Uses
Disopyramide is used to treat certain types of irregular heartbeats. Disopyramide is in a class of medications called antiarrhythmic medications. It works by making your heart more resistant to abnormal activity.
Side Effects Of Disopyramide
Disopyramide may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- dizziness or lightheadedness
- difficult urination
- frequent urination
- dry mouth
- constipation
- blurred vision
- nausea
- fatigue
- headache
- weakness
- stomach pain or bloating
- fatigue
- weakness
- headache
- rash
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
- chest pain
- swelling of the feet or hands
- unusual weight gain
- irregular heartbeat
- shortness of breath
- sudden changes in mental status
Warnings & Precautions
Before taking disopyramide:
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to disopyramide, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in disopyramide capsules. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: clarithromycin, erythromycin (E.E.S., Eryc, Erythrocin, others), phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), propranolol (Inderal, Innopran), and verapamil (Calan, Tarka, Verelan). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
- tell your doctor if you have heart block (a condition in which electrical signals are not passed normally from the upper chambers of the heart to the lower chambers) or have or have ever had a prolonged QT interval (a condition that increases the risk of developing an irregular heartbeat that may cause fainting or sudden death). Your doctor may tell you not to take disopyramide.
- tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart disease, low or high blood levels of potassium in your blood, diabetes, glaucoma, myasthenia gravis (a disorder of the nervous system that causes muscle weakness), urinary retention, benign prostatic hypertrophy, kidney or liver disease.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking disopyramide, call your doctor.
- talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking disopyramide if you are 65 years of age or older. Older adults should not usually take disopyramide because it is not as safe or effective as other medications that can be used to treat the same condition.
- if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking disopyramide.
- ask your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages while you are taking disopyramide. Alcohol can make the side effects of disopyramide worse.
Disopyramide Dosage
Disopyramide comes as a capsule and an extended-release (long-acting) capsule to take by mouth. Disopyramide capsules may be taken every 6 or 8 hours. The extended-release capsule is usually taken every 12 hours. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take disopyramide exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Swallow the extended-release capsules; do not open, crush, or chew them.
Disopyramide helps control your condition but will not cure it. Continue to take disopyramide even if you feel well. Do not stop taking disopyramide without talking to your doctor.
Other
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will need to determine your response to disopyramide.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
Source
All information has been provided courtesy of MedLinePlus from the National Library of Medicine and from the FDA.
