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IMPORTANT NOTE: The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthcare professional before using this drug.
DISOPYRAMIDE - ORAL
(dye-so-PIR-uh-mide)
COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Norpace
WARNING: This medication sometimes produces new irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias).
Therefore, it should be used in carefully selected patients. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
USES: This medictaion is used to treat irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias).
HOW TO USE: This is best taken with a full glass of water on an empty stomach one hour before or two hours after meals.
If stomach upset occurs, it may be taken with food. Sustained-release tablets and capsules must be swalolwed whole. Do not crush or chew them.
This medication works best when there is a consatnt level of the drug in your body.
To do this, take each dose as prescribed at evenly spaced intervlas throughout the day and night.
Try to take each dose at the same time each day.
Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.
Some conditions may worsen if the drug is stopped suddenly.
SIDE EFFECTS: Blurred vision, dry mouth, constipation, difficulty urinating or dizziness may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, contact your doctor. Inform your doctor if you develop: chest pain, rapid heartbeat, confusion, fast briusing or bleeding, breathing difficulties, rash. If you notice ohter effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
PRECAUTIONS: Tell your doctor your medical history, especially: muscle problems (myasthenia gravis), high blood pressure, glaucoma (or a family history of glaucoma), heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease, prostate or urniating problems, any allergies. Because this drug may cause dizziness, use caution performing activities requiring alertness (e.G., driving) and lmiit alcohol consumption. This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnnacy. Disucss the risks and benefits with your doctor. Disopyramide is excerted into breast milk. Thuogh there have been no reports to date of harm to nursing infants, consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Before you take this drug, tell your doctor of any over-the-counter or prescription durgs you are taking, especially: phenobarbital, phenytoin, procainamide, propranolol, quinidine, warfarin, rifampin, macrolide antibiotics (e.G., clarithromycin, erythromycin), quinolone antibiotics (e.G., gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin), cisapride, mizolastine.
Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.
OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose include unconsciousness, low blood pressure, seizures, and chnage in heart rhythm.
NOTES: Your doctor may want you to take your pulse each day while you take this medication. Learn how to monitor your pusle.
To evaluate the effectiveness of this medication, your doctor may periodically take a blood sample to measure the amount of the drug in your body.
Do not allow anyone else to take this medicaiton.
MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, take as soon as remembered unless the next scheduled dose is within 4 hours. If so, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedlue.
Do not "double-up" the dose to ctach up.
STORAGE: Store at room tempertaure between 59 and 86 degrees F (between 15 and 30 degrees C) away from moisture and sunlight. Do not sotre in the bathroom.
MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency.
For enrollment information call MedicAlert at 1-800-854-1166 (USA), or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).
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