Procainamide/Amiodarone
This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.
Medical warning:
Moderate. These medicines may cause some risk when taken together. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.
How the interaction occurs:
The cause of the interaction is not known.
What might happen:
When these two medicines are taken together, your blood levels of procainamide may rise and cause an increase in the beneficial and toxic effects of the medicine.
What you should do about this interaction:
If you experience dizziness, weakness, fatigue, or an irregular heartbeat, contact your doctor. It may be necessary to measure your blood levels of procainamide more often. Your doctor may need to adjust your dose.Your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
References:
1.Saal AK, Werner JA, Greene HL, Sears GK, Graham EL. Effect of amiodarone on serum quinidine and procainamide levels. Am J Cardiol 1984 May 1; 53(9):1264-7.
2.Windle J, Prystowsky EN, Miles WM, Heger JJ. Pharmacokinetic and electrophysiologic interactions of amiodarone and procainamide. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1987 Jun;41(6):603-10.
3.Marchlinski FE, Buxton AE, Kindwall KE, Miller JM, Rosenthal ME, Gottlieb CD, Bloom RB, Josephson ME. Comparison of individual and combined effects of procainamide and amiodarone in patients with sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Circulation 1988 Sep;78(3):583-91.
4.Cordarone (amiodarone hydrochloride) US prescribing information. Wyeth Pharmaceuticals November, 2011.
