Dofetilide

Dofetilide is used to treat irregular heartbeats. It improves your heart rhythm by relaxing an overactive heart. This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Dofetilide comes as a capsule to take by mouth. It is usually taken twice a day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take dofetilide exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Do not take a double dose. Dofetilide controls abnormal heart rhythms but does not cure them. Continue to take dofetilide even if you feel well. Do not stop taking dofetilide without talking to your doctor.

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Dofetilide may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

<ul>
<li>
headache</li>
<li>
chest pain</li>
<li>
dizziness</li>
<li>
respiratory infection</li>
<li>
flu-like symptoms</li>
<li>
stomach pain</li>
<li>
back pain</li>
<li>
diarrhea</li>
<li>
difficulty sleeping</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

<ul>
<li>
irregular heartbeat</li>
<li>
rash</li>
<li>
sweating</li>
<li>
upset stomach</li>
<li>
vomiting</li>
<li>
loss of appetite or thirst</li></ul>If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before taking dofetilide, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to dofetilide or any other drugs. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially antipsychotics, bepridil (Vascor), cimetidine (Tagamet), cisapride (Propulsid), clarithromycin (Biaxin), diltiazem (Cardizem), diuretics ('water pills'), erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, others), HIV protease inhibitors such as ritonavir (Norvir), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), medications for dizziness or nausea, medications for depression such as amitriptyline (Elavil) or fluoxetine (Prozac), megestrol (Megace), metformin (Glucophage), other medications for irregular heart beats such as amiodarone (Cordarone), norfloxacin (Noroxin), prochlorperazine (Compazine), quinine (Formula Q), trimethoprim (Proloprim, Trimpex), trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra), verapamil (Calan, Covera, Verelan), zafirlukast (Accolate), and vitamins. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had long QT syndrome (a type of heart problem), or kidney or liver disease.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.