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