Norpace (Disopyramide Phosphate) Patient Information: How Should I Take the Drug at RxList

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May 27, 2012

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Arrhythmia »

Introduction to Arrhythmia

An irregular heartbeat is an arrhythmia (also called dysrhythmia). Heart rates can also be irregular. A normal heart rate is 50 to 100 beats per minute. Arrhythmias and abnormal heart rates don't necessarily occur together. Arrhythmias can occur with a normal heart rate, or with heart rates that are slow (called bradyarrhythmias -- less than 50 beats per minute). Arrhythmias can also occur with rapid heart rates (called tachyarrhythmias -- faster than 100 beats per minute). In the United States, more than 850,000 people are hospitalized for an arrhythmia each year.

What causes an arrhythmia?

Arrhythmias may be caused by many different factors, including:

Coronary artery disease.
Electrolyte imbalances in your blood (such as sodium or potassium).
Changes in your heart muscle.
Injury from a heart attack.
Healing process after heart surgery.
Irregula...

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Norpace Patient Information including How Should I Take

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking disopyramide (Norpace)?

Before taking disopyramide, tell your doctor if you have

any other type of heart disease or heart problem,
liver disease,
kidney disease,
difficulty urinating or an enlarged prostate,
glaucoma, or
myasthenia gravis.

You may not be able to take disopyramide, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Disopyramide is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether disopyramide will harm an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.

Disopyramide passes into breast milk. It is not known whether disopyramide will affect a nursing infant. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take disopyramide (Norpace)?

Take disopyramide exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Take each dose with a full glass of water.

Do not crush, chew, or break any controlled-release (CR) forms of disopyramide. Swallow them whole. They are specially formulated to release slowly in your body.

Do not skip doses or change your dosing schedule without talking to your doctor. Changing your schedule could make your condition much worse.

Store disopyramide at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

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