|
| Pronunciation |
|
 (doe
FET il
ide) |
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| Brand Names |
|
| Tikosyn® |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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|
Antiarrhythmic Agent, Class III |
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| What key warnings should I know
about before taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- Must be started in a setting with continuous monitoring. Patients
must be monitored with continuous ECG for a minimum of 3 days, or for a minimum
of 12 hours after changing to normal sinus rhythm, whichever is greater.
Patients should be readmitted for continuous monitoring if dosage is later
increased.
|
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|
| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
|
|
- If you have an allergy to dofetilide or any other part of the
medicine.
- If you have any of the following conditions: Short attacks of atrial
fibrillation, severe kidney disease, heart rate less than 50 beats/minutes, low
potassium or magnesium in the blood.
- If you are taking any of these medicines: Verapamil, cimetidine,
trimethoprim, ketoconazole, prochlorperazine, megestrol.
- If you are taking a medicine that changes the electrical activity of
the heart such as phenothiazines, cisapride, bepridil, tricyclic
antidepressants, erythromycin, clarithromycin, sparfloxacin, gatifloxacin,
moxifloxacin, amiodarone.
|
|
|
| What is this medicine used
for? |
|
|
- This medicine is used for treatment of irregular heartbeats called
atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. It may help keep your heartbeat regular
and stay beating that way longer.
|
|
|
| How does it work? |
|
|
- Dofetilide tries to normalize the heartbeats by changing the current
through the heart.
|
|
|
| How is it best taken? |
|
|
- Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an
upset stomach.
- Medicine must be taken exactly as directed.
- Take at a similar time
everyday.
|
|
|
| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
|
|
- Never make up a missed dose.
- Just skip it and return to your regular schedule.
- Do not miss doses or take a double dose or extra doses.
- Do not change the dose or stop taking this medicine. Talk with
healthcare provider first.
|
|
|
| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- Use caution if you have kidney disease. Talk with healthcare provider.
- It is dangerous to run out of this medication. Get refilled today!
- Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix
well with other medicines.
- Do not take cimetidine, verapamil, ketoconazole, trimethoprim (alone
or in combination with other antibiotics), prochlorperazine, or megestrol with
this medicine.
- Wear medical alert identification for irregular heartbeat. Include
dofetilide on the ID.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Do not use if you are
breast-feeding.
|
|
|
| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Dizziness. Use caution when driving, doing other tasks or activities
that require you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Headache. Mild pain medicine may help.
- Chest pain.
|
|
|
| What should I monitor? |
|
|
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
|
|
|
| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
|
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat.
- Passing out, fainting, dizziness, lightheadedness, or rapid
heartbeats.
- If your healthcare provider is not available go right to the nearest
emergency room. Do not drive yourself. Take your medicine with you.
- Severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, no appetite, or more
thirst.
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling
worse.
|
|
|
| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
|
- Store in tight, light-resistant container at room
temperature.
|
|
|
| General statements |
|
|
- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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Copyright © 1978-2001 Lexi-Comp Inc. All Rights Reserved
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The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences arising from the application, use, or misuse of any of the information contained herein, including any injury and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of product liability, negligence, or otherwise. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made in regard to the contents of this material. No claims or endorsements are made for any drugs or compounds currently marketed or in investigative use. This material is not intended as a guide to self-medication. The reader is advised to discuss the information provided here with a doctor, pharmacist, nurse, or other authorized healthcare practitioner and to check product information (including package inserts) regarding dosage, precautions, warnings, interactions, and contraindications before administering any drug, herb, or supplement discussed herein.
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