Common side effects include:
- dry mouth
- difficult urination
- constipation
- blurred vision
- dry eyes, nose, and throat
- urinary retention
- frequent urination
- nausea
- bloating and gas pains
- dizziness
- fatigue
- muscle weakness
- headache
This is not a complete list of Norpace side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Mortality
In the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial (CAST), a long-term, multi-center, randomized, double-blind study in patients with asymptomatic non-life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias who had had a myocardial infarction more than 6 days but less than 2 years previously, an excessive mortality or non-fatal cardiac arrest rate (7.7%) was seen in patients treated with encainide or flecainide compared with that seen in patients assigned to carefully matched placebo-treated groups (3.0%). The average duration of treatment with encainide or flecainide in this study was 10 months.
The applicability of the CAST results to other populations (e.g., those without recent myocardial infarction) is uncertain. Considering the known proarrhythmic properties of Norpace or Norpace CR and the lack of evidence of improved survival for any antiarrhythmic drug in patients without life-threatening arrhythmias, the use of Norpace or Norpace CR as well as other antiarrhythmic agents should be reserved for patients with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.
Norpace (generic: disopyramide) is a prescription medication used to treat life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). This medication belongs to a group of drugs called Class I antiarrhythmics. It works by affecting sodium channels in the heart which slows electrical signals, stabilizing heart rhythm.
Norpace comes in capsule form. It is taken 3 to 4 times daily. It is also available in a long-acting form, Norpace CR, that is taken twice daily. Norpace CR capsules should be swallowed whole.
Common side effects include dry mouth, difficult urination, blurred vision, and dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how it affects you.
Norpace (and Norpace CR) are prescription medications used to treat life-threatening ventricular (lower chambers of the heart) arrhythmias.
These medications may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.