Amiodarone

 

Name of generic: tablet amiodarone 
The brand name is Pacerone
Class of drug: Group III antiarrhythmics

What is Amiodarone?

Amiodarone can alter the heartbeat rhythm. It helps keep your heart functioning normally in people who have dangerous heart rhythm disorders of ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart which allow blood to exit the heart).

Amiodarone helps treat the condition known as ventricular Tachycardia or Ventricular fibrillation

Amiodarone is only used to treat serious heart rhythm problems that can be life-threatening.¶

Warnings

Amiodarone can have dangerous reactions to your liver, heart, lungs, or even your vision.

Do not use this medicine if are sensitive to amiodarone or Iodine or suffer from heart blockage or an occurrence of heartbeats that are slow that led to you fainting or if you have a heart that is unable to pump blood correctly.

Contact your doctor or seek medical attention immediately If you experience chest pain, rapid or pounding heartbeats, difficulty breathing, eye problems, and stomach pain. vomiting and jaundice or dark urine (yellowing of the eyes or skin) or the coughing up of blood.

Inform your doctor If you are experiencing symptoms of thyroid problems, for example, weight changes and fatigue that is extremely dry skin, thin hair, experiencing extreme heat or cold, irregular menstrual cycle, or swelling in the neck (goiter).

Before you start taking this medicine, make sure to consult your doctor

Amiodarone should not be used in the event that you are:

• a serious heart problem is known as, bradycardia, atrioventricular block “AV block” (2nd or 3rd degree) (unless you’ve got an implanted pacemaker)
• A history of heartbeats that have been slow that caused you to faint or
• If your heart isn’t pumping blood in a proper manner.

Amiodarone could cause serious adverse effects on your liver, heart, and lungs as well as thyroid.

To ensure this medicine is suitable for you, inform your physician if you’ve any of the following:

• asthma or another lung disease;
• liver disease;
• a thyroid disorder;
• issues with vision;
• low or high blood pressure;
• An electrolyte imbalance (such as low concentrations of magnesium or potassium or magnesium in the blood) an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood)
• If you have a defibrillator or pacemaker implanted within your chest.

Amiodarone taken during pregnancy can harm the baby that is not born or trigger thyroid problems or heartbeats that are irregular within the infant after the birth. Amiodarone could also influence the development or growth of the child (speech or movement, as well as academic abilities) later on in the course. Consult your physician if are expecting or getting pregnant.

You shouldn’t breastfeed during the time you are taking this medication and for a few months after quitting. Amiodarone requires a long time to get rid of the body. Talk to your physician about the best method to feed your child during this period.

How to take amiodarone?

Follow the exact dosage as recommended by your physician. Follow the directions on the prescription label and review all medication guides or instructions sheets. Your doctor may alter your dosage.

Your first few doses within an environment in a hospital where your heartbeat is monitored.

If you’ve taken a different heart rhythm medication You may have to slowly stop taking it as you begin to use Amiodarone. Follow your doctor’s instructions for dosage extremely carefully.

Tablets can be taken either with or without food however, they must be taken in the same manner each time.

It could take up to three weeks before your heart rate increases. Use the medication according to the directions even if you are feeling well.

Amiodarone may have long-lasting effects on the body. It is possible that you will require frequent medical tests when you are using this drug and for a number of months following your last dose.

If you are in need of surgical treatment (including surgical eye procedures using lasers) be sure to inform your surgeon in advance that you’re taking the drug amiodarone.

This medicine may affect the results of certain tests. Be sure to inform any doctor treating you about the use of this medication.

Maintain at room temperature, and free of heat, moisture, and light.

Dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Arrhythmias:

 Intravenous

First dose of 1000 mg throughout in the beginning 24 hours treatment administered by the following regimen of infusion:
Infusions loaded with of infusions 150 mg within the initial 10 mins (15 mg/min) and then 360 mg in the following six hours (1 mg/min)
Maintenance infusion: 540 mg in the remainder of the period of 18 hours (0.5 mg/min)

Maintenance dose: After the initial 24 hours, maintain the rate of maintenance infusion at 0.5 mg/min. It is possible to increase the infusion rate until you achieve arrhythmia suppression.
Infusions with a supplement of 150 mg in 10-minute intervals (15 mg/min) for sudden events in heart rhythm disturbances (VF) and hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia (VT)

Maximum dose: Initial infusion rate: 30 mg/min

Therapy duration: until the arrhythmias in the ventricular system stabilize (most patients require between 48 and at least 96 hours) Maintenance infusions that are as high as 0.5 mg/min is possible for up to 3 weeks.

