Encainide
About
Encainide belongs to a group of medicines called anti-arrhythmic agents used to treat irregular heartbeats. An irregular heartbeat is when your heart beats irregularly, too fast, or too slow. Encainide helps slow the heart rate and prevent arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms).
Encainide contains Encainide. Encainide is a sodium channel blocker binding to voltage-gated sodium channels. It stabilizes the neuronal membrane by inhibiting the ionic fluxes required to initiate and conduct impulses. Ventricular excitability is depressed, and the stimulation threshold of the ventricle is increased during diastole. Thereby it helps to restore or regulate the heartbeats.
Take Encainide as prescribed by your doctor. Your dose and duration of Encainide will be advised by your doctor, depending upon your medical condition. Sometimes, you may experience dizziness, blurred or abnormal vision, and headaches. Most of these side effects of Encainide do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist, please consult your doctor.
Inform your doctor if you are known to be allergic to Encainide or any other medicines. To treat your condition effectually, continue using Encainide for as long as your doctor has prescribed it. Do not use Encainide without a doctor's advice if you have a skin reaction or irritation to any medicine. Consult your doctor before using Encainide if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Do not use Encainide in more than prescribed doses or longer duration as it may cause adverse effects. Keep your doctor informed about your health condition and all the medicines you take before taking Encainide to rule out any side effects.
Uses of Encainide
Medicinal Benefits
Encainide contains Encainide. Encainide is a sodium channel blocker binding to voltage-gated sodium channels. It stabilizes the neuronal membrane by inhibiting the ionic fluxes required for the initiation and conduction of impulses. Ventricular excitability is depressed, and the stimulation threshold of the ventricle is increased during diastole. Thereby it helps to restore the heartbeats.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Encainide
- Dizziness
- Blurred or abnormal vision
- Headaches
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Inform your doctor if you are known to be allergic to Encainide or any other medicines. Do not use Encainide without a doctor's advice if you have had a skin reaction or irritation to any medicine. Consult your doctor before using Encainide if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Do not use Encainide in more than prescribed doses or longer duration as it may cause adverse effects. Keep your doctor informed about your health condition and all the medicines you take before taking Encainide to rule out any side effects. Do not drive, or you should take special care when driving and using machines as patients taking Encainide may experience visual disturbances, dizziness, and headaches. Consuming alcohol with Encainide is not advisable as it may cause unpleasant side effects, or you may become more sensitive to the effects of alcohol. To treat your condition effectually, continue using Encainide for as long as your doctor has prescribed it.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: No interactions found/established.
Drug-Food Interactions: Avoid consumption of alcohol, grapefruit and its products.
Drug-Disease Interactions: People with heart problems, liver and kidney diseases, and electrolyte imbalance should consult the doctor before taking Encainide.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionConsuming alcohol along with Encainide is not advisable as it may cause unpleasant side effects, or you also may become more sensitive to the effects of alcohol.
Pregnancy
cautionPlease consult the doctor. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies on pregnant women. Your doctor will prescribe only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
cautionConsult your doctor, and there is no substantial research yet on the use of Encainide in breastfeeding/nursing mothers.
Driving
unsafeDo not drive, or you should take special care when driving and using machines as patients taking Encainide may experience visual disturbances, dizziness, and headaches.
Liver
cautionLet your doctor know if you have any history of liver diseases before taking Encainide. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing Encainide.
Kidney
cautionLet your doctor know if you have any history of kidney diseases before taking Encainide. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing Encainide.
Children
unsafeSafety and effectiveness of Encainide have not been established in patients below 18 years of age.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Create a diet that includes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, omega-3-rich foods, and lean protein sources.
- Keep your weight under control with a BMI of 19.5-24.9.
- Avoid chronic stress, as it can raise your blood pressure. Try to enjoy and spend time with your loved ones to cope with stress and practice mindfulness techniques.
- Try to include heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acid-containing food drinks in your daily diet. You can also use low-fat cooking oil like olive oil, soybean oil, canola oil and coconut oil to lower your elevated blood pressure.
- Be mindful of salt; consume no more than 2,300 mg each day.
- Limit or avoid alcohol consumption.
- Quitting smoking is the best strategy to lower the risk of heart disease.
Special Advise
- Keep a check on your daily blood pressure, and if you notice any fluctuations, please consult a doctor.
- Regular monitoring of heart function with ECG or EKG is necessary.
- Liver and kidney function tests are recommended to rule out any chances of kidney or liver impairment.
- Regular examinations of your electrolytes like potassium and magnesium are recommended. Prolonged use may decrease the level of potassium and magnesium level in the body.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Arrhythmia: It is a problem associated with the rate of rhythm at which the heart beats. Generally, the heart beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly in this condition. It can lead to severe heart damage. A cardiac arrhythmia occurs when there are abnormal electrical signals in the heart. When the heart beats too fast, it is known as tachycardia; if it is too slow, it is called bradycardia. Treatment of arrhythmia includes drugs, medical procedures, implantable devices and sometimes surgery.
FAQs
Encainide contains Encainide. Encainide is a sodium channel blocker binding to voltage-gated sodium channels. It stabilizes the neuronal membrane by inhibiting the ionic fluxes required for the initiation and conduction of impulses. Ventricular excitability is depressed, and the stimulation threshold of the ventricle is increased during diastole. Thereby it helps to restore or regulate the heartbeat.
No, it is a prescribed drug given by a physician for preventing specific medical conditions. Taking it on your own can cause unwanted side effects.
Encainide is safe if used in the dose and duration recommended by your doctor. Take it precisely as directed, and do not skip any dose. Follow your doctor's guidelines carefully and inform your doctor if any of the side effects disturb you.
Take the missed dose as soon as possible. However, skip the missed dose and return to your regular dosing schedule if it is time for the next dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
Do not stop using Encainide even if you feel better. It should be strictly used as advised by your doctor to avoid the recurrence of symptoms like irregular heartbeat and worsening of the disease.
Should use Encainide with caution in cases of any allergic reactions, heart problems like heart failure, slow heartbeat, QT prolongation (heart muscle takes longer than usual to recharge between beats) in the ECG (electrocardiogram), liver, kidney diseases and electrolyte imbalance.