procainamide hydrochloride /prōkān″əmīd/ , an antiarrhythmic agent. ▪ INDICATIONS: It is prescribed in the treatment of a variety of cardiac arrhythmias, including premature ventricular contractions, ventricular tachycardia, and atrial fibrillation. ▪ CONTRAINDICATIONS: Myasthenia gravis, heart block, or known hypersensitivity to this drug, to procaine, or to related local anesthetics prohibits its use. ▪ ADVERSE EFFECTS: Among the more serious adverse effects are GI disturbances, hypersensitivity reactions, agranulocytosis, and a syndrome resembling lupus erythematosus.
