Amiodarone

CAUTION:
Amiodarone may cause lung disease that can be serious or life-threatening. inform your doctor if you are breast-feeding any type of lung disease. If you have any of the following symptoms, call your doctor without delay: fever, shortness of breath, wheezing, cough, coughing up blood, and any other breathing problems. Amiodarone also may cause liver disease. inform your doctor if you are breast-feeding liver disease. If your experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor without delay: upset stomach, vomiting, dark colored urine, extreme tiredness (fatigue), yellowing of the skin or eyes, jaundice, itching, or pain in the upper right part of the stomach.Amiodarone may cause your irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) to worsen or may cause you to develop new arrhythmias. Inform your doctor if you have ever been dizzy or lightheaded or have fainted because your heartbeat was too slow and if you have or have ever had low levels of potassium in your blood; heart or thyroid disease; or any problems with your heart rhythm other than the irregular heartbeat being treated.

O  General Information and Indications:

Amiodarone is used to treat and prevent certain types of ventricular arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythm). Amiodarone is in a class of medications called antiarrhythmics. It works by relaxing overactive heart muscles.

O  Information For Users:

Amiodarone comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once or twice a day. Your doctor will tell you to take amiodarone with or without food; be sure to take it the same way each time. Follow the directions on your prescription label, ask your doctor or pharmacist If you have any questions. Take amiodarone exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your health care provider.

Amiodarone controls arrhythmias but does not cure them. Continue taking amiodarone even if you feel well. Do not discontinue taking amiodarone without informing your doctor. If you suddenly stop taking amiodarone, your condition may get worse.
Other uses for this medicine

O  Special precautions:

o Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have allergy to amiodarone, iodine, any other drugs, or corn.
o .Inform your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking. Be sure to mention the medications listed in the CAUTION and any of the following: antidepressants ('mood elevators') such as fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), nefazodone (Serzone); anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (coumadin); cholesterol lowering medications such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), cholestyramine (Questran), lovastatin (Mevacor), simvastatin (Zocor); cimetidine (Tagamet); cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune); danazol (Danocrine); delavirdine (Rescriptor); dextromethorphan (a medication in many cough preparations); dexamethasone (Decadron); fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic); HIV protease inhibitors such as indinavir (Crixivan), and ritonavir (Norvir); isoniazid (INH, Nydrazid); medications for diabetes; medications for pain; medications for seizures such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), ethosuximide (Zarontin), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), phenytoin (Dilantin); metronidazole (Flagyl); methotrexate (Rheumatrex); oral contraceptives (birth control pills); rifabutin (Mycobutin); rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane); troglitazone (Rezulin); troleandomycin (TAO); and zafirlukast (Accolate). Your doctor may have to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
o Inform your doctor what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John's wort.
o inform your doctor if you are breast-feeding problems with your blood pressure.
o Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. You should use a reliable method of birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are taking amiodarone. If you become pregnant while taking amiodarone, call your doctor without delay. You should not breastfeed while you are taking amiodarone. Talk to your doctor if you plan to become pregnant or breastfeed during the first several months after your treatment because amiordarone may remain in your body for some time after you stop taking it.
o if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, Inform your doctor or dentist that you are taking amiodarone.
o plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight or sunlamps and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Amiodarone may make your skin sensitive to sunlight. Exposed skin may turn blue-gray and may not return to normal even after you stop using this medication.
o you should know that amiodarone may cause vision problems including permanent blindness. Be sure to have regular eye exams during your treatment and call your doctor if you have any changes with your eyes or notice any changes in your vision.
o you should know that amiodarone may remain in your body for several months after your stop taking it. You may continue to experience side effects of amiodarone during this time. Be sure to tell your health care provider who treats you or prescribes any medication for you during this time that you have recently stopped taking amiodarone.

Do not drink grapefruit juice while taking this medication.

O  Possible Adverse Effects:

Amiodarone may cause adverse effects. Inform your doctor if any of the following symptoms are severe or do not go away:

o vomiting
o constipation
o headache
o decreased sex drive
o difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
o flushing
o dry eyes
o changes in ability to taste and smell
o changes in amount of saliva

Some adverse effects could be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, or those listed in the CAUTION section, call your doctor without delay:

o rash
o weight loss or gain
o restlessness
o intolerance to heat or cold
o thinning hair
o excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
o changes in menstrual cycle
o swelling in the front of the neck (goiter)
o decreased vision or changes in your ability to see such as blurred vision (Impaired vision) or seeing halos
o eyes are sensitive to light
o eye pain
o swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
o shaking hands that you can not control
o movements that you can not control
o poor coordination or trouble walking
o numbness or tingling in the hands, legs, and feet
o muscle weakness

Laboratory animals who were given amiodarone developed thyroid tumors. It is not known if amiodarone increases the risk of developing thyroid tumors in humans.

O  Possible Symptoms of Overdose:

o slow heartbeat
o upset stomach
o blurred vision (Impaired vision)
o lightheadedness
o fainting

O  Brand Name(s):

o Cordarone
o Pacerone