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