Propulsid or Cisapride is the unsafe drug which has been recommended by doctors for the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). However this medication has a number of side effects. According to FDA officials, this medication is fully responsible for the attack of arrhythmias in which there will be disorder in the rhythm of heart beats and heart attack/block. On the strength of the extrapolated reports and evidence, FDA put much pressure on the drug manufacturing company, Janssen Pharmaceutical Inc., a division of Johnson & Johnson for withdrawing the medication from the country.
Finally, this company had to remove the medication in 2000. This drug is now in no longer use. The experienced healthcare professionals have been requested not to prescribe this medication as it can bring sudden death to patients due to the presence of lethal chemical compounds. In case patients experience cardiac disease or the hardness of the bunch of arteries plus heart attack or incidents of heartbeats at slow rate, cardiac defect, the blockage of heart and extreme dehydration etc. they must not take this medication. All sorts of physical disorders will be revived and enhanced through the intake of this medicine. It will not be proper to consume this medication in addition to the antibiotics like sparfloxacin (Zagam); antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), maprotiline (Ludiomil), and nefazodone (Serzone) and so on. Patients must not use the antihistamines like astemizole with Cisapride. In addition, according to the experts, patients should not be administered bepridil (Vascor), a powerful blood pressure medicine with the Propulsid. This type of the combined medication will certainly produce lot of damage to the body functionality. Many healthcare consultants unanimously admit that over dosage of this medication can bring death to the patients.
In addition, those who are alcoholic will simultaneously consume wine or country liquor very carefully during the intake of this drug. Alcohol can boost up the comatose feeling and head dizzying. It is also seen that if patients are given cisapride in combination with Xanax, Alprazolam, Diazepam or Librium, the severe drowsiness and hallucination can occur. Many healthcare professionals have given their viewpoints that grapefruit usually increases the level of the Cisapride in the blood which is also detrimental to the health of human body. If someone has the structural heart block or defect plus cancer, he must reveal the fact to the doctor and try to avoid this medication. If necessary, people must consult legal representatives to file lawsuit against the manufacturer of this medication. The financial claim should be made through proper legal procedures.
After years of escalating fatalities linked with Propulsid and
pressure from the FDA, Janssen Pharmaceutical Inc., a division of
Johnson & Johnson, announced that it would voluntarily stop
marketing Propulsid in the United States beginning July 14, 2000.
Presently, Propulsid has been linked to 386 reports of heart
rhythm abnormalities, including 125 deaths. All of the deaths
involved ventricular arrhythmias, non-specified arrhythmias, cardiac
arrest or sudden death. Symptoms include heart palpitations, rapid
heartbeat, chest pain and fatigue. A simple EKG can be used to
diagnose a potential problem associated with these conditions
(frequently undetected prior to a serious heart attack).
