Key takeaways
Flecainide (generic name: flecainide) and Disopyramide (generic name: disopyramide) are both antiarrhythmic medications used to treat abnormal heart rhythms, but they have some key differences. Flecainide is used to prevent paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias (PSVT), paroxysmal atrial fibrillation/flutter (PAF), and ventricular arrhythmias, while Disopyramide is primarily used for ventricular arrhythmias. They both work by blocking sodium channels to slow down the heart's electrical activity. Flecainide is available only as a generic, while Disopyramide is available in both immediate-release (IR) and extended-release (ER) forms, with the ER version sold under the brand name Norpace CR. Common side effects of Flecainide include dizziness and changes in vision, while Disopyramide often causes dry mouth, difficulty urinating, and constipation. Both medications require close monitoring, especially if you have heart failure or have had a recent heart attack, but Disopyramide also has specific warnings for low blood sugar and conditions like glaucoma and myasthenia gravis.
