Tikosyn for patients with irregular heartbeats ?
Tikosyn is a medicine that is given to patients who have irregular heartbeats (atrial fibrillation). Tikosyn may help the heart beat more regularly and stay beating regularly for a longer period of time.
Who should not take Tikosyn?
You should not take Tikosyn if you:
Are taking certain other medicines, including:
- cimetidine (TAGAMET, TAGAMET HB), used to treat heartburn, upset stomach, and stomach ulcers, available both by prescription and without a prescription
- verapamil (CALAN, CALAN SR, COVERA-HS, ISOPTIN, ISOPTIN SR, VERELAN, VERELAN PM), used to treat high blood pressure and certain heart problems
- ketoconazole (NIZORAL), used to treat certain fungus infections
- trimethoprim alone (PROLOPRIM, TRIMPEX) or the combination of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole (BACTRIM, SEPTRA), used to treat certain bacterial infections
- prochlorperazine (COMPAZINE), used to treat nausea and vomiting
- megestrol (MEGACE), used to treat certain types of cancer or loss of appetite and weight loss associated with AIDS
Have serious kidney problems or are on kidney dialysis.
Special Warnings associated with Tikosyn:
In some patients, Tikosyn can cause a different type of abnormal heartbeat that can be dangerous and in rare cases even cause death. The different type of heartbeat may be a fast beating of the heart with lightheadedness and fainting. The possibility of this different type of abnormal heartbeat is the reason you and your doctor have discussed whether your symptoms are troublesome enough for you to start taking Tikosyn.
General Precautions to take when on Tikosyn:
Tell your doctor about any problems you have with your:
- heart
- kidneys
- liver
There are some things that you should tell your doctor when taking this medication:
Be sure to tell your doctor about all prescription and non-prescription medicines you are taking, as well as vitamins, dietary supplements, and any natural or herbal remedies.
Taking certain other medications with Tikosyn can increase the amount of Tikosyn in your body and cause the different type of abnormal heartbeat, including medicines used to treat:
- Heart conditions
- High blood pressure
- Depression and other mental problems
- Asthma
- Allergies
- Hay fever
- Skin problems
- Infections
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast-feeding a child.
What side effects can you expect when taking Tikosyn? (This is only a partial list of side effects reported with Tikosyn. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a complete list of possible side effects and drug interactions..)
Other common side effects of Tikosyn are:
- Headache
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
For more detailed information about Tikosyn, ask your doctor
shirley hawkey on Sat, 30th Apr 2011 9:13 am
I am taking Tikosyn along with a Pacemaker that was installed at the same time the Tikosyn was prescribed. i was told by Doctors and nurses that treated me in the ER that the condition that sent me to the ER was not A-Fib. My heart was out of rythmn, but it was also racing 180 and then back down to 80-90 then back up to 100+. I had no pain at all no shortness of breath, no chest tightness. I was put on a Cardezem drip and the normal rythmn returned 18 hours later. Of which 11 hours I was in the Hospital.I was transproted to a Heart Hospital 24 hours later and spent 5 days there while they monitored the Tikosyn which they started me on immediately on arriving at the heart haospital. i’m home now and am not tolerting the drug very well. I’m still having fluttering of the heart, feeling faint when getting up from a sitting position and only able to walk a few steps before I feel faint again. told my Doctors…they don’t seem to care.
Debbie Orr on Wed, 5th Oct 2011 12:39 pm
Tikosyn made me feel like this and then I went into cardiac arrest after taking it only 30 days.I am lucky i had a defibulator or this drug would have taken my life.