Encainide (Systemic)
Brand Names : Enkaid
Before Using This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine,
the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will
do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For encainide, the following
should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to encainide. Also tell your health care professional if
you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or
dyes.
Pregnancy - Encainide has not been studied in pregnant women.
However, this medicine has not been shown to cause birth defects or other
problems in animal studies, but has been shown to reduce fertility in rats.
Before taking encainide, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or
if you may become pregnant.
Breast-feeding - Encainide passes into the milk of some animals
and may also pass into the milk of humans. However, this medicine has not
been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.
Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult
patients. Therefore, be sure to discuss with your doctor the use of this medicine
in children.
Older adults - Many medicines have not been tested in older people.
Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they
do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in
older people. There is no specific information about the use of encainide
in the elderly.
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect
the use of encainide. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other
medical problems, especially:
-
Diabetes mellitus - Encainide may raise blood sugar levels
-
Kidney disease - Effects of encainide may be increased because
of slower removal from the body
-
Liver disease - Effects of encainide may be changed
-
Recent heart attack - Risk of irregular heartbeats may be increased
-
If you have a pacemaker - Encainide may interfere with the pacemaker
and require more careful follow-up by the doctor
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