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| Pronunciation |
|
 (doe
FET il
ide) |
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| Brand Names |
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| 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? |
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- 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 |
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- 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.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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|
- 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.
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| How does it work? |
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- Dofetilide tries to normalize the heartbeats by changing the current
through the heart.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- 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.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- 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.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
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- Store in tight, light-resistant container at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
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- 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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