amiodarone coronary artery disease
(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 coronary artery disease. Discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits associated withthe use of amiodarone amiodarone coronary artery disease.
• Do not skip doses or change the dosing schedule without talking to yourdoctor amiodarone coronary artery disease. Missed or delayed doses could be harmful amiodarone coronary artery disease.
• Do not consume grapefruit or grapefruit juice during treatment with amiodarone amiodarone coronary artery disease. Amiodarone can interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice, and the interactionmay have dangerous effects amiodarone coronary artery disease. You should discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruitjuice with your doctor amiodarone coronary artery disease.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities amiodarone coronary artery disease. Amiodarone may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision amiodarone coronary artery disease. Ifyou experience dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision, avoid these activities amiodarone coronary artery disease.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight amiodarone coronary artery disease. Amiodarone may cause the skin toturn a bluish-gray color amiodarone coronary artery disease. This reaction is worse with exposure to the sun amiodarone coronary artery disease. Usea sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable amiodarone coronary artery disease.
What is amiodarone?
• Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic medication amiodarone coronary artery disease. Amiodarone affects the waythat the heart beats amiodarone coronary artery disease.
• Amiodarone is used to treat irregular heartbeats amiodarone coronary artery disease.
• Amiodarone may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide amiodarone coronary artery disease.
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 coronary artery disease. Discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits associated withthe use of amiodarone amiodarone coronary artery disease.
• 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 coronary artery disease.
• 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 coronary artery disease.
• Amiodarone is in the FDA pregnancy category D amiodarone coronary artery disease. This means that it isknown to be harmful to an unborn baby amiodarone coronary artery disease. Do not take amiodarone without firsttalking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment amiodarone coronary artery disease.
• Amiodarone passes into breast milk amiodarone coronary artery disease. It is not known whether this medicationwill affect a nursing infant amiodarone coronary artery disease. Do not take amiodarone without first talking toyour doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby amiodarone coronary artery disease.
How should I take amiodarone?
• Take amiodarone exactly as directed by your doctor amiodarone coronary artery disease. If you do not understandthese directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you amiodarone coronary artery disease.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water amiodarone coronary artery disease.
• Amiodarone can be taken with or without food amiodarone coronary artery disease. However, it should alwaysbe taken the same way, either with or without food amiodarone coronary artery disease.
• Do not consume grapefruit or grapefruit juice during treatment with amiodarone amiodarone coronary artery disease. Amiodarone can interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice, and the interactionmay have dangerous effects amiodarone coronary artery disease. You should discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruitjuice with your doctor amiodarone coronary artery disease.
• It is important to take amiodarone regularly to get the most benefit amiodarone coronary artery disease.
• Do not skip doses or change the dosing schedule without talking to yourdoctor amiodarone coronary artery disease. Missed or delayed doses could be harmful amiodarone coronary artery disease.
• Your doctor may want you to have blood tests or other medical evaluationsduring treatment with amiodarone to monitor progress and side effects amiodarone coronary artery disease.
• Store amiodarone at room temperature away from moisture and heat amiodarone coronary artery disease.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember amiodarone coronary artery disease. If it is almost time forthe next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduleddose amiodarone coronary artery disease. Do not take a double dose of this medication amiodarone coronary artery disease. A double dose could be dangerous amiodarone coronary artery disease.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected amiodarone coronary artery disease.
• 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 coronary artery disease.
What should I avoid while taking amiodarone?
• Do not consume grapefruit or grapefruit juice during treatment with amiodarone amiodarone coronary artery disease. Amiodarone can interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice, and the interactionmay have dangerous effects amiodarone coronary artery disease. You should discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruitjuice with your doctor amiodarone coronary artery disease.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities amiodarone coronary artery disease. Amiodarone may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision amiodarone coronary artery disease. Ifyou experience dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision, avoid these activities amiodarone coronary artery disease.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight amiodarone coronary artery disease. Amiodarone may cause the skin toturn a bluish-gray color amiodarone coronary artery disease. This reaction is worse with exposure to the sun amiodarone coronary artery disease. Usea sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable amiodarone coronary artery disease.
• Follow any other special instructions given by your doctor regardingfood, beverages, or activities (e.g., driving) amiodarone coronary artery disease.
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 coronary artery disease. 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 coronary artery disease.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur amiodarone coronary artery disease. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome amiodarone coronary artery disease.
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 coronary artery disease. 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 coronary artery disease.
• 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 coronary artery disease.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with amiodarone amiodarone coronary artery disease. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products amiodarone coronary artery disease.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has more information about amiodarone written for healthprofessionals that you may read amiodarone coronary artery disease.
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