guides on how to spot these hidden risks, what to ask your pharmacist, how to report side effects to the FDA, and which drugs are most likely to mess with your heart—so you can take control before it gets serious.
Many medications - from antibiotics to decongestants to thyroid pills - can cause palpitations and rapid heartbeat. Learn which ones are risky, how doctors evaluate them, and what steps you can take to stay safe.