Procainamide Hydrochloride

Procainamide affects the way your heart beats.

Procainamide is used to help keep the heart beating normally in people with certain heart rhythm disorders of the ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart that allow blood to flow out of the heart).

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

You should not receive this medication 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 before you receive procainamide, tell your doctor if you have:

• congestive heart failure;
• circulation problems;
• a history of heart attack 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 baby. Tell 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 baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using procainamide.

In an emergency situation, it may not be possible before you are treated with procainamide to tell your caregivers if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Make sure any doctor caring for your pregnancy or your baby knows you have received this medication.

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 medication causes serious side effects.

Your heart rate will be constantly monitored using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG). This machine measures electrical activity of the heart. Your breathing, blood pressure and other vital signs will be watched closely while you are receiving procainamide.

Procainamide can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can make it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being around others who are ill. Contact your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection such as fever, chills, sore throat, flu symptoms, easy 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.

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

Since this medication 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.

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

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

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

Tell 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, easy 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.

Less serious side effects may include:

• mild dizziness or tired 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 report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all other 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 other drugs may interact with procainamide. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

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