Norpace

Generic name: Disopyramide
Drug class: Group I antiarrhythmics

Usage of Norpace

Norpace affects the way that your heart beats.

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

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

Norpace 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.

Norpace 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 Norpace 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 Norpace

You should not use Norpace 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 Norpace to treat any heart rhythm disorder that has not been checked and diagnosed by your doctor.

To make sure Norpace 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 Norpace will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using Norpace.

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 Norpace

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Your doctor may want to give your first dose of this medicine in a hospital or clinic setting to quickly treat any serious side effects that occur.

Do not crush, chew, break, or open an extended-release capsule. Swallow it whole.

Your heart function may need to be checked using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG).

Do not skip doses or change your dosing schedule without your doctor's advice. Sudden changes in the way you take Norpace can make your condition worse.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Warnings

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

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

What other drugs will affect Norpace

Many drugs can interact with Norpace. 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 Norpace. 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

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.