What is the most important information I should know about amiodarone?
Amiodarone is for use only in treating life-threatening heart rhythm disorders.
You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to amiodarone or iodine, or if you have 2nd- or 3rd-degree "AV block" (unless you have a pacemaker), a history of slow heartbeats, or if your heart cannot pump blood properly.
Amiodarone can cause dangerous side effects on your heart, liver, lungs, or thyroid.
Call your doctor or get medical help at once if you have: chest pain, fast or pounding heartbeats, trouble breathing, upper stomach pain, vomiting, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), or if you cough up blood.
Tell your doctor if you have signs of a thyroid problem, such as weight changes, extreme tiredness, dry skin, thinning hair, feeling too hot or too cold, irregular menstrual periods, or swelling in your neck (goiter).
What is amiodarone?
Amiodarone affects the rhythm of your heartbeats.
Amiodarone is used to help keep the heart beating normally in people with life-threatening heart rhythm disorders of the ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart that allow blood to flow out of the heart). Amiodarone is used to treat ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation.
Amiodarone is for use only in treating life-threatening heart rhythm disorders.
Amiodarone may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking amiodarone?
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to amiodarone or iodine, or if you have:
- a serious heart condition called "AV block" (2nd or 3rd degree), unless you have a pacemaker;
- a history of slow heartbeats that have caused you to faint; or
- if your heart cannot pump blood properly.
Amiodarone can cause dangerous side effects on your heart, liver, lungs, or thyroid.
To make sure amiodarone is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- asthma or another lung disorder;
- liver disease;
- a thyroid disorder;
- vision problems;
- high or low blood pressure;
- an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood); or
- if you have a pacemaker or defibrillator implanted in your chest.
Do not use amiodarone if you are pregnant. Taking amiodarone during pregnancy can harm the unborn baby or cause thyroid problems or abnormal heartbeats after the baby is born. Amiodarone may also affect the child's growth or development (speech, movement, academic skills) later in life. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy during treatment.
Amiodarone can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.
How should I take amiodarone?
Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. You will receive your first few doses in a hospital setting, where your heart rhythm can be monitored.
If you have been taking another heart rhythm medicine, you may need to gradually stop taking it when you start using amiodarone. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.
You may take amiodarone with or without food, but take it the same way each time.
It may take up to 2 weeks before your heart rhythm improves. Keep using the medicine as directed even if you feel well.
While using amiodarone, you will need frequent medical tests and chest x-rays to check your thyroid, vision, lungs, and liver function. Amiodarone can have long lasting effects on your body. You may need medical tests for several months after you stop using this medicine.
If you need surgery (including laser eye surgery), tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using amiodarone. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.
Amiodarone can cause unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using amiodarone.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
Read all patient information, medication guides, and instruction sheets provided to you. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of amiodarone can be fatal.
Overdose symptoms may include weakness, slow heart rate, feeling light-headed, or loss of consciousness.
What should I avoid while taking amiodarone?
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with amiodarone and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products while taking amiodarone.
Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Amiodarone can make you sunburn more easily. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.
This medicine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
What are the possible side effects of amiodarone?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Amiodarone takes a long time to completely clear from your body. You may continue to have side effects from amiodarone after you stop using it. It could take up to several months for the medicine to completely clear from your body.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these side effects, even if they occur up to several months after you stop using amiodarone:
- wheezing, cough, chest pain, coughing up blood, breathing problems that get worse;
- a new or a worsening irregular heartbeat pattern (fast, slow, or pounding heartbeats);
- a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
- blurred vision, seeing halos around lights, vision loss, headache or pain behind your eyes, sometimes with vomiting;
-
liver problems --nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
-
nerve problems --loss of coordination, muscle weakness, uncontrolled muscle movement, or numbness and tingling in your hands or lower legs;
-
signs of overactive thyroid --weight loss, thinning hair, feeling too hot or too cold, increased sweating, irregular menstrual periods, swelling in your neck (goiter); or
-
signs of underactive thyroid --extreme tired feeling, dry skin, joint pain or stiffness, muscle pain or weakness, hoarse voice, feeling more sensitive to cold temperatures, weight gain.
Common side effects may include:
- nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite; or
- constipation.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect amiodarone?
Amiodarone takes a long time to completely clear from your body. Drug interactions are possible for up to several months after you stop using amiodarone. Talk to your doctor before taking any medication during this time. Keep track of how long it has been since your last dose of amiodarone.
Many drugs can interact with amiodarone. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:
- an antibiotic or antifungal medicine;
- an antidepressant;
- anti-malaria medicine;
- antiviral medicine to treat hepatitis, HIV, or AIDS;
- asthma inhalers;
- a blood thinner;
- cancer medicines;
- a diuretic or "water pill";
- heart or blood pressure medication;
- medicine to prevent vomiting;
- medicine to treat mental illness; or
- "statin" cholesterol medicine (Lipitor, Zocor, Vytorin, and others).
This list is not complete and many other drugs can interact with amiodarone. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Give a list of all your medicines to any healthcare provider who treats you.
Where can I get more information?
Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about amiodarone.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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