PROCAINAMIDE Meaning and
Definition
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Procainamide is a pharmaceutical medication classified as an antiarrhythmic drug that is used to treat certain irregular heart rhythms or arrhythmias. It is chemically categorized as an amide derivative of procaine, an anesthetic agent, and is mainly prescribed to control and manage ventricular arrhythmias, including ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation.
The mechanism of action of procainamide involves blocking sodium channels in the heart muscle cells, thereby prolonging the action potential duration and refractory period. This action helps to suppress abnormal electrical activity in the heart, allowing for a regular heart rhythm to be restored.
This medication is typically administered orally and is rapidly absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract. Its effects are generally seen within one hour of ingestion, and its duration of action is typically around six hours. In certain cases, procainamide may also be given intravenously in emergency situations for a more rapid onset of action.
While procainamide can be an effective treatment for arrhythmias, it is not without potential side effects. Common side effects may include gastrointestinal disturbances, low blood pressure, and allergic reactions. Additionally, certain individuals may experience more serious adverse effects such as blood disorders, liver toxicity, and drug-induced lupus. Therefore, close monitoring and regular follow-up by a healthcare professional are necessary during the course of procainamide therapy.
Common Misspellings for PROCAINAMIDE
- orocainamide
- lrocainamide
- -rocainamide
- 0rocainamide
- peocainamide
- pdocainamide
- pfocainamide
- ptocainamide
- p5ocainamide
- p4ocainamide
- pricainamide
- prkcainamide
- prlcainamide
- prpcainamide
- pr0cainamide
- pr9cainamide
- proxainamide
- provainamide
- profainamide
- prodainamide
Etymology of PROCAINAMIDE
The word "procainamide" has a fairly straightforward etymology. It is derived from two main components:
1. "Procaine": The first part of the word, "procaine", is derived from the chemical compound called "procain", which was first synthesized in 1904 by a German chemist named Alfred Einhorn. Einhorn combined the prefix "pro-" (meaning "before" or "earlier") with the word "cocaine". The compound procain was developed as a local anesthetic, providing a similar numbing effect to cocaine but with reduced toxicity and addictive properties.
2. "-amide": The second part of the word, "-amide", is a suffix often used in chemistry to denote a compound that contains an amide group (-CONH2).
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