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