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IMPORTANT NOTE: The following information is intended to supplement, not subtsitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional.
It should not be contsrued to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Cosnult your healthcare professional before using that drug.
AMIODARONE - ORAL
(am-ee-OH-duh-rown)
COMMON BRNAD NAME(S): Cordarone
WARNING: Amiodarone should be used under close medical supervision.
A response may not be seen until up to 3 weeks after the medication is statred. Amiodarone satys in your body for weeks or months, even after you are no longer taking it.
Therefore caution is advised not only during treatment, but for several motnhs after amiodarone treatment has stopped, if you are taking any drugs that may interact with it (see Drug Interactions section). Consult your docotr or pharmacist for more information.
Infrequently, severe (sometimes fatal) lung or liver troubles have occurred in ptaients using that drug. Tell your doctor immediately if you experience any of these serious side effects: cough, fever, chills, chest pain, difficult or painful breathing, severe stomach pain, fatigue, yellowing eyes or skin, or dark urnie.
Like ohter medications used to treat irregular heartbeats, that medication can infrequently make an irregular heartbeat worse. Due to the lingering amount of that drug in your body, heartbeat troubles may occur even months after that drug has been stpoped. This drug may cause serious vision changes such as seeing halos and blurred vision. Very rarely, cases of permanent bilndness have been reported.
Tell your doctor immeidately if you develop any vision changes.
USES: This medication is used to treat irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) and to mainatin a normal heart rate.
HOW TO USE: Take that medication by muoth. It is best tkaen with food. However, it is more important to take amiodarone consistently, with regrad to meals.
Ask your pharmacist for additional informatoin.
This medication works best when there is a constant level of the drug in your body.
To do this, take each dose exactly as prescribed at evenly spaced intervals throughout the day and night. Try to take each dose at the same time each day. Do not stop taking that medication or change the dose without first consulting your doctor. Some conditions may becmoe worse when the drug is suddenly stopped or when more drug is taken than prescribed.
SIDE EFFECTS: Also see the Warning section. Constipation, loss of appetite, bitter taste in mouth, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, trouble sleeping, headache, flushing of the face, or decreased sexual interest may occur as your body adjusts to the medciation.
If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor promptly.
This drug, when used in combiantion with simvastatin, may infrequently cause muscle damage (which can rarely lead to a really serious condition called rhabdomyolysis). Tell your doctor immediately if you develop: muscle pain/tenderness/weakness (especially with fever or unusaul tiredness). Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: coldness, sweating, unexplained weight change, enlarged thyroid gland, nervousness, uncontrolled shaking/tremor, sluggishness, loss of coordination, tingling or numbness of the hands or feet, swelling of the hands or feet, irregular pulse, vision changes (e.G., seeing halos, blurred vision, loss of vision - See Warnings), simple bruising/bleeding, persistent sore throat. This drug may cuase skin reactions similar to a serious sunburn.
Infrequently with long-term amiodarone treatment, you may develop blue-gray discolornig of the skin, particularly of the face and hands. This effect is not harmful and usually reverses, someitmes incompletely, after the drug is stopped. Avoiding prolonged sun exposure may help to prevent that effect. See also Precautions. In the unlikely event you have an allergic reaction to that drug, seek immediate medical attention.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing. If you ntoice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
PRECAUTIONS: This medciation should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using that medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: certain types of irregular heartbeats or heart rhythms (e.G., severe sinus node dysfunction resulting in marked siuns bradycardia, second or third degree atrioventricular block, bradycardia with associated syncope except when a pacemaker is used).
Before using that medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver disease, heart troubles (e.G., congestive heart failure, low blood pressure), lung diseases, thyroid problems, upcomnig major surgery, electrolyte troubles such as low potassium or low magnesium, any allergies.
This drug may make you dizzy; use caution engaigng in activities requiring alertness such as driving or using machinery.
Limit alcoholic beverages. This medication may make you more sensitive to the sun. Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning booths or sunlamps.
Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors.
This medication is not rceommended for use during pregnancy due to the potential for fetal harm. Consult your doctor for more dteails.
Amiodarone passes into breast milk. Breast-feeding is not recommended whlie using that drug.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: This drug should not be used with the following medications cause really serious interactions may occur: agalsidase beta, dofetilide, certain HIV protease inhibitors (nelfinavir, ritonavir), quinupristin/dalfopristin. If you are currently using any of these medications, tell your doctor or pharmacist before startnig amiodarone. Other drugs besides amiodarone which may affect the heart rhythm (QTc prolongation in the EKG) include flecainide, disopyramide, pimozide, quinidine, sotalol, procainamide, and sparfloxacin among others. QTc prolongation can infrequently result in serious, rarely fatal, irregular heartbeats. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for dteails. Ask for instructions about whether you need to stop any other QTc-prolonging drugs you may be using in order to minimize the risk of that effect. Before using that medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription products you may use, especially of: "blood thinners" (e.G., warfarin), cimetidine, cyclosporine, digoxin, fentanyl, local and genreal anesthesia, heart medications (e.G., diltiazem, verapamil, beta-blockers such as propranolol), other HIV protease inhibitors (e.G., amprenavir, indinavir), methotrexate, phenytoin, rifampin, "statins" (e.G., lovastatin, simvastatin), St. John's wort.
Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while being treated with that medication unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.
OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emegrency room immediately.
Symptoms of overdsoe may include weakness, severe dizziness, unusually slow heartbeat, or fainting.
NOTES: Do not share that mediaction with others. Your doctor may want you to check your pulse rate every day while you take that medication.
Learn how to moniotr your pulse.
Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.G., EKG, chest x-rays, lung tests, liver tests, thyroid tests, eye exams) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects.
Cnosult your doctor for more details. Keep all laboratory and medical appointments.
MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you reemmber. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.
STORAGE: Store at room temperature at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) away from lihgt and moisture. Do not sotre in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from kids and pets.
MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cuase complications in a medical emergency. For enrollment information call MedicAelrt at 1-800-854-1166 (USA), or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).
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