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Pacerone

Generic Name: amiodarone (a mee OH da rone)
Brand Names: Cordarone, Pacerone

What is amiodarone?

Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic medication that affects the rhythm of 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 may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about amiodarone?

Amiodarone is for use only in life-threatening situations. This medication has the potential to cause side effects that could be fatal, and you will receive your first few doses in a hospital setting.

To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your thyroid and liver function may also need to be tested, and you may need eye exams and chest x-rays. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

You may continue to have side effects from amiodarone after you stop taking it. It could take up to several months for the medicine to completely clear from your body.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking amiodarone?

Amiodarone is for use only in life-threatening situations. This medication has the potential to cause side effects that could be fatal, and you will receive your first few doses in a hospital setting.

You may continue to have side effects from amiodarone after you stop taking it. It could take up to several months for the medicine to completely clear from your body.

• certain heart conditions, especially "AV block" (unless you have a pacemaker); or

• a history of slow heart beats that have caused you to faint.

Before taking amiodarone, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• asthma or another lung disorder;

• liver disease;

• vision problems;

• high or low blood pressure;

• a thyroid disorder; or

• an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood).

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use amiodarone, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

How should I take amiodarone?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

You may take amiodarone with or without food but take it the same way every time.

It is important to use amiodarone regularly to get the most benefit. Keep using this medication even if you feel fine or have no symptoms. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your thyroid and liver function may also need to be tested, and you may need eye exams and chest x-rays. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

If you need to have any type of 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.

This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain thyroid tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using amiodarone.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while taking amiodarone?

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with amiodarone and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

Amiodarone side effects

• a new or a worsening irregular heartbeat pattern;

• fast, slow, or pounding heartbeats;

• wheezing, cough, chest tightness, trouble breathing;

• blurred vision, headache or pain behind your eyes, sometimes with vomiting;

• feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion, swelling, rapid weight gain;

• weight loss, thinning hair, feeling too hot or too cold, increased sweating, irregular menstrual periods, swelling in your neck (goiter);

• feeling nervous, restless, irritable, depressed, or unable to concentrate;

• tremor or restless muscle movements; or

• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious side effects may also occur, such as:

• numbness, burning, pain, or tingly feeling;

• feeling dizzy or tired;

• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, constipation, loss of appetite;

• sleep problems (insomnia);

• weakness, lack of coordination;

• loss of interest in sex; or

• warmth, tingling, or redness under your skin.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect amiodarone?

There are many other medicines that can cause serious medical problems if you take them together with amiodarone. Before taking amiodarone, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

• clopidogrel (Plavix);

• cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune);

• digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps);

• disopyramide (Norpace), or other heart rhythm medications; or

• fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic, Fentora);

• loratadine (Alavert, Claritin);

• simvastatin (Zocor);

• trazodone (Desyrel);

• warfarin (Coumadin);

• antibiotics such as azithromycin (Zithromax), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E-Mycin, Ery-Tab), gatifloxaxin (Tequin), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), levofloxacin (Levaquin), ofloxacin (Floxin), or trovafloxacin (Trovan);

• a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), bisoprolol (Zebeta), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), sotalol (Betapace), and others;

• a calcium channel blocker such as amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Tiazac, Cartia, Cardizem), felodipine (Plendil), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), verapamil (Covera), and others; or

• a diuretic (water pill) such as amiloride (Midamor, Moduretic), chlorthalidone (Hygroton, Thalitone), ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Hyzaar, Lopressor, Vasoretic, Zestoretic), indapamide (Lozol), spironolactone (Aldactazide, Aldactone), triamterene (Dyrenium, Maxzide, Dyazide), and others.

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to take amiodarone, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist has information about amiodarone written for health professionals that you may read.

What does my medication look like?

Amiodarone is available with a prescription under the brand names Cordarone and Pacerone. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

• Cordarone 200 mg--pink, round, scored tablets

• Pacerone 200 mg--pink, round, scored tablets

• Pacerone 400 mg-light yellow, oval, scored tablets

• 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.
• Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ("Multum") is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum"s drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum"s drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.