Disopyramide

Generic name: Disopyramide
Drug class: Group I antiarrhythmics

Usage of Disopyramide

Disopyramide affects the way that your heart beats.

Disopyramide is used to treat life-threatening irregular heartbeat patterns.

Disopyramide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Disopyramide side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Disopyramide may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

a new or a worsening irregular heartbeat pattern;

little or no urinating, painful or difficult urination;

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

shortness of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling, rapid weight gain; or

low blood sugar (headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, confusion, irritability, dizziness, fast heart rate, or feeling jittery).

Serious side effects such as heart failure or kidney problems may be more likely in older adults.

Common side effects of disopyramide may include:

dry mouth, nose, or throat;

nausea, stomach pain, bloating;

constipation;

dry eyes, blurred vision;

headache, tiredness, general ill feeling; or

muscle pain or weakness.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Disopyramide

You should not use disopyramide if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

long QT syndrome; or

a serious heart condition such as "AV block" (unless you have a pacemaker).

Do not use disopyramide to treat any heart rhythm disorder that has not been checked and diagnosed by your doctor.

To make sure disopyramide is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

other heart rhythm disorders ("sick sinus syndrome", bundle branch block, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome);

congestive heart failure, or if you have recently had a heart attack;

low blood pressure;

low potassium levels in your blood (hypokalemia);

low blood sugar, or diabetes;

liver or kidney disease;

enlarged prostate, bladder obstruction or other urination problems;

glaucoma;

myasthenia gravis; or

if you are malnourished.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether disopyramide will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using disopyramide.

Disopyramide can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

Relate drugs

How to use Disopyramide

Usual Adult Dose for Arrhythmias:

400-800 mg/day. The recommended dose for most adults is 600 mg/day. Patients < 50 kg may be given 400 mg/day.Immediate-release form: The dose is divided and administered every 6 hours. Extended-release form: The dose is divided and administered every 12 hours.

Warnings

You should not use disopyramide if you have long QT syndrome, or a serious heart condition such as "AV block" (unless you have a pacemaker).

Do not use disopyramide to treat any heart rhythm disorder that has not been checked and diagnosed by your doctor.

What other drugs will affect Disopyramide

Many drugs can interact with disopyramide. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your medications and any you start or stop using, especially:

ketoconazole;

an antibiotic--clarithromycin, erythromycin; or

other heart rhythm medicines--encainide, flecainide, propranolol, propafenone, quinidine.

This list is not complete and many other drugs can interact with disopyramide. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Give a list of all your medicines to any healthcare provider who treats you.

Disclaimer

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