Patient leaflet - RYTHMODAN 100 MG CAPSULES
disopyramide
SANOFI >3
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Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
- If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
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1. What Rythmodan Capsules are and what they are used for
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2. Before you take Rythmodan Capsules
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3. How to take Rythmodan Capsules
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4. Possible side effects
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5. How to store Rythmodan Capsules
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6. Further information
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1. What Rythmodan Capsules are and what they are used for
The name of your medicine is Rythmodan 100mg Capsules (called Rythmodan Capsules in this leaflet). Rythmodan Capsules contain a medicine called disopyramide.
This belongs to a group of medicines called anti-arrhythmic agents.
It works by controlling the uneven beating of your heart and returns it to the normal rhythm.
It is used for controlling your heartbeat in the following situations:
- Arrhythmias – where your heartbeats are uneven, or unusually fast or slow
- To keep your heart beating at a normal rhythm
- To stop unusual heartbeats (arrhythmias) happening after a heart attack
- To stop unusual heartbeats (arrhythmias) during an operation
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2. Before you take Rythmodan Capsules
B Do not take Rythmodan Capsules and tell your doctor if:
x You are allergic (hypersensitive) to disopyramide or any of the other ingredients of Rythmodan (see Section 6: Further Information)
Signs of an allergic reaction include: a rash, swallowing or breathing problems, swelling of your lips, face, throat or tongue.
x You have any other heart problems – apart from unusual heartbeats (arrhythmias)
x You are taking other medicines to control your heart rhythm (see section below ‘Taking other medicines’)
x You are taking other medicines which could cause unusual heartbeats (see section below ‘Taking other medicines’)
Do not take this medicine if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking
Rythmodan Capsules.
0 Take special care with Rythmodan Capsules
Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking your medicine if:
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▲ You have low levels of potassium in your blood (called hypokalaemia)
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▲ You have low blood sugar levels. This can happen if you have diabetes, a low body weight, a poor diet or if you are elderly
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▲ You have glaucoma (an eye condition often caused by an abnormally high pressure in the eye) or if you or someone in your family have ever had glaucoma. Your doctor may perform an eye pressure test before prescribing Rythmodan
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▲ You have an enlarged prostate
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▲ You have any kidney or liver problems
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▲ You have a disease which causes muscle weakness (myasthenia gravis)
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▲ You are elderly and have problems with your memory or attention span, or sometimes have difficulty thinking clearly
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▲ You have constipation or take any medication that causes constipation
If you are not sure if any of the above applies to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Rythmodan Capsules.
ES Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines. This includes medicines you buy without a prescription, including herbal medicines. This is because Rythmodan Capsules can affect the way some other medicines work. Also some medicines can affect the way Rythmodan Capsules works.
In particular, do not take this medicine, and tell your doctor:
If you are taking any of the following medicines for uneven heartbeats (arrhythmias):
- Beta-blockers such as propranolol, oxprenolol or acebutolol
- Verapamil – also used for chest pain or high blood pressure
- Digoxin – also used for heart problems
If you are taking any of the following medicines that can increase the risk of unusual heartbeats (arrhythmias) when taken at the same time as Rythmodan Capsules:
- Medicines for depression such as amitriptyline, imipramine or maprotiline
- Medicines for male sexual problems such as sildenafil, tadalafil or vardenafil
- Antibiotics such as erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin or sparfloxacin
- Antihistamines such as astemizole or terfenadine
- Cisapride – used for heartburn
- Pentamidine – used for pneumonia
- Pimozide and thioridazine – used for schizophrenia
The following medicines may affect the way Rythmodan Capsules works:
- Amphotericin B – used for fungal infections
- Tetracosactide – used to test some hormone problems
- Rifampicin – used for infections
- Atropine – used in eye drops and in cough and cold medicines
- Anticholinergic medicines – includes some medicines used for irritable bowel syndrome, asthma or incontinence
- Medicines used to calm emotional or mental problems or stop you feeling sick or being sick such as chlorpromazine or prochlorperazine
- Water tablets (diuretics) such as furosemide
- Corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone, betamethasone or prednisolone
- Laxatives such as bisacodyl or senna
- Medicines for epilepsy such as phenobarbital, primidone or phenytoin
Rythmodan Capsules may affect the way the following medicines work:
- Medicines for HIV infections such as ritonavir, indinavir or saquinavir
- Theophylline – used for wheezing or difficulty in breathing
- Ciclosporin – used to help prevent rejection of transplants
- Warfarin – used to thin the blood
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you are pregnant, might become pregnant, or think you may be pregnant.
