INTRODUCTION

WELHART 50 CAPSULE contains Mexiletine which belongs to the group of medicines called Anti-arrhythmic agents. WELHART 50 CAPSULE is used in the treatment of irregular heartbeat which is considered to be life threatening in affected individuals.

WELHART 50 CAPSULE is not recommended for use in patients allergic to Mexiletine, and/or local anesthetics. It is also not recommended for use in patients suffering from heart problems (such as sinus syndrome, heart rhythm disorder, long QT syndrome), severe liver, and/or sever kidney disease.

Before taking WELHART 50 CAPSULE, inform your doctor if you are a smoker, and/or have low/high electrolyte blood levels, seizures, abnormal blood count levels, mild to moderate liver or kidney disease.

WELHART 50 CAPSULE is not generally recommended for use in pregnant women and is advised to be used with caution in breastfeeding women as it can pass through breast milk.

WELHART 50 CAPSULE is also not recommended for use in children and adolescents (aged below 18 years) and is advised to be used with caution in elderly patients (aged 65 years/above) after consulting the doctor.

The most common side effects of taking WELHART 50 CAPSULE are abdominal pain, indigestion, nausea, constipation, headache, dizziness, and/or tiredness. Consult your doctor if any of these symptoms worsens.

USES OF WELHART 50 CAPSULE

• Treats life threatening irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) in affected individuals

HOW WELHART 50 CAPSULE WORKS

WELHART 50 CAPSULE works by blocking abnormal electrical signal in the heart which leads to regulation of heartbeats and preventing the occurrence of irregular heartbeat thus treating arrythmias and its associated symptoms in affected individuals.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

Take WELHART 50 CAPSULE as advised by your physician. Swallow the medicine with water. Do not crush or chew the medicine. Your doctor will decide the correct dose and duration for you depending upon your age, body weight and disease condition.

SIDE EFFECTS OF WELHART 50 CAPSULE

HOW TO MANAGE SIDE EFFECTS

Dry mouth:

Try to drink plenty of cold water and sip on cold unsweetened drinks and use lip balm if your lips are dry. Brush your teeth twice a day and use mouthwash. Consult your doctor if the symptom worsens.

Indigestion:

Try to have smaller and more frequent meals and drink slowly. Reduce consumption of coffee, cola, tea, or alcohol and lose weight if you are obese.  Try to avoid smoking and don’t have rich, fatty or spicy foods. Consult your doctor if the symptom does not improve.

Nausea:

Take WELHART 50 CAPSULE with or just after a meal. Stick to simple meals. Avoid eating oil rich or spicy foods, sugary snacks and drinks. Avoid drinking too much liquid along with your meals, drink slowly in between meals. Consult and inform your doctor if the condition worsens.

Constipation:

Try to eat high-fiber foods such as vegetables, cereals, fresh fruit, and drink plenty of water. Involve in regular exercise (going for a daily walk or run) and if this does not help, consult and inform your doctor for receiving alternate treatments for constipation.

Headache:

If WELHART 50 CAPSULE causes headache, then take rest and drink plenty of fluids. Try to avoid drinking alcohol. Ask your doctor to recommend a painkiller. Headaches should usually go away after the first week of taking WELHART 50 CAPSULE. If it lasts more than a week or severe, inform your doctor.

Dizziness:

Try to rest and get enough sleep. Try to avoid driving or operating any tools or machines while you feel dizzy. Limit consumption of alcohol, as it can aggravate dizziness. Consult and inform your doctor if the symptom worsens.

Tiredness:

Make sure you take rest and drink plenty of fluids. Avoid or limit the consumption of alcohol. Try to take WELHART 50 CAPSULE at a time when you can sit down (or lie down) when the symptoms are at their worst. Avoid driving or using tools or machinery until you feel well.

WARNING & PRECAUTIONS

PREGNANCY

WELHART 50 CAPSULE is not recommended for use in pregnant women. Consult your doctor before taking the medicine.

BREASTFEEDING

WELHART 50 CAPSULE should be used with caution in breastfeeding women as it can pass through breast milk. Consult your doctor before taking the medicine.

DRIVING AND USING MACHINES

Do not drive/operate machines if WELHART 50 CAPSULE affects your ability to drive/operate machines.

ALCOHOL

Avoid consumption of alcohol while taking WELHART 50 CAPSULE since it may alter the effect of medicine.  Consult your doctor before consuming alcohol while in treatment with WELHART 50 CAPSULE.  

KIDNEY

WELHART 50 CAPSULE is not recommended for use in patients with severe kidney disease. It should be used with caution in patients with mild/moderate kidney disease. Consult your doctor before taking the medicine.

LIVER

WELHART 50 CAPSULE is not recommended for use in patients with severe liver disease. It should be used with caution in patients with mild/moderate liver disease. Consult your doctor before taking the medicine.

