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Can you take Little Tummys Laxative Drops with Procainamide?

1 drug interaction and 16 additional warnings found for the following 2 drugs:

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Drug interactions

Moderate drug interactions

Moderate:

procainamide senna

Applies to: procainamide and Little Tummys Laxative Drops (senna)

Procainamide can cause an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a relatively rare side effect. The risk is increased if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances, such as low blood levels of magnesium or potassium. These electrolyte disturbances can occur with bowel cleansing preparations or excessive use of medications that have a laxative effect, such as senna. Do not exceed the dose and duration recommended on the product label or prescribed by your doctor. You should seek immediate medical attention if you experience sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, shortness of breath, or heart palpitations during treatment with these medications, whether taken together or separately. In addition, you should let your doctor know if you experience signs and symptoms of low magnesium or potassium blood level such as weakness, tiredness, drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, tingling, numbness, muscle pain, cramps, nausea, or vomiting. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Food/lifestyle interactions

Moderate food/lifestyle interactions

Moderate:

senna multivitamins with minerals

Applies to: Little Tummys Laxative Drops (senna)

Chronic use of senna may reduce your body's ability to absorb certain vitamins (A, D, E, and K) and minerals like calcium. To reduce the risk of diminished absorption of multivitamins with minerals, it is best to use senna only occasionally or for short periods. If your doctor does prescribe these medications together, you may need a dose adjustment or special test to safely use both medications. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Minor food/lifestyle interactions

Minor:

procainamide Alcohol (Ethanol)

Applies to: procainamide

Information for this minor interaction is available on the professional version.

Disease interactions

14 potential interactions Applies to: 14 conditions, including Heart Failure, Hypokalemia, Hypotension, Myasthenia Gravis, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Appendicitis

Major:

Little Tummys Laxative Drops

The senna in Little Tummys Laxative Drops has a major potential interaction with Appendicitis.

The use of stimulant laxatives is contraindicated in patients with or who may have acute surgical abdomen or appendicitis. These patients may be candidates for emergency surgery. Stimulant laxatives should also not be administered to patients with abdominal pain, particularly if the cause has not been determined.

Bleeding Disorder

Major:

Little Tummys Laxative Drops

The senna in Little Tummys Laxative Drops has a major potential interaction with Bleeding Disorder.

The use of stimulant laxatives is contraindicated in patients with anal or rectal fissures. These preparations may cause irritation, burning sensation, and proctitis.

Bone Marrow Depression/Low Blood Counts

Major:

procainamide

Procainamide has a major potential interaction with Bone Marrow Depression/Low Blood Counts.

Bone marrow suppression inducing granulocytopenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia has occurred during administration of procainamide. Most event occurred at recommended dosages and within twelve weeks of initiation of procainamide therapy. Agranulocytosis has resulted in death in 20% to 25% of reported cases. Therapy with procainamide should be administered cautiously in patients with or predisposed to myelosuppression or any type of cytopenia. Clinical monitoring of hematopoietic function including complete blood counts prior to initiation of therapy and at weekly intervals for the first 3 months of therapy and periodically after that is necessary.

Gastrointestinal Obstruction

Major:

Little Tummys Laxative Drops

The senna in Little Tummys Laxative Drops has a major potential interaction with Gastrointestinal Obstruction.

The use of laxatives is contraindicated in patients with intestinal obstruction disorders. Patients with intestinal obstruction disorders may need their underlying condition treated to correct the constipation. Some laxatives require reduction in the colon to their active form to be effective which may be a problem in patients with intestinal obstruction.

Heart Block

Major:

procainamide

Procainamide has a major potential interaction with Heart Block.

The use of procainamide is contraindicated in patients with complete AV node block because of its effects in suppressing nodal or ventricular pacemakers and the hazard of asystole. Therapy with procainamide should be avoided in patients with second-degree AV block or various hemiblocks in the absence of a functional artificial pacemaker.

Heart Failure

Major:

procainamide

Procainamide has a major potential interaction with Heart Failure.

Antiarrhythmic agents can induce severe hypotension (particularly with IV administration) or induce or worsen congestive heart failure (CHF). Patients with primary cardiomyopathy or inadequately compensated CHF are at increased risk. Antiarrhythmic agents should be administered cautiously and dosage and/or frequency of administration modified in patients with hypotension or adequately compensated CHF. Alternative therapy should be considered unless these conditions are secondary to cardiac arrhythmia.

