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Propulsid and Heart Arrhythmias
Propulsid Side Effects
Propulsid has been linked to cases of serious heart
arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, and even, in the most extreme
instances, sudden death. Nervous system side effects have
included headache, dizziness, fatigue, and in rare cases,
seizure.
Arrhythmia Definitions
Heart arrhythmias are irregularities in the pumping and beating
action of the heart. Normally, the heart beats at a rate of
60-100 beats per minute. Divided into 4 chambers, two upper
atria and two lower ventricles, the heart begins its beating
cycle in a specialized group of cells called the sinus node,
or pacemaker, located in the right atrium. A heart arrhythmia
occurs when the heartbeat originates not in the sinus node
but in some other part of the heart. The sinus node thus develops
an abnormal rate, and the heart begins to function at an irregular
rhythm.
Arrhythmia Symptoms
An arrhythmia may result in a skipping or fluttering sensation
in the chest (palpitations), light-headedness, a fainting
spell (syncope), chest pain, or shortness of breath. Although
arrhythmias may go unnoticed, they can be serious. In general,
arrhythmias are more common in people with heart disease (especially
coronary heart disease, defective heart valves, or a weakened
heart). The heart may beat too slowly or too rapidly to pump
blood effectively and the blood pressure may drop to a level
that is life-threatening. If left untreated, the heart may
stop beating and cause death. However, having an arrhythmia
does not necessarily mean that a person has heart disease.
In fact, arrhythmias may occur in people with an otherwise
normal heart.
Propulsid and Arrhythmia
QT prolongation is the main problem that may occur from taking
Propulsidwhich is a defect in the conduction of electrical
current through the heart that can, in rare cases, lead to
problems such as ventricular fibrillation and sometimes complete
heart block leading to cardiac arrest. Many of the serious
reactions to Propulsid occurred in patients who were
taking other medications or suffered from other conditions
that increased their risk of cardiac arrhythmia when taking
Propulsid.
Propulsid and Heart Arrhythmias
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