PROCAINAMIDE (INJECTION)

(proe KANE a mide) Brand: Pronestyl

What is the most significant information I must know about procainamide injection?

• Procainamide is given in a hospital setting. Your heart course, breathing, blood pressure and another vital signs will be watched closely while you are receiving procainamide.

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to procainamide, or if you have a serious heart condition such as "AV block" (unless you have a pacemaker), lupus, or a history of "Long QT syndrome."

• If possible, till you receive procainamide, speak your doctor if you have congestive heart failure, circulation problems, a history of heart onslaught or stroke (including "mini-stroke"), a weak immune system, kidney or liver malady, myasthenia gravis, asthma, or if you are allergic to aspirin, sulfites, or any type of numbing medicine.

• In an abnormal situation it may not be possible till you are treated to speak your caregivers about your health conditions or if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Create certain any doctor caring for you afterward knows that you have received this medication.

• Procainamide can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections. Speak your doctor if you develop signs of infection such as fever, chills, sore throat, flu symptoms, light bruising or bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums), loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, sores in your mouth and throat, or unusual weakness.

What is procainamide injection?

• Procainamide affects the way your heart beats.

• Procainamide is used to help hold the heart beating normally in people with determined heart rhythm disorders of the ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart that let blood to flow out of the heart).

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

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till receiving procainamide injection?

• You must not receive this medicine if you are allergic to procainamide, or if you have:

· a serious heart condition such as "AV block" (unless you have a pacemaker);

· lupus; or

· a history of "Long QT syndrome."

• If possible till you receive procainamide, speak your doctor if you have:

· congestive heart failure;

· circulation problems;

· a history of heart onslaught or stroke (including "mini-stroke");

· a weak immune system;

· kidney disease;

· liver disease;

· myasthenia gravis;

· asthma or sulfite allergy;

· if you are allergic to aspirin; or

· if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a numbing medicine.

• FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether procainamide will harm an unborn child. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

• Procainamide can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing child. You must not breast-feed while you are using procainamide.

• In an abnormal situation, it may not be possible till you are treated with procainamide to speak your caregivers if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Create certain any doctor caring for your pregnancy or your child knows you have received this medication.

How is procainamide injection given?

• Procainamide is injected into a muscle or into a vein through an IV. You will receive procainamide injection in a hospital setting where your heart can be monitored 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. Your breathing, blood pressure and another vital signs will be watched closely while you are receiving procainamide.

• Procainamide can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can create it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being near others who are ill. Contact your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection such as fever, chills, sore throat, flu symptoms, light bruising or bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums), loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, mouth sores, or unusual weakness.

• Your doctor will need to check your progress on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Since procainamide is given by a healthcare professional in an abnormal setting, you are not likely to miss a dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Since this medicine is given by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, an overdose is unlikely to occur.

• Overdose symptoms may include drowsiness, tremors, weak or shallow breathing, and fainting.

What must I avoid while receiving procainamide injection?

• Avoid being around people who have colds, the flu, or another contagious illnesses. Contact your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

• This medicine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

What are the possible side effects of procainamide injection?

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

• Speak your caregivers at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

· a new or a worsening irregular heartbeat pattern;

· chest pain, wheezing, trouble breathing;

· feeling like you might pass out;

· signs of infection such as fever, chills, sore throat, flu symptoms, pale skin, light bruising or bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums), loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, sores in your mouth and throat, unusual weakness;

· depressed mood, hallucinations, severe dizziness;

· upper stomach pain, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

· joint pain or swelling with fever, swollen glands, muscle pain or weakness, unusual thoughts or behavior, patchy skin color, red spots.

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· mild dizziness or weary feeling;

· flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling); or

· mild itching or rash.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect procainamide injection?

• Speak your doctor about all another medicines you use, especially:

· cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB);

· digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin);

· glycopyrrolate (Robinul);

· mepenzolate (Cantil);

· atropine (Atreza, Sal-Tropine), belladonna (Donnatal, and others), benztropine (Cogentin);

· dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), methscopolamine (Pamine), or scopolamine (Transderm Scop);

· bronchodilators such as ipratropium (Atrovent) or tiotropium (Spiriva);

· irritable bowel medications such as dicyclomine (Bentyl), hyoscyamine (Hyomax), or propantheline (Pro Banthine).

· bladder or urinary medications such as darifenacin (Enablex), flavoxate (Urispas), oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol), tolterodine (Detrol), or solifenacin (Vesicare); or

· heart rhythm medications such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), quinidine (Quin-G), disopyramide (Norpace), flecaininde (Tambocor), mexiletine (Mexitil), propafenone, (Rythmol), and others.

• This list is not complete and another drugs may interact with procainamide. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I find more information?

• Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about procainamide injection.

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.