Procainamide (procainamide HCl)

Dosage of procainamide must be carefully adjusted according to individual requirements and response, age, renal function, and the general condition and cardiovascular status of the patient. ECG monitoring of cardiac function and monitoring of renal function (i.e. creatinine clearance) is recommended during procainamide therapy, especially when the drug is given IV or when it is given in patients with increased risk of adverse reactions to procainamide, such as patients older than 50 years of age and patients with severe heart disease, hypotension, or hepatic or renal disease. Dosage should be reduced in patients with renal insufficiency and/or congestive heart failure and in critically ill patients; plasma concentrations of procainamide and its major metabolite N-acetyl procainamide (NAPA) should be determined and dosage should be adjusted to maintain desired concentrations.

Procainamide hydrochloride may be administered by IM or IV injection or by IV infusion. ECG and blood pressure should be continuously monitored during IV administration of procainamide. IV administration may produce transient high plasma levels of the drug, which can cause severe hypotension.

Procainamide may be administered by intraosseous (IO) injection+ in the setting of pediatric advanced cardiovascular life support (PALS); onset of action and systemic concentrations are comparable to those achieved with venous administration. The drug also has been administered orally; however, an oral dosage form no longer is commercially available in the US.

No dosing information is available for this tab.

No dosing information is available for this tab.

There is no enhanced messaging for this drug.

There are no contraindication interactions for this drug.

There are no severe interactions for this drug.

There are no moderate interactions for this drug.

There is no enhanced messaging for this drug.

There are no contraindication contraindications for this drug.

There are no severe contraindications for this drug.

There are no moderate contraindications for this drug.

There is no enhanced messaging for this drug.

There are no severe adverse reactions for this drug.

There are no less severe adverse reactions for this drug.

No enhanced messaging available.

No enhanced messaging available.

Animal reproduction studies have not been performed with procainamide. It is not known whether procainamide can cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women or can affect reproduction capacity. Procainamide does cross the placenta, but the extent to which it does so has not been well characterized. Procainamide should be used during pregnancy only when clearly needed.

Procainamide and NAPA are distributed into milk and can be absorbed by a nursing infant. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions to procainamide in nursing infants, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the woman.

No enhanced messaging available.