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In this Article

• What is dofetilide (Tikosyn)?
• What are the possible side effects of dofetilide (Tikosyn)?
• What is the most important information I should know about dofetilide (Tikosyn)?
• What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking dofetilide (Tikosyn)?
• How should I take dofetilide (Tikosyn)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Tikosyn)?
• What happens if I overdose (Tikosyn)?
• What should I avoid while taking dofetilide (Tikosyn)?
• What other drugs will affect dofetilide (Tikosyn)?
• Where can I get more information?

What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking dofetilide (Tikosyn)?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to dofetilide, or if you have certain conditions. Be sure your doctor knows if you have:

• severe kidney disease; or
• a history of "Long QT syndrome."

There are certain drugs that should not be used together with dofetilide. Tell your doctor knows if you take any of the following medications:

• verapamil (Covera, Calan, Isoptin, Verelan);
• cimetidine (Tagamet);
• ketoconazole (Nizoral);
• prochlorperazine (Compazine);
• megestrol (Megace); or
• trimethoprim (Proloprim, Trimpex, Bactrim, Cotrim, Septra).

Before using dofetilide, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have liver or kidney disease.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take dofetilide. Your doctor will tell you if any of your medication doses need to be changed.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether dofetilide passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take dofetilide (Tikosyn)?

Take dofetilide exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts or for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Dofetilide comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Dofetilide may be available only from a hospital or specialty pharmacy.

You may need to spend at least 3 days in a hospital setting when you first start taking dofetilide. This is so your heart rhythm and kidney function can be monitored in case the medication causes serious side effects.

Your heart rate will be constantly monitored through electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG). This machine measures electrical activity of the heart. This will help your doctor determine the correct dofetilide dose for you.

Do not skip doses or stop taking dofetilide without first talking to your doctor. Stopping suddenly may make your condition worse. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely.

Tell your doctor if you have an illness that involves diarrhea or vomiting lasting more than a few hours. Prolonged diarrhea or vomiting can lower your potassium levels, making it dangerous for you to use dofetilide.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood pressure will need to be checked on a regular basis. Your kidney function will also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Store dofetilide at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.