Hyperkalemia

Moderate:

procainamide

Procainamide has a moderate potential interaction with Hyperkalemia.

Electrolyte imbalance can alter the therapeutic effectiveness of antiarrhythmic agents. Hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia can reduce the effectiveness of antiarrhythmic agents. In some cases, these disorders can exaggerate the degree of QTc prolongation and increase the potential for torsade de pointes. Hyperkalemia can potentiate the toxic effects of antiarrhythmic agents. Electrolyte imbalance should be corrected prior to initiating antiarrhythmic therapy. Clinical monitoring of cardiac function and electrolyte concentrations is recommended.

Hypokalemia

Moderate:

procainamide

Procainamide has a moderate potential interaction with Hypokalemia.

Electrolyte imbalance can alter the therapeutic effectiveness of antiarrhythmic agents. Hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia can reduce the effectiveness of antiarrhythmic agents. In some cases, these disorders can exaggerate the degree of QTc prolongation and increase the potential for torsade de pointes. Hyperkalemia can potentiate the toxic effects of antiarrhythmic agents. Electrolyte imbalance should be corrected prior to initiating antiarrhythmic therapy. Clinical monitoring of cardiac function and electrolyte concentrations is recommended.

Hypotension

Major:

procainamide

Procainamide has a major potential interaction with Hypotension.

Antiarrhythmic agents can induce severe hypotension (particularly with IV administration) or induce or worsen congestive heart failure (CHF). Patients with primary cardiomyopathy or inadequately compensated CHF are at increased risk. Antiarrhythmic agents should be administered cautiously and dosage and/or frequency of administration modified in patients with hypotension or adequately compensated CHF. Alternative therapy should be considered unless these conditions are secondary to cardiac arrhythmia.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Major:

Little Tummys Laxative Drops

The senna in Little Tummys Laxative Drops has a major potential interaction with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

The use of laxatives is contraindicated in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease may experience colonic perforation with use of stimulant laxatives.

Lupus Erythematosus

Major:

procainamide

Procainamide has a major potential interaction with Lupus Erythematosus.

The use of procainamide is contraindicated in patients with established systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), since aggravation of the symptoms is highly likely. A positive antinuclear antibody test (+ANA), with or without symptoms of SLE, often results from chronic therapy with procainamide in patients without SLE. An SLE-like syndrome, rarely involving pathologic renal changes, can occur following prolonged procainamide therapy. The benefit versus risk should be evaluated in the presence of a +ANA in a patient without a history of or predisposition to SLE.

Magnesium Imbalance

Moderate:

procainamide

Procainamide has a moderate potential interaction with Magnesium Imbalance.

Electrolyte imbalance can alter the therapeutic effectiveness of antiarrhythmic agents. Hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia can reduce the effectiveness of antiarrhythmic agents. In some cases, these disorders can exaggerate the degree of QTc prolongation and increase the potential for torsade de pointes. Hyperkalemia can potentiate the toxic effects of antiarrhythmic agents. Electrolyte imbalance should be corrected prior to initiating antiarrhythmic therapy. Clinical monitoring of cardiac function and electrolyte concentrations is recommended.

Myasthenia Gravis

Moderate:

procainamide

Procainamide has a moderate potential interaction with Myasthenia Gravis.

Procainamide decreases the release of acetylcholine from skeletal muscle motor nerve endings. Procainamide can worsen the symptoms of myasthenia gravis. Therapy with procainamide should be administered cautiously in patients with myasthenia gravis.

Renal Dysfunction

Moderate:

procainamide

Procainamide has a moderate potential interaction with Renal Dysfunction.

Procainamide is primarily eliminated by the kidney. The serum concentration of procainamide is increased and the half-life prolonged in patients with renal impairment. Therapy with procainamide should be administered cautiously in patients with renal dysfunction and dosage modifications should be made based on the degree of renal impairment.

More resources

Little Tummys Laxative Drops

A total of 269 drugs are known to interact with Little Tummys Laxative Drops.

procainamide

A total of 437 drugs are known to interact with procainamide.

Drug Interaction Classification

These classifications are only a guideline. The relevance of a particular drug interaction to a specific individual is difficult to determine. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any medication.
Major Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit.
Moderate Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances.
Minor Minimally clinically significant. Minimize risk; assess risk and consider an alternative drug, take steps to circumvent the interaction risk and/or institute a monitoring plan.
Unknown No interaction information available.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.