amiodarone and atrial fibrillation
(ah me OH da rone)
Cordarone, Pacerone
What is the most important information I should know about amiodarone?
• In some cases, amiodarone has been associated with serious and even fatalside effects such as lung problems, liver problems, and new or worsening irregularheartbeats amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. Discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits associated withthe use of amiodarone amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
• Do not skip doses or change the dosing schedule without talking to yourdoctor amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. Missed or delayed doses could be harmful amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
• Do not consume grapefruit or grapefruit juice during treatment with amiodarone amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. Amiodarone can interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice, and the interactionmay have dangerous effects amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. You should discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruitjuice with your doctor amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. Amiodarone may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. Ifyou experience dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision, avoid these activities amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. Amiodarone may cause the skin toturn a bluish-gray color amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. This reaction is worse with exposure to the sun amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. Usea sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
What is amiodarone?
• Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic medication amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. Amiodarone affects the waythat the heart beats amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
• Amiodarone is used to treat irregular heartbeats amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
• Amiodarone may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking amiodarone?
• In some cases, amiodarone has been associated with serious and even fatalside effects such as lung problems, liver problems, and new or worsening irregularheartbeats amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. Discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits associated withthe use of amiodarone amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
• Before taking amiodarone, tell your doctor if you
· have any other type of heart disease or heart problems;
· have liver disease;
· have vision problems (especially optic neuritis);
· have thyroid problems; or
· need to have surgery amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
• You may not be able to take amiodarone, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listedabove amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
• Amiodarone is in the FDA pregnancy category D amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. This means that it isknown to be harmful to an unborn baby amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. Do not take amiodarone without firsttalking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
• Amiodarone passes into breast milk amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. It is not known whether this medicationwill affect a nursing infant amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. Do not take amiodarone without first talking toyour doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
How should I take amiodarone?
• Take amiodarone exactly as directed by your doctor amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. If you do not understandthese directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
• Amiodarone can be taken with or without food amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. However, it should alwaysbe taken the same way, either with or without food amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
• Do not consume grapefruit or grapefruit juice during treatment with amiodarone amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. Amiodarone can interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice, and the interactionmay have dangerous effects amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. You should discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruitjuice with your doctor amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
• It is important to take amiodarone regularly to get the most benefit amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
• Do not skip doses or change the dosing schedule without talking to yourdoctor amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. Missed or delayed doses could be harmful amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
• Your doctor may want you to have blood tests or other medical evaluationsduring treatment with amiodarone to monitor progress and side effects amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
• Store amiodarone at room temperature away from moisture and heat amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. If it is almost time forthe next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduleddose amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. Do not take a double dose of this medication amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. A double dose could be dangerous amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
• Symptoms of an amiodarone overdose include tiredness, dizziness, confusion,a slow heart rate, yellowing of the skin or eyes, diarrhea, abdominal pain,and worsening irregular heartbeats amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
What should I avoid while taking amiodarone?
• Do not consume grapefruit or grapefruit juice during treatment with amiodarone amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. Amiodarone can interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice, and the interactionmay have dangerous effects amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. You should discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruitjuice with your doctor amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. Amiodarone may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. Ifyou experience dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision, avoid these activities amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. Amiodarone may cause the skin toturn a bluish-gray color amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. This reaction is worse with exposure to the sun amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. Usea sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
• Follow any other special instructions given by your doctor regardingfood, beverages, or activities (e.g., driving) amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
What are the possible side effects of amiodarone?
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop takingamiodarone and seek emergency medical attention:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat;swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
· a new or a worsening irregular heartbeat pattern;
· wheezing, coughing, chest pain, or chest discomfort;
· yellowing of the skin or eyes;
· changes in vision, blurred vision, or decreased vision;
· cough or shortness of breath;
· fainting;
· tremor or involuntary movements; or
· skin rash;
• Other, less serious side effects may also occur amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. Continue to take amiodaroneand talk to your doctor if you experience
· dizziness or tiredness;
· upset stomach, vomiting, decreased appetite, or diarrhea;
· changes in taste;
· poor coordination;
· numbness, or tingling; or
· bluish-gray discoloration of the skin amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
What other drugs will affect amiodarone?
• Before taking amiodarone, tell your doctor if you are taking any of thefollowing medicines:
· cimetidine (Tagamet);
· cholestyramine (Questran);
· cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral);
· dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant commonly used in prescriptionand over-the-counter cough medications);
· digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps);
· fentanyl (Duragesic, Actiq);
· lidocaine (Xylocaine, others);
· methotrexate (Rheumatrex);
· rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane);
· the herbal product St amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. John's wort;
· simvastatin (Zocor);
· theophylline (Theo-Bid, Theo-Dur, Theolair, Elixophyllin, Slo-Phyllin,others);
· warfarin (Coumadin);
· a protease inhibitor such as indinavir (Crixivan), lopinavir-ritonavir(Kaletra), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), saquinavir (Fortovase,Invirase);
· phenytoin (Dilantin), ethotoin (Peganone), or mephenytoin (Mesantoin);
· flecainide (Tambocor), procainamide (Pronestyl, Procan SR, Procanbid),quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinaglute, Quinora, Quinidex), disopyramide (Norpace),or other medicines used to treat irregular heartbeats;
· a beta-blocker such as acebutolol (Sectral), atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol(Lopressor), propranolol (Inderal), and others; or
· a calcium channel blocker such as verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Isoptin),diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor XR), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), felodipine(Plendil), and others amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
• You may not be able to take amiodarone, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring if you are taking any of the medicines listed above amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with amiodarone amiodarone and atrial fibrillation. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has more information about amiodarone written for healthprofessionals that you may read amiodarone and atrial fibrillation.
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