procainamide

Before taking procainamide, tell your doctor if you have

• any other type of heart disease or heart problems,

• systemic lupus erythematosus,

• liver disease,

• kidney disease,

• blood problems, or

• myasthenia gravis.

You may not be able to take procainamide, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during your therapy if you have any of these conditions.

Procainamide is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means it is not known whether procainamide will harm an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.

Procainamide passes into breast milk. It is not known how procainamide might affect a nursing infant. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Take procainamide exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand the directions on your prescription bottle, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Take each dose with a full glass of water.

Do not crush, chew, or open any formulation of this medication.

Do not change your dosage or your dosing schedule without first talking to your doctor. Changes of this sort could make your condition much worse.

Store procainamide at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Try not to miss doses of this medication. Missing doses could be very dangerous.

If you do miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication. A double dose could be dangerous.

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking this medication and seek emergency medical attention:

• an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

• a new or a worsening irregular heartbeat pattern;

• fever, sore throat, a sore mouth, or an infection;

• wheezing, chest pain or chest discomfort;

• unusual bruising or bleeding;

• dark urine;

• hallucinations; or

• severe dizziness or fainting.

Other, less serious side effects may also occur. Continue to take procainamide and talk to your doctor if you experience

• mild dizziness or tiredness;

• bitter taste;

• upset stomach, vomiting, decreased appetite, or diarrhea;

• headache;

• blurred vision;

• giddiness; or

• depression.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Call your doctor immediately if you experience wheezing, chest pain, chest discomfort, worsening irregular heartbeats, a fever, a sore throat or an infection, a sore mouth, unusual bruising or bleeding, dark urine, hallucinations, severe dizziness, or fainting.

Take procainamide exactly as directed. Do not skip doses or change your dosing schedule without talking to your doctor.

If procainamide makes you feel dizzy or tired, or if it causes blurred vision, use caution when driving and performing other hazardous activities.

Avoid alcohol while taking procainamide. Alcohol may affect how well procainamide works to treat your condition.

Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Procainamide may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision. If you experience dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision, avoid these activities.

Discuss, with your doctor, the use of alcohol while taking procainamide. Alcohol may unpredictably increase or decrease the effects of procainamide, which could be dangerous.

Before taking procainamide, tell your doctor and pharmacist about all other medicines that you are taking.

The effects of procainamide may be increased by the following drugs:

• cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB), ranitidine (Zantac, Zantac 75), nizatidine (Axid, Axid AR), and famotidine (Pepcid, Pepcid AC);

• quinidine (Quinora, Quinidex, Cardioquin, others), amiodarone (Cordarone), disopyramide (Norpace), and other medicines used to treat irregular heartbeats;

• beta-blockers such as propranolol (Inderal), metoprolol (Lopressor), and acebutolol (Sectral);

• other commonly used beta-blockers, including atenolol (Tenormin), betaxolol (Kerlone), carteolol (Cartrol), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), nadolol (Corgard), and pindolol (Visken); and

• trimethoprim(Proloprim, Trimpex, Bactrim, Septra).

Your doctor may need to give you a lower dose of procainamide if you are taking any of the medications listed above.

Discuss with your doctor the use of alcohol during treatment with procainamide. Alcohol may unpredictably increase or decrease the effects of procainamide, which could be dangerous.

Medicines other than those listed here may also interact with procainamide. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist if you start any new medication while taking procainamide.

Seek emergency medical attention.

Symptoms of a procainamide overdose include tiredness, dizziness, fainting, confusion, tremor, difficulty breathing, and an irregular heartbeat.