ALLERGY

Do not take WELHART 50 CAPSULE if you are allergic to Mexiletine, local anesthetics, and/or any other ingredients of this medicine.

HEART DISEASE

WELHART 50 CAPSULE is not recommended for use in patients suffering from sinus syndrome, other heart problems (known to cause slow heartbeat), heart rhythm disorders (associated with shortness of breath, ankle swelling), and long QT syndrome. Consult your doctor before taking the medicine.  

INTERACTIONS

A. Drug-Drug interactions:

Before taking WELHART 50 CAPSULE, inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicine:

• medicines used to treat heart problems (Ex. quinidine, procainamide, disopyramide, ajmaline, encainide, flecainide, propafenone, moricizine, amiodarone, sotalol, ibutilide, dofetilide, dronedarone, vernakalant, lidocaine, tocainide, propranolol, esmolol, timolol, metoprolol, atenolol, carvedilol, bisoprolol, nebivolol, verapamil, diltiazem, propafenone, quinidine, dofetilide)
• opioids (used to treat severe pain)
• antacids (used to provide relief from the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease)
• atropine (used to treat certain types of nerve agent and pesticide poisonings)
• metoclopramide (to treat and prevent nausea & vomiting)
• drugs that make urine more acidic (Ex. renacidin)
• ciprofloxacin (used to treat bacterial infections)
• fluvoxamine (antidepressant used to treat depression)
• omeprazole (used to treat stomach ulcer and gastric acid reflux)
• phenytoin (used to treat fits)
• rifampicin (used to treat several types of bacterial infections)
• theophylline (used to treat asthma)
• caffeine (used to treat headache, obesity)
• tizanidine (used as a muscle relaxant)
• metformin (used to treat diabetes)
• warfarin (used to treat and prevent blood clots)

B. Drug-Food interaction:

It is recommended to reduce your caffeine intake by half while on treatment with WELHART 50 CAPSULE since it can increase caffeine levels in your blood which may result in unwanted heart problems. Consult your doctor before taking the medicine.

Overdosage:

If you or anyone else accidentally take too much of WELHART 50 CAPSULE, consult your doctor immediately or visit the nearby hospital. Symptoms of overdose are nausea, hypotension (low blood pressure), bradycardia (slow heartbeat), paresthesia (tingling of the extremities), hallucinations, convulsions, irregular heartbeat, and/or fainting.

SYNOPSIS

MORE INFORMATION

• Keep WELHART 50 CAPSULE out of reach of children
• Do not store WELHART 50 CAPSULE above 30°C

FAQs ABOUT WELHART 50 CAPSULE

What is WELHART 50 CAPSULE and for what purpose is it used?

WELHART 50 CAPSULE contains Mexiletine which belongs to the group of medicines called Anti-arrhythmic agents which is generally used to treat irregular heartbeat that occurs as a life-threatening condition in affected individuals.

What are the most common side effects of WELHART 50 CAPSULE?

The most common side effects of taking WELHART 50 CAPSULE are abdominal pain, indigestion, nausea, constipation, headache, dizziness, and/or tiredness. Consult your doctor if any of these symptoms worsens.

How WELHART 50 CAPSULE works?

WELHART 50 CAPSULE works by blocking abnormal electrical signal in the heart which leads to regulation of heartbeats and preventing the occurrence of irregular heartbeat thus treating arrythmias and its associated symptoms in affected individuals.

How WELHART 50 CAPSULE should be taken?

Take WELHART 50 CAPSULE as advised by your physician. Swallow the medicine with water. Do not crush or chew the medicine. Your doctor will decide the correct dose and duration for you depending upon your age, body weight and disease condition.

Can WELHART 50 CAPSULE be used in pregnant and breastfeeding women?

No, WELHART 50 CAPSULE is generally not recommended for use in pregnant women as it can cause harm to the unborn child. It should be used with caution in breastfeeding women since the medicine may pass through breast milk. Consult your doctor before taking the medicine.

REFERENCES

1. KD Tripathi. Antiarrhythmic Drugs. Essentials of medical pharmacology. Seventh Edition. 2013. Page –531.

2. M L Datta-Chaudhari, T D O'Brien. Prophylactic use of mexiletine in the elderly with acute myocardial infarction. NIH National Library of Medicine. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubMeg.gov. February 1990. [Accessed on 1st June 2022] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2199424/

3. CANA AE FARMAKEFTIKA ERGASTIRIA. Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC). [Revised in August 2021] [Accessed on 1st June 2022] https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.13304.pdf

4. Tas med (India) Private Limited. Welhart. [Accessed on 1st June 2022] https://tasmedlab.com/allproduct/welhart/

USEFUL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

• Electrocardiogram
• Stress test/exercise stress test

AUTHOR DETAILS

Written By Dr. K .AZEEM HUSSAIN, B.D.S
Last updated on 12 Dec 2022 | 06:51 PM(IST)