FlecainideOral - Drug Information and Side Effects on Drug3k.com


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Flecainide images:

Overview

Photos

How To Use

Side Effects

Precautions

Missed Dose

Drug Interactions

Flecainide

Uses
This medication is used to treat a certain serious (possibly life-threatening), persistent, abnormally fast heartbeats (sustained ventricular tachycardia). It is also used to treat occasional, disabling, abnormally fast heartbeats (e.g., paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation/flutter). Flecainide belongs to a class of drugs known as antidysrhythmics. It works by blocking the abnormal electrical activity of an irregular heartbeat so that the normal heartbeat can occur.
Notes

Do not share this medication with others.Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., EKG, routine blood tests) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects.
Consult your doctor for more details.

Storage

Store at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture.
Do not store in the bathroom.
Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Overdose

Symptoms of overdose may include: severe nausea/vomiting, seizures, very slow heartbeat, severe dizziness, fainting.

How To Use

This medication may be started at a low dose in the hospital so that your doctor can determine the best dose, increase it gradually as needed, and monitor you closely for side effects.Take this medication by mouth with or without food, usually twice daily or as directed by your doctor.
If your abnormal heartbeat is not easily controlled, your doctor may prescribe this medication 3 times daily.Milk may partly block the absorption of this medication into the bloodstream of infants.
Contact your infants doctor if you plan to add or remove milk from the diet.Dosage is based on your age, kidney and liver function, medical condition, other medications you may be taking, and response to therapy.This medication works best when the amount of drug in your body is kept at a constant level.
Therefore, take this drug at evenly spaced intervals.
To help you remember, take it at the same times each day.Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
Do not take more or less of this drug than prescribed or stop taking it (or other heart medicines) even for a short time unless directed to do so by your doctor.
Skipping or changing your dose without approval from your doctor may cause your abnormal heartbeat to return.
Do not run out of this medication.
Order your refills several days early to avoid running out of pills.Contact your doctor immediately and seek emergency medical attention (e.g., call 911, have someone else drive you to a hospital emergency room) if your condition persists or worsens.

Side Effects

See also Warning section.Dizziness, vision problems (e.g., blurring, spots, problems focusing, double vision), shortness of breath, headache, nausea, tiredness, and weakness may occur.
Less common side effects may include shakiness of hands/arms, constipation, stomach pain, heartburn, mild difficulty speaking, drowsiness, dry mouth.
If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.
Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: chest pain, vomiting, unusual sweating, swelling, unusually slow heartbeat, mental/mood changes (e.g., anxiety, depression, memory loss, confusion, hallucinations), numbness/tingling, problems walking (staggering), ringing in the ears, loss of appetite, sore throat, decreased sexual interest/ability, problems starting the flow of urine.Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: fainting, worsening symptoms of heart failure (e.g., ankle/leg swelling, increased tiredness, increased shortness of breath when lying down).A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.
However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Precautions

See also Warning and How to Use sections.Before taking flecainide, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies.This medication should generally not be used if you have certain medical conditions.
Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: certain heartbeat problems (second- or third-degree atrioventricular block or right bundle branch block with left hemiblock unless you have a heart pacemaker), persistent atrial fibrillation/flutter, shock due to the heart not pumping well (e.g., very low blood pressure and loss of consciousness), recent heart attack (within the last 2 years).Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: kidney problems, liver problems, angina (chest pain), heart failure, certain irregular heartbeats (sick sinus syndrome, torsade de pointes, congenital long QT syndrome), abnormal blood minerals (high or low potassium), a heart pacemaker, conditions that may make the urine more alkaline (e.g., strict vegetarian diet, renal tubular acidosis).Contact your doctor immediately if you develop other illnesses/conditions such as prolonged or large quantities of diarrhea, excessive sweating, vomiting, prolonged loss of appetite or desire to drink water.
These conditions could cause you to have serious changes in blood minerals leading to increased side effects from flecainide.This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy.
Use caution while driving, using machinery, or doing any activity that requires alertness.
Limit alcoholic beverages.Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to the effects of the drug, especially dizziness.During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed.
Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.This medication passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant.
Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember.
If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule.
Do not double the dose to catch up.

Drug Interactions

Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them.
Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: disopyramide, dofetilide, halofantrine, lumefantrine, pimozide, arbutamine, saquinavir, cisapride, gadoxetate, mizolastine, lopinavir/ritonavir, tipranavir.Other drugs besides flecainide and those listed above that may affect the heart rhythm (QTc prolongation in the EKG) include sotalol, procainamide, droperidol, ziprasidone, ranolazine, levofloxacin, and erythromycin, among others.
QTc prolongation can infrequently result in a serious (rarely fatal) irregular heartbeat.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details and for instructions on how you may minimize the risk of this effect.If you are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting flecainide.Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: amiodarone, cimetidine, clozapine, quinidine, digoxin, verapamil, beta blockers (e.g., propranolol, metoprolol), barbiturates (e.g., phenobarbital), carbamazepine, phenytoin, drugs that make the urine more acid (e.g., large doses of vitamin C, methionine, ammonium chloride), drugs that make the urine more alkaline (e.g., sodium bicarbonate).

CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgement of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.