What is Dofetilide?
Dofetilide is an anti-arrhythmic heart rhythm medication. It helps people with certain atrial heart rhythm disorders keep their hearts beating normally. It is prescribed to patients with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter.
Uses
Dofetilide treats severe, possibly fatal, irregular heartbeats such as atrial fibrillation or flutter. It restores normal heart rhythm and keeps the heartbeat regular by inhibiting certain electrical signals in the heart that cause irregular heartbeats. Treating an irregular heartbeat can lower your risk of blood clots, heart attack, or stroke.
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- Before Use: Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start taking dofetilide and each time you get a refill.
- Dosage: Take orally twice daily, with or without food, as directed by your doctor. It's crucial to follow the prescription exactly to reduce the risk of serious effects
- Monitoring: Your dosage is evaluated based on your medical condition, kidney function, and treatment response. If your condition doesn't improve or worsens, visit your doctor.
Side Effects
Common Side Effects:
Headache, chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, flu-like symptoms, stomach pain, back pain, difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, irregular heartbeat, rash, severe diarrhea, dizziness, fainting, unusual sweating, vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst.
Precautions
- Allergies: Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to dofetilide or any other allergies.
- Medical History: Tell your doctor or pharmacist about your medical history, particularly kidney or liver disease.
- Dizziness: This medication may cause dizziness. Alcohol can worsen dizziness. Avoid operating heavy machinery until you are sure you can do so safely.
- Heart Rhythm Disorder: It has been linked to a heart rhythm disorder (QT prolongation), which can result in a serious fast/irregular heartbeat.
- Electrolyte Imbalance: Low potassium and magnesium levels can increase your risk of QT prolongation. Ensure you maintain adequate levels.
- Older Adults: The side effects, especially QT prolongation, may be more severe in older adults.
- Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: This medication should not be used during pregnancy unless prescribed by your doctor. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
Interactions
- Drug Interactions: Dolutegravir and fingolimod may interact with dofetilide. Many other drugs, including amiodarone, pimozide, procainamide, quinidine, saquinavir, sotalol, macrolide antibiotics, and certain quinolone antibiotics, may affect heart rhythm.
- Medication Removal: Other medications may interfere with the removal of dofetilide from your body, affecting its efficacy.
- Heartburn Medications: Avoid cimetidine while taking dofetilide. Consult your doctor about alternative heartburn medications.
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Book an AppointmentMissed Dose
- If Missed: Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it's close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double the dose to catch up.
Overdose
- Accidental Overdose: If you take more than the prescribed amount, seek immediate medical attention as it can have harmful effects on your body's functions.
Storage
- Storage Conditions: Keep the medicine in a safe place, away from heat, air, and light, and out of children’s reach.
Dofetilide vs Amiodarone
| Dofetilide | Amiodarone |
|---|---|
| Anti-arrhythmic heart rhythm medication. | Antiarrhythmic medication for treating and preventing a wide range of irregular heartbeats. |
| Restores normal heart rhythm and keeps the heartbeat regular. | Treats and prevents certain types of severe, potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmias. |
| Inhibits certain electrical signals in the heart. | Inhibits potassium rectifier currents, responsible for heart repolarization during phase 3 of the cardiac action potential. |
