Norpace

Norpace can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), especially if you have congestive heart failure; poor nutrition; or kidney, liver, or other diseases; or if you are taking beta-blocking blood pressure drugs such as Tenormin or drinking alcohol.

Your doctor will prescribe Norpace along with other heart-regulating drugs, such as quinidine, procainamide, encainide, flecainide, propafenone, and propranolol, only if the irregular rhythm is considered life-threatening and other antiarrhythmic medication has not worked.

If you have the eye condition called glaucoma, myasthenia gravis, or difficulty urinating (particularly if you have a prostate condition), use this drug cautiously.

You will take lower dosages if you have liver or kidney disease.

Your doctor should check your potassium levels before starting you on Norpace. Low potassium levels may make this drug ineffective; high levels may increase its toxic effects.

Possible food and drug interactions when taking Norpace

Avoid alcoholic beverages while taking Norpace.

If Norpace is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Norpace with the following:

• Clarithromycin
• Drugs that inhibit the breakdown of other drugs by the liver, including cimetidine
• Erythromycin
• Other heart-regulating drugs such as lidocaine, procainamide, propranolol, quinidine, and verapamil
• Phenytoin
• Troleandomycin

Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

The effects of Norpace during pregnancy have not been adequately studied. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. Norpace appears in breast milk and may affect a nursing infant. If this medication is essential to your health, your doctor may advise you to discontinue breastfeeding until your treatment with this medication is finished.

Recommended dosage for Norpace

Treatment with Norpace should be started in the hospital.