Norpace Cardiac Medication Concerns

Norpace or the generic name Disopyramide is a heart medication. Most people who take these medications are due to severe irregular heart beats. Norpace once taken relaxes the heart muscles so that the palpitation slow down or diminish altogether. This medication is given to many cardiac patients that have conditions such as Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (stiffening of the heart muscle) and Cardiomegaly (enlarged heart). They also can give you Norpace for short periods of time after a Myectomy or other severe heart surgeries to make sure your heart is relaxed during recovery.

Although Norpace can relieve the palpitations a lot of cardiac patients have, however there are many side effects to this medication as well as stiff warnings. This is not a medication where you can forget to take your morning dose, and just double up in the evening. Too much of this medication can stop your breathing, or cause congestive heart failure. Also due to the high toxicity levels of the medication it can cause your liver to fail. Other effects because of the toxicity are that you can't just take yourself off this medication. You have to speak with a doctor and have them slowly wean you off the drug. If you do not the sudden change of toxin levels and muscle relaxant levels can actually kill you. It can also cause hypoglycemia in patients with congestive heart disease.

Although Norpace can assist in allowing many people with severe heart conditions to live there life easier without the palpitations and the pain, it also causes a permanent connections to the drug, because most people that start taking it cannot stop ever again. Eventually the toxin in that small pill will build up in your system over many years and cause other health issues.

You also want to be very careful what other medication are being taken when you are on Norpace. Medications such as Clarithromycin can actually keep your liver from breaking down the Norpace and cleaning your system.

Ultimately if you are fighting a cardiac issue that keeps you miserable and unable to work or live your life due to arrhythmias than Norpace can be a solution to this issue. Just make sure to stay aware of what can happen. It is also always a good thing to watch your symptoms with any kind of medication but especially heart medications. Unfortunately most heart medications will either help or harm and there is no in between. With everything being aware of your own body and how it reacts can be a life saver.