FLECAINIDE

(FLEK a nide) Brand: Tambocor

What is the most significant information I must know about flecainide?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to flecainide, or if you have determined heart conditions, especially "AV block" (unless you have a pacemaker).

• Till using flecainide, speak your doctor if you have congestive heart failure, a heart condition called "sick sinus syndrome," an electrolyte imbalance, liver malady, kidney malady, if you have a pacemaker, or if you have had a heart onslaught within the past 2 years.

• You will need to receive your first little doses of flecainide in a hospital setting in case the medicine causes serious side effects. Your heart course will be constantly monitored using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG). This car measures electrical activity of the heart.

• Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as weak pulse, slow breathing, quick or uneven heartbeat, feeling like you might pass out, feeling short of breath, swelling, rapid weight gain, confusion, extreme thirst, heighten urination, muscle weakness, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

What is flecainide?

• Flecainide is in a group of drugs called Class IC anti-arrhythmics. It affects the way your heart beats.

• Flecainide is used in determined situations to prevent serious heart rhythm disorders.

• Flecainide may also be used for another purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking flecainide?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to flecainide, or if you have determined heart conditions, especially "AV block" (unless you have a pacemaker).

• Till using flecainide, speak your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

· congestive heart failure;

· a heart condition called "sick sinus syndrome";

· an electrolyte imbalance;

· liver disease;

· kidney disease;

· if you have a pacemaker; or

· if you have had a heart onslaught within the past 2 years.

• If you have any of these conditions, you may need a doze adjustment or particular trials to safely use flecainide.

• FDA pregnancy category C. This medicine may be deleterious to an unborn child. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

• Flecainide can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing child. Do not use this medicine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How must I take flecainide?

• Take flecainide exactly as it was predesigned for you. Do not take the medicine in larger amounts or for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

• Your doctor may occasionally change your doze to create certain you get the excellent results from this medication.

• To be certain this medicine is helping your condition, your blood may need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

• Store flecainide at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. If it is nearly time for your following doze, wait before then to take the medication and skip the missed doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention if you think you have used too many of this medicine.

• Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, slow heart course, feeling like you might pass out, or seizure (convulsions).

What must I avoid while taking flecainide?

• Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while you are using flecainide.

What are the possible side effects of flecainide?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

· slow heart course, weak pulse, fainting, slow breathing (breathing may stop);

· dizziness, fainting, quick or pounding heartbeat;

· feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;

· swelling, rapid weight gain;

· low potassium (confusion, uneven heart course, extreme thirst, heighten urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling);

· tall potassium (slow heart course, weak pulse, muscle weakness, tingly feeling);

· pale skin, light bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness; or

· jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· dizziness;

· tremor or shaking;

· headache;

· anxiety or depression;

· vision problems;

· nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;

· diarrhea, constipation; or

· numbness or tingling.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Speak your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect flecainide?

• Till taking flecainide, speak your doctor if you are taking any of the next medicines:

· cimetidine (Tagamet),

· digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin);

· a diuretic (water pill);

· verapamil (Verelan, Calan, Isoptin);

· seizure medicine such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol), phenobarbital (Solfoton), or phenytoin (Dilantin);

· another heart rhythm medications such as amiodarone (Cordarone), disopyramide (Norpace), or quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex); or

· a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), sotalol (Betapace), timolol (Blocadren), and others.

• This list is not complete and there may be another drugs that can interact with flecainide. Speak your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal commodity, and drugs predesigned by another doctors. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about flecainide.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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