Cisapride

Cisapride is prescribed to patients who suffer from heartburn at night. This medication has only been available on a restricted basis since 2000; patients can only get it if they meet certain criteria such as not being able to resolve heartburn issues with less strong drugs.

Warnings/Side Effects

Cisapride can cause irregular heartbeats, which can sometimes be fatal. Patients who have a history of heart disease or irregular heartbeats should not take this medication. Cisapride also can cause kidney or lung disease.

Many patients on this drug become nauseated and vomit frequently. This drug can also cause drowsiness, so patients should not drive while on it. Finally, patients should not take Cisapride if they take blood-thinning medications or tranquilizers, as the interaction between these drugs can be dangerous to heart health.