dofetilide

What is the most important information I should know about dofetilide?

Serious drug interactions can occur when certain medicines are used together with dofetilide. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all medicines you use now, and any medicine you start or stop using.

What is dofetilide?

Dofetilide is a heart rhythm medicine, also called an antiarrhythmic.

Dofetilide is used to help keep the heart beating normally in people with certain heart rhythm disorders of the atrium (the upper chambers of the heart that allow blood to flow into the heart). Dofetilide is used in people with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter.

Dofetilide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking dofetilide?

• severe kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis); or
• a history of Long QT syndrome.

• cimetidine;
• dolutegravir;
• ketoconazole;
• megestrol;
• prochlorperazine;
• trimethoprim (Proloprim, Trimpex, Bactrim, Septra);
• verapamil; or
• a diuretic (water pill) that contains hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), such as Accuretic, Aldactazide, Atacand HCT, Benicar HCT, Diovan HCT, Dyazide, Exforge HCT, Hyzaar, Lopressor HCT, Maxzide, Micardis HCT, Monopril HCT, Prinzide, Tekturna HCT, Vaseretic, and others.

To make sure dofetilide is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• heart disease, high blood pressure;
• liver or kidney disease;
• depression, mental illness;
• asthma or allergies;
• any active infection;
• skin problems; or
• an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood).

How should I take dofetilide?

Dofetilide is available only from a hospital or specialty pharmacy.

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

You may take dofetilide with or without food.

You should not skip doses or stop using dofetilide suddenly. Stopping suddenly may make your condition worse. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.

Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Your kidney function may also need to be checked with frequent blood tests.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time to stay on schedule. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while taking dofetilide?

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with dofetilide and lead to unwanted side effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor.

What are the possible side effects of dofetilide?

• headache with chest pain and severe dizziness, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeats;
• loss of appetite, vomiting or severe diarrhea; or
• low magnesium or potassium --confusion, uneven heart rate, increased thirst or urination, sweating, jerking muscle movements, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling.

Common side effects may include:

• mild headache;
• mild dizziness; or
• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect dofetilide?

Other drugs may interact with dofetilide, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about dofetilide.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 4.01. Revision date: 4/13/2016.