Brand & Generic Names

Basic Information

• Habit forming? No
• Prescription needed? Yes
• Available as generic? No
• Drug class: Antiarrhythmic

Uses

Prevents and treats life-threatening heartbeat irregularities involving both the large chambers of the heart (auricles and ventricles).

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablets--Swallow whole with liquid or food to lessen stomach irritation. If you can't swallow whole, crumble tablet and take with liquid or food.

When to take:
According to prescription instructions.

If you forget a dose:
Skip this dose and resume regular schedule. Do not double the next dose. If you forget 2 doses or more, consult your doctor.

What drug does:
Slows nerve impulses in the heart.
Makes heart muscle fibers less responsive to abnormal electrical impulses arising in the electrical regulatory system of the heart.

Time lapse before drug works:
2 to 3 days to 2 to 3 months.

Don't take with:
Any other medicine without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
Irregular heartbeat, loss of consciousness, seizures.

WHAT TO DO:

• Dial 911 (emergency) or O (operator) for an ambulance or medical help. Then give first aid immediately.
• If patient is unconscious and not breathing, give mouth-to-mouth breathing. If there is no heartbeat, use cardiac massage and mouth-to-mouth breathing (CPR). Don't try to make patient vomit. If you can't get help quickly, take patient to nearest emergency facility.
• See EMERGENCY information.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

Shortness of breath, Discontinue. Seek emergency treatment. difficulty breathing, cough.

Common:

• Walking difficulty, fever, numbness or tingling in hands or feet, shakiness, weak- ness in arms and legs.
• Constipation, headache, appetite loss, nausea, vomiting.

Infrequent:

• Skin color change to blue-gray, blurred vision, cold feeling, dry eyes, nervousness, scrotum swelling or pain, insomnia, swollen feet and ankles, fast or slow heartbeat, eyes hurt in light, weight gain or loss, sweating.
• Bitter or metallic taste, diminished sex drive, dizziness, flushed face, coldness and unusual tiredness.

Rare:

Jaundice, skin rash.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:
You are allergic to amiodarone.

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you have liver, kidney or thyroid disease.
• If you have heart disease other than coronary artery disease.

Over age 60:

• Adverse reactions and side effects may be more frequent and severe than in younger persons. Ask about smaller doses.
• Pain in legs (while walking) considerably more likely.

Pregnancy:
Safety to unborn child unestablished. Thyroid abnormalities possible in fetus. Avoid if possible.

Breast-feeding:
Drug passes into milk. Avoid drug or discontinue nursing until you finish medicine. Consult doctor for advice on maintaining milk supply.

Infants & children:
Safety not established. Use only under close medical supervision.

Prolonged use:

• Blue-gray discoloration of skin may appear.
• Don't discontinue without consulting doctor. Dose may require gradual reduction if you have taken drug for a long time. Doses of other drugs may also require adjustment.
• Talk to your doctor about the need for follow-up medical examinations or laboratory studies to check ECG*, SGPT*, serum alkaline phosphatase, SGOT*, thyroid function.

Skin & sunlight:
May cause rash or intensify sunburn in areas exposed to sun or sunlamp. Avoid undue exposure, use sunscreens.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
Avoid if you feel dizzy or lightheaded. Otherwise, no problems expected.

Discontinuing:

• Don't discontinue without consulting doctor. Dose may require gradual reduction if you have taken drug for a long time. Doses of other drugs may also require adjustment.
• Notify doctor if cough, fever, breathing difficulty or shortness of breath occur after discontinuing medicine.

Others:

• Learn to check your own pulse. If it drops to lower than 50 or rises to higher than 100 beats per minute, don't take amiodarone until you consult your doctor.
• May interfere with the accuracy of some medical tests.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

Possible Interaction with Other Substances