Medications documented to induce mitochondrial damage

Here is a list of drugs, organized by drug class, which have been documented to induce mitrochondrial damage. This is not to suggest these medications are inappropriate or to be avoided, just that it is best to be aware of this potential side-effect.

Excerpted from: Medication-induced mitochondrial damage and disease

  • Alcoholism medications
    • Disulfiram (Antabuse)
  • Analgesic (for pain) and anti-inflammatory
    • Aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), diclofenac (Voltaren, Voltarol, Diclon, Dicloflex, Difen and Cataflam), fenoprofen (Nalfon), indomethacin (Indocin, Indocid, Indochron E-R Indocin-SR), Naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)
  • Anesthetics
    • Bupivacaine, lidocaine, propofol
  • Angina medications
    • Perhexiline, amiodarone (Cordarone), Diethylaminoethoxyhexesterol (DEAEH)
  • Antiarrhythmic (regulates heartbeat)
    • Amiodarone (Cordarone)
  • Antibiotics
    • Tetracycline, antimycin A
  • Antidepressants
    • Amitriptyline (Lentizol), amoxapine (Asendis), citalopram (Cipramil), fluoxetine (Prozac,  Symbyax, Sarafem, Fontex, Foxetin, Ladose, Fluctin, Prodep, Fludac, Oxetin, Seronil, Lovan)
  • Antipsychotics
    • Chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, haloperidol, risperidone, quetiapine, clozapine, olanzapine
  • Anxiety medications
    • Alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (valium, diastat)
  • Barbiturates
    • Amobarbital (Amytal), aprobarbital, butabarbital, butalbital (Fiorinal, hexobarbital (Sombulex), methylphenobarbital (Mebaral), pentobarbital (Nembutal), phenobarbital (Luminal), primidone, propofol, secobarbital (Seconal, Talbutal), thiobarbital
  • Cholesterol medications
    • Statins – atorvastatin (Lipitor, Torvast), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor, Altocor), pitavastatin (Livalo, Pitava), pravastatin (Pravachol, Selektine, Lipostat), rosuvastatin (Crestor), simvastatin (Zocor, Lipex) bile acids – cholestyramine (Questran), clofibrate (Atromid-S), ciprofibrate (Modalim), colestipol (Colestidm), colesevelam (Welchol)
  • Cancer (chemotherapy) medications
    • Mitomycin C, profiromycin, adriamycin (also called doxorubicin and hydroxydaunorubicin and included in the following chemotherapeutic regimens – ABVD, CHOP, and FAC)
  • Dementia
    • Tacrine (Cognex),Galantamine (Reminyl)
  • Diabetes medications
    • Metformin (Fortamet, Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Riomet), troglitazone, rosiglitazone, buformin
  • HIV/AIDS medications
    • Atripla, Combivirm, Emtrivam, Epivirm (abacavir sulfate), Epzicom, Hivid (ddC, zalcitabine), Retrovir (AZT, ZDV, zidovudine), Trizivir, Truvada, Videx (ddI, didanosine), Videx EC, Viread, Zerit (d4T, stavudine), Ziagen, Racivir
  • Epilepsy/Seizure medications
    • Valproic acid (Depacon, Depakene, Depakene syrup, Depakote, depakote ER, depakote sprinkle, divalproex sodium)
  • Mood stabilizers
    • Lithium
  • Parkinson’s disease medications
    • Tolcapone (Tasmar, Entacapone (COMTan, also in the combination drug Stalevo)

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