Cisapride has been reported to cause QT prolongation and lead to rare but life threatening arrhythmias. The risk of arrhythmias is increased with concomitant prescribing of numerous medicines that interact with cisapride. There are also a number of coincidental medical conditions that can increase the risk.

From Jul 1993 through Dec 1999, 341 cases of serious cardiac arrhythmias (including ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, torsades de pointes and QT prolongation) have been spontaneously reported worldwide, including 80 deaths. In approximately 85% of these cases, the events occurred when cisapride was used with patients with known risk factors.

In view of the adverse drug reaction reports on cisapride, the product licences for all cisapride-containing products will be suspended with immediate effect. Physicians should cease prescribing cisapride and all unused stocks should be returned to the distributors by 14 Oct 2000.