Procainamide is an antiarrhythmic agent.

Procainamide is used to treat severe irregular heartbeats and maintain a normal rhythm.
Arrhythmias are generally divided into two main types: heartbeats that are faster than normal (tachycardia), and heartbeats that are slower than normal (bradycardia).

Irregular heartbeats are often caused by drugs or disease but can occur in otherwise healthy people with no history of heart disease or other illness.

The heart\\\'s pumping action is controlled by electrical signals, which pass through the heart muscle, causing contraction of the two pairs of heart chambers (left and right atria and ventricles). Procainamide works by decreasing the sensitivity of heart muscle cells to electrical impulses, therefore slowing the electrical conduction in the heart muscle.

Take only your prescribed doses of Procainamide; never take more.

Procainamide should be swallowed whole. Do not break or chew the tablet. You may see remnants of the tablet in your stool, since it does not disintegrate following release of procainamide.

For atrial arrhythmias (fast or irregular heartbeat):
Adults
500 mg to 1000 mg of Procainamide every four to six hours.

Children
12.5 mg of Procainamide per kilogram (5.68 mg per pound) of body weight four times

There is an increased risk of myocardial depression (decreased impulses within the heart) when used with other anti-arrhythmic medicines.

The following drugs increase the risk of ventricular arrhythmias:-

• other anti-arrhythmics such as amiodarone
• tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriyptyline
• terfenadine
• halofantrine
• thioridazine
• sotalol
• cisapride

Trimethoprim and cimetidine increase the blood levels of Procainamide .

Most Important Fact about Procainamide
Procainamide can cause serious blood disorders, especially during the first 3 months of treatment. Be sure to notify your doctor if you notice any of the following: joint or muscle pain, dark urine, yellowing of skin or eyes, muscular weakness, chest or abdominal pain, appetite loss, diarrhea, hallucinations, dizziness, depression, wheezing, cough, easy bruising or bleeding, tremors, palpitations, rash, soreness or ulcers in the mouth, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, fever, and chills.

Procainamide

More common side effects of Procainamide may include:

• diarrhea,
• loss of appetite

Less common side effects of Procainamide may include:

• fever and chills,
• joint pain or swelling,
• pains with breathing,
• skin rash or itching

Rare side effects of Procainamide may include:

• confusion,
• fever or sore mouth, gums, or throat,
• hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are
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