What is Disopyramide?
The heartbeat is affected by disopyramide. The treatment for irregular heartbeats is disopyramide. This medication guide does not list all possible uses of disopyramide.
Side effects of Disopyramide
If you experience symptoms indicative of an allergic reaction, such as hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of lips, face, tongue or throat - please seek medical assistance immediately!
The side effects of disopyramide can be serious. If you experience:
- A new or worsening irregular pattern of heartbeat;
- There is little or no urination, or it may be painful or difficult to urinate.
- A feeling of lightheadedness, as if you could pass out.
- Shortness of breath even with mild exercise, swelling, or rapid weight gain
- Rapid heart rate or feeling jittery are all symptoms of low sugar.
In older adults, serious side effects like heart failure and kidney problems are more common.
Some of the common side effects associated with disopyramide include:
- Dry mouth, nose, or throat
- Nausea, stomach pain, bloating;
- Constipation;
- Dry eyes and blurred vision
- Headache, tiredness, general ill feeling;
- Muscle pain or weakness
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. The FDA can be contacted at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects.
Warnings
If you suffer from long-QT syndrome or any serious heart conditions such as "AV Block" (unless your pacemaker is working), you should avoid using disopyramide. Disopyramide should not be used to treat heart rhythm disorders that have not been diagnosed and checked by your doctor.
Before you take this drug
If you are allergic or have any of the following:
- Long QT syndrome;
- A serious heart condition, such as an "AV block", (unless you already have a pacemaker),
Disopyramide should not be used to treat heart rhythm disorders that have not been diagnosed and checked by your doctor.
Tell your doctor about any of the following to ensure that disopyramide will not harm you:
- Other heart rhythm disorders (e.g. Sick sinus syndrome; bundle branch block; Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome)
- If you've recently suffered an attack, then you may have congestive cardiac failure.
- Low blood pressure
- Hyperkalemia (low potassium in the blood)
- Low blood sugar or diabetes
- Liver or kidney disease
- Bladder obstruction, enlarged prostate, or other urinary problems.
- Glaucoma;
- Myasthenia gravis;
- If you are malnourished.
FDA pregnancy class C There is no information on whether disopyramide can harm an unborn child. Disopyramide can cause pregnancy. Tell your doctor immediately if you plan to get pregnant. Disopyramide may pass into breastmilk and harm a baby who is nursing. While using this medication, you should not breastfeed.
How to take Disopyramide?
Do not increase or reduce the dosage or take this medicine beyond what has been advised, either in terms of amount taken or length of time. Follow instructions as prescribed when it comes to taking this medication - do not exceed its maximum recommended dosage and do not prolong taking this drug for too long. If you experience any side effects, your doctor may prescribe the first dose in a hospital setting or clinic to treat them quickly. Avoid damaging an extended-release capsule by crushing, chewing on, chewing apart or opening.Take it in whole. Electrocardiograms (also called EKGs) are used to check the heart's function. Do not change your dose schedule or skip a dose without consulting your doctor. Your condition can worsen if you make sudden changes to the way you use disopyramide. Store away from heat and moisture at room temperature.
Details on dosage
Adult dose for arrhythmias:
400-800 mg/day. For most adults, 600 mg/day is recommended. Patients under 50 kg can receive 400 mg/day.
In the immediate-release form, the dose is divided into six equal parts and administered every six hours.
Extended-release: The dose is divided and administered every twelve hours.
What happens if I miss the dose?
As soon as possible after recalling, take the missed dose immediately. If your next scheduled dosage is approaching soon after missing one, skip taking extra medicine in an effort to make up for missed ones. Never increase dosage to compensate.
What happens if I overdose?
Call Poison Help immediately on 1-800-222-1222, or seek emergency medical attention immediately in case of disopyramide overdose - it could prove deadly! Overdose symptoms include difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeats, and loss of consciousness.
What should be avoided?
Disopyramide can cause blurred vision, and it may also affect your ability to think or react. Be careful when driving or engaging in any activity which requires being alert and being able to see clearly, such as working. Alcohol can enhance certain side effects caused by disopyramide.
Interaction with other drug
Disopyramide can interact with many drugs. This list does not include all possible interactions. Tell your doctor if you stop taking any medications or start using new ones.
- Ketoconazole;
- An antibiotic—clarithromycin, erythromycin;
- Other heart rhythm medicines—encainide, flecainide, propranolol, propafenone, and quinidine.
The list of drugs that can interact with disopyramide is not exhaustive. Included are prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Provide a list to your healthcare provider.
