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