DrugindexOnline^{2nd edition}

Generic Name: procainamide (proe CANE a mide)
Brand Names: Procan SR, Procanbid, Pronestyl, Pronestyl-SR

What is Procan SR (procainamide)?

Procainamide affects the way your heart beats.

Procainamide is used to treat seriously irregular heartbeat patterns.

Procainamide may be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about Procan SR (procainamide)?

Call your doctor immediately if you experience wheezing, chest pain, chest discomfort, worsening irregular heartbeats, a fever, a sore throat or an infection, a sore mouth, unusual bruising or bleeding, dark urine, hallucinations, severe dizziness, or fainting.

Take procainamide exactly as directed. Do not skip doses or change your dosing schedule without talking to your doctor.

If procainamide makes you feel dizzy or tired, or if it causes blurred vision, use caution when driving and performing other hazardous activities. Avoid alcohol while taking procainamide. Alcohol may affect how well procainamide works to treat your condition.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Procan SR (procainamide)?

Before taking procainamide, tell your doctor if you have

• any other type of heart disease or heart problems,

• systemic lupus erythematosus,

• liver disease,

• kidney disease,

• blood problems, or

• myasthenia gravis.

You may not be able to take procainamide, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during your therapy if you have any of these conditions.

Procainamide is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means it is not known whether procainamide will harm an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant. Procainamide passes into breast milk. It is not known how procainamide might 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 Procan SR (procainamide)?

Take procainamide exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand the directions on your prescription bottle, 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 open any formulation of this medication. Do not change your dosage or your dosing schedule without first talking to your doctor. Changes of this sort could make your condition much worse.

Store procainamide at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Try not to miss doses of this medication. Missing doses could be very dangerous.

If you do miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication. A double dose could be dangerous.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention.

Symptoms of a procainamide overdose include tiredness, dizziness, fainting, confusion, tremor, difficulty breathing, and an irregular heartbeat.

What should I avoid while taking Procan SR (procainamide)?

Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Procainamide may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision. If you experience dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision, avoid these activities.

Discuss, with your doctor, the use of alcohol while taking procainamide. Alcohol may unpredictably increase or decrease the effects of procainamide, which could be dangerous.

Procan SR (procainamide) side effects

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking this medication and seek emergency medical attention:

• an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

• a new or a worsening irregular heartbeat pattern;

• fever, sore throat, a sore mouth, or an infection;

• wheezing, chest pain or chest discomfort;

• unusual bruising or bleeding;

• dark urine;

• hallucinations; or

• severe dizziness or fainting.

Other, less serious side effects may also occur. Continue to take procainamide and talk to your doctor if you experience

• mild dizziness or tiredness;

• bitter taste;

• upset stomach, vomiting, decreased appetite, or diarrhea;

• headache;

• blurred vision;

• giddiness; or

• depression.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect Procan SR (procainamide)?

Before taking procainamide, tell your doctor and pharmacist about all other medicines that you are taking.

The effects of procainamide may be increased by the following drugs:

• cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB), ranitidine (Zantac, Zantac 75), nizatidine (Axid, Axid AR), and famotidine (Pepcid, Pepcid AC);

• quinidine (Quinora, Quinidex, Cardioquin, others), amiodarone (Cordarone), disopyramide (Norpace), and other medicines used to treat irregular heartbeats;

• beta-blockers such as propranolol (Inderal), metoprolol (Lopressor), and acebutolol (Sectral);
• other commonly used beta-blockers, including atenolol (Tenormin), betaxolol (Kerlone), carteolol (Cartrol), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), nadolol (Corgard), and pindolol (Visken); and
• trimethoprim(Proloprim, Trimpex, Bactrim, Septra).

Your doctor may need to give you a lower dose of procainamide if you are taking any of the medications listed above.

Discuss with your doctor the use of alcohol during treatment with procainamide. Alcohol may unpredictably increase or decrease the effects of procainamide, which could be dangerous.

Medicines other than those listed here may also interact with procainamide. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist if you start any new medication while taking procainamide.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist has more information about procainamide written for health professionals that you may read.

What does my medication look like?

Procainamide is available with a prescription under the brand names Pronestyl, Pronestyl SR, Procan SR, and Procanbid. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

• Pronestyl 250 mg--round, yellow tablets

• Pronestyl 375 mg--round, orange tablets

• Pronestyl 500 mg--round, red tablets

• Pronestyl 375 mg--white/orange capsules

• Pronestyl 500 mg--yellow/orange capsules

• Pronestyl SR 500 mg--yellow, elliptical, film-coated, scored, sustained-release tablets

• Procan SR 250 mg--green, elliptical, film-coated, sustained-release tablets

• Procan SR 500 mg--yellow, elliptical, film-coated, scored, sustained-release tablets

• Procan SR 750 mg--orange, elliptical, film-coated, scored, sustained-release tablets

• Procan SR 1000 mg--red, elliptical, film-coated, scored, sustained-release tablets

• Procanbid 500 mg--blue, elliptical, film-coated tablets

• Procanbid 1000 mg--gray, elliptical, film-coated tablets

• Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
• Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2006 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 2.06. Revision Date: 9/9/04 11:08:50 AM.