Conditions and symptoms
What Is Syncope? Why Medicine Labels Warn About Fainting
Syncope · say it: SING-kuh-peeAlso written: fainting, passing out, blackout, vasovagal syncope
Short answer
Syncope is the medical word for fainting: a short loss of consciousness because not enough blood reaches the brain, with recovery on its own.
What it means
Syncope means fainting. Blood flow to the brain drops for a moment, the person loses consciousness and falls, then usually wakes within a short time. Common causes include standing for a long time, heat, pain, dehydration or standing up too quickly. Fainting during exercise, with chest pain or palpitations, or with a known heart problem needs urgent medical assessment, and someone who does not wake quickly needs emergency help.
Labels list syncope because some medicines can lower blood pressure or slow or disturb the heart rhythm, making fainting more likely. Blood pressure medicines, alpha-blockers, nitrates, some antidepressants and medicines that affect the QT interval may carry it. Labels often advise standing up slowly, especially after the first dose or a dose increase.
Dizziness or light-headedness is feeling faint without actually losing consciousness. Orthostatic hypotension, a drop in blood pressure on standing, is one common cause of syncope.
Where you may see it
- Leaflets under 'Dizziness and fainting' for blood pressure and prostate medicines
- 'Warnings' about first-dose effects of alpha-blockers
- Emergency department notes and discharge summaries
📄 How it looks on a report
Syncope and orthostatic hypotension may occur, particularly after the first dose. Advise patients to rise slowly.
🙅 What it does not mean
- Fainting once does not mean you have a serious heart problem, but it should be mentioned to a doctor.
- It is not the same as a seizure, although the two can look alike.
- A label warning does not mean you will faint on this medicine.
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Syncope”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Albuterol
A bronchodilator (a medicine that opens the airways) of the beta-2 adrenergic type. The FDA class is not listed, so this description comes from the label's own wording.
- Aripiprazole
an atypical antipsychotic medicine
- Atenolol
a beta-blocker (beta-adrenergic blocker). The label describes it as a beta 1-selective, or cardioselective, blocking agent.
- Bisoprolol Fumarate
a beta-blocker, which the label describes as a synthetic, beta 1-selective (cardioselective) adrenoceptor blocking agent
- Carvedilol
A beta-blocker. The FDA lists it as both an alpha-adrenergic blocker and a beta-adrenergic blocker.
- Duloxetine
A serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) type of antidepressant medicine
- Empagliflozin
a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, a prescription medicine that works on sugar handling in the kidneys
- Enalapril
An angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor
- Famotidine
A histamine-2 (H2) receptor blocker, a type of medicine that lowers stomach acid.
- Fluoxetine
a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), a type of antidepressant medicine
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Syncope” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
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