Mexiletine

Mexiletine is prescribed to help regulate the heartbeat. Patients who have certain abnormal heart rhythms can benefit from using this medication so that their heart beats more steadily. The medication works by blocking some of the electrical signals in the heart.

Side Effects/Warnings

Patients who have had a heart attack in the past two years should not use this medication. This medication increases the risk that these patients will have a second heart attack. The risk of fatal heart attack is greater in patients who take this medication regardless of their family history, but those who have a history of heart disease and heart attacks are in more danger than those who have no such history.

This medication is used only for those who have life-threatening arrhythmias because of the risk of fatal heart attack.