If you are breast-feeding or planning to breastfeed, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine. This is because small amounts of this medicine may pass into the mothers’ milk.
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Driving and using machines
Rythmodan Capsules may affect your ability to concentrate and react quickly. You may have blurred vision or become dizzy or light-headed.
If this happens, do not drive or use any tools or machines.
3. how to take rythmodan capsules
Always take Rythmodan Capsules exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Taking this medicine
- Take this medicine by mouth
- Swallow the capsules with a drink of water
- If you feel the effect of your medicine is too weak or too strong, do not change the dose yourself, but ask your doctor
Adults
The usual starting dose is three to eight capsules (300 to 800mg) in divided doses daily.
Elderly
Your doctor may lower your dose if you have any kidney or liver problems.
Children
Rythmodan Capsules are not suitable for use in children.
Blood tests
Your doctor may ask you to have regular blood tests to check your blood sugar levels.
If you take more Rythmodan Capsules than you should
If you take more capsules than you should, talk to a doctor or go to a hospital casualty department straight away. Take the medicine pack with you. This is so the doctor knows what you have taken. The following effects may happen: dizziness, feeling tired, uneven heartbeat (palpitations), dry mouth, difficulty in passing water (urinating), feeling or being sick, stomach pain or fits (seizures).
If you forget to take Rythmodan Capsules
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten capsule.
If you stop taking Rythmodan Capsules
Keep taking Rythmodan Capsules until your doctor tells you to stop.
If you have any further questions about this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. possible side effects
Like all medicines, Rythmodan Capsulescan cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Tell your doctor straight away if you notice any of the following serious side effects – you may need urgent medical treatment
- If you have an allergic reaction. The signs may include: a skin rash, swallowing or breathing problems, swelling of your lips, face, throat or tongue
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you have any of the following:
- Feeling faint, dizzy or light-headed
- Palpitations or an uneven, fast or slow heartbeat that you have not had before or that gets worse
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side effects gets serious or lasts longer than a few days. Also tell them if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet:
- Feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting), dry mouth, indigestion, diarrhoea, constipation, stomach pain, loss of appetite
- Difficulty in passing urine, especially in men with prostate problems
- Difficulty in getting or maintaining an erection, or in ejaculating (impotence)
- Mood changes or mental problems
- Blurred or double vision
- Yellowing of your skin or eyes (jaundice)
- Worsening of myasthenia gravis (a disease which causes muscle weakness)
- You get more infections than usual. This could be caused by a lowering in the number of white blood cells (called neutropenia)
- Low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia). Signs include sweating, paleness, headache, faintness or drowsiness
- Problems with memory or attention span, difficulty thinking clearly.
- In certain situations the blockage of bowel can take place when on Rythmodan especially in the elderly, when taken with other medicines that may cause constipation or when blood level of Rythmodan is raised due to kidney or liver problems
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5.how to store rythmodan capsules
Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
Store below 25°C.
Do not use Rythmodan Capsules after the expiry date which is stated on the carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not use Rythmodan Capsules if you notice your capsules are crumbling, broken or discoloured.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
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6. Further information
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– Each capsule contains 100mg of the active substance, disopyramide
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– The other ingredients are maize starch, magnesium stearate, STA-RX 1500
What Rythmodan Capsules look like and contents of the pack
The capsules have a green cap and yellow body and are printed in black ink with ‘RY’ on one part and ‘RL’ on the other.
The capsules are available in blister-packs of 84 capsules or bottles of 100 capsules.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Sanofi, 410 Thames Valley Park Drive, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 1PT, UK.
Tel: 0845 372 7101
email:
Manufacturer
Sanofi Winthrop Industrie
56, route de Choisy-au-Bac
60205 Compiegne
France
This leaflet does not contain all the information about your medicine. If you have any questions or are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
This leaflet was last revised in 07/2019
© Sanofi, 1972 – 2019
R786300