MHVI Owners Manual . Medications . Antiarrhythmics

Names
amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone)
disopyramide (Norpace)
flecainide (Tambocor)
lidocaine (Xylocaine, others)
mexiletine (Mexitil)
moricizine (Ethmozine)
procainamide (Procan SR, Pronestyl, ProcanBID)
propafenone (Rythmol)
quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinaglute, others)
sotalol (Betapace)
tocainide (Tonocard)

Q. Why has my doctor prescribed this type of medication?
A. Antiarrhythmics are used to treat (prevent) abnormal heart rhythms such as:

Sometimes a pacemaker or automatic defibrillator is also implanted in patients requiring antiarrhythmic drugs. Your doctor will carefully consider the pros and cons of a particular antiarrhythmic drug before prescribing it.

Q. Are there any special precautions that I need to be aware of before I start this type of medication?
A. Please carefully review the general guidelines in this section. Talk with your doctor, nurse and/or pharmacist. Tell them if you:

Are taking any other medication, prescription or non-prescription, including vitamins and herbs. Be sure to report if you are on an antibiotic, a medicine for a cold or allergy, or other medicine to treat a heart condition or high blood pressure.
Have heart, liver or kidney disease; diabetes; glaucoma; myasthenia gravis or asthma

Q. What is the proper way to take these medications?
A. Follow these guidelines:

Take these medications exactly as directed—even if you feel well and you think your rhythm is normal. They are usually taken evenly spaced throughout the day and night although some are prescribed as once-per-day doses. You may be asked to take a dose during the night. If so, be sure you set an alarm and take it. Do not skip this dose.
Remember that these medications treat and help control your irregular heartbeat, but they do not cure it. You must continue to take them, exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
Your doctor may ask you to get a blood test from time to time to check on the blood level of the drug.
Some of these medications are better tolerated if taken with food. Be sure to ask your physician or pharmacist about the drug that you are prescribed.

Q. What are the possible side effects of this type of medication?
A. Each antiarrhythmic drug has a specific and often quite different list of potential side effects. You may experience dry mouth, nausea and/or vomiting, loss of appetite, abnormal taste, diarrhea, constipation, dizziness, blurred vision, weakness and fatigue. Some of these medications can cause an increase in shortness of breath. If this occurs, contact your doctor immediately.

Your doctor may prescribe an antiarrhythmic drug to protect you from a life-threatening arrhythmia. Stopping your medicine suddenly without your doctor's supervision can be dangerous.

The most serious side effect of any of the antiarrhythmic drugs is proarrhythmia. Though these medications are intended to control abnormal heart rhythms, on occasion they can make them worse. Your doctor will have considered this possibility and will monitor the effects of the medicine carefully.