Uses

• Tikosyn has U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved indications for stopping irregular heartbeats known as atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter and for maintaining normal heart rhythm.
  
  

Common Side Effects

• Patients taking Tikosyn have most frequently reported side effects of headaches, chest pain, dizziness, respiratory tract infections, breathing problems (dsypnea), and nausea.
  
  

Rare Side Effects

• Fewer than 5 percent of patients taking Tikosyn have reported flu-like symptoms, insomnia, back pain, diarrhea, rash, abdominal pain, anxiety, swelling (edema), and sweating. Other potentially fatal heart problems such as tachycardia (racing heartbeat) can occur in patients taking Tikosyn.
  
  

Warnings

• Specially trained health care providers must administer the first doses of Tikosyn in a hospital or clinic where the patient's heartbeat and blood chemistry can be monitored. Tikosyn cannot be used in patients taking the high blood pressure medications hydrochlorothiazide and verapamil or in patients with a naturally long pause between heartbeats.
  
  

Avoiding Atrial Fibrillation and Flutter

• Most patients who experience one incident of irregular heartbeat requiring medical attention will experience another such incident. To minimize risks for atrial fibrillation and flutter, patients can stop smoking, eat a low-fast and low-salt diet, and reduce or eliminate consumption of caffeinated and alcoholic beverages.