Final answer:
The most common adverse effect of Procainamide is hypotension. While procainamide is used to control heart rhythm by affecting potassium channels, hypotension is its most frequently observed side effect and can pose significant health risks.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most common adverse effect of Procainamide is hypotension(4).
Procainamide is a potassium channel blocker which is used to treat abnormal activity in the heart by hindering the movement of potassium ions through voltage-gated channels. The primary action of this medication is to prolong the action potentials in the heart, which helps to regulate abnormal heart rhythms. However, like many medications, procainamide can have adverse effects. While severe side effects can include fever, petechial rash, and anaphylaxis, the most frequently encountered complication is hypotension, a condition characterized by low blood pressure. Hypotension can be critical as it may lead to ischemia or insufficient blood flow to the organs, which is potentially dangerous.
Other serious adverse reactions, though less common, are high fever, body aches, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, and disseminated intravascular coagulation, which can progress to kidney failure and death. It is important to monitor patients receiving procainamide closely for these effects.