Comments: Daily doses of more than 2100 mg during the first 24-hour period were linked with a higher risk of developing hypotension.

Utilization: Treatment and prevention of often recurring VF as well as hemodynamically unstable VT for patients that are not responding to treatment alternatives.

Oral

Dose for load range: 800-1700 mg taken orally daily for up to three months (occasionally more) until a sufficient control of arrhythmias is achieved, or if any of the side effects become more prominent and severe, switch to dosage adjustments
Dosage adjustment 600-800 mg daily orally for one month, after which you can move to the maintenance dosage
Maintain dose daily: 400 mg oral per day

Comments:
It may be administered twice a daily basis; twice per day Dosing is recommended for daily doses of 1000 mg or greater or in patients suffering from tolerance to gastrointestinal stimuli.
Close monitoring is specified in the loading phase and during any dose adjustments.
Maintenance doses should be decided by the effect of antiarrhythmic medication measured by tolerance levels of patients and symptoms such as Holter recordings and/or electronic stimulation program; some patients might require as much as 600 mg per day, while others can be managed with smaller doses.

Use for the treatment of life-threatening recurrent VF, or unstable hemodynamic VT that is recurrent in patients who are not responding to appropriate doses of other antiarrhythmics, or patients who are not tolerant of other agents.

If I do not take a dose?

Take the missed dose off and take your next dose at the normal time. Don’t take two doses at once.

If I consume too much?

For medical emergencies, seek emergency treatment or contact the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. A high dose of amiodarone could be fatal.

The symptoms of an overdose can include weakness, a slow pulse, feeling lightheaded or losing consciousness.

What to avoid?

Avoid driving or engaging in hazardous activities until you are aware of how amiodarone affects your body. Your reaction could be affected.

Grapefruit can interact with amiodarone and can cause undesirable negative side adverse effects. Beware of using products containing grapefruit.

Beware of taking herbal supplements with St. John’s Wort.

Amiodarone can cause more susceptibility to sunburn. Avoid tanning beds or sunlight. Protect yourself with protective clothing and sunblock (SPF 30 or more) whenever you’re outside.

Amiodarone side effects

See a doctor immediately If you are experiencing symptoms that you are experiencing an allergic reaction due to the medication amiodarone, such as asthmatic hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of your lips, face, or tongue.

Amiodarone is a lengthy period of time to completely cleanse your body. It is possible to experience negative side effects from this drug when you stop taking it.

Get in touch with your doctor immediately If you experience any of the following adverse reactions regardless of whether they happen within a couple of months after stopping using this medication:

• cough and chest pain. Cough that is bloody, fever
• A new or worsening unusual heartbeat rhythm (fast or slow beating heartbeats);
• a euphoric feeling, similar to you is about to pass out.
• Vision blurred, seeing halos of lighting (your eyes might have a greater sensitivity to light);
• liver issues liver problems nausea stomach pain (upper right) fatigue and dark jaundice, dark urine (yellowing of the eyes or skin);
• nerve disorders nerve problems losing coordination or muscle weakness, involuntary muscles, or sharp sensation in your hands or lower legs.
• symptoms of overactive thyroid symptoms of thyroid overactivity the loss of weight thin hair and feeling hot, excessive sweating and tremors, feeling anxious or angry, irregular menstrual cycle, swelling in the neck (goiter) or
• symptoms of thyroid inactivity – fatigue, weight gain and depression, trouble concentration, cold.

Common side effects associated with amiodarone be:

• nausea or vomiting or loss of appetite;
• constipation.

This isn’t a complete list of possible side effects, and other side effects could occur. Contact your doctor to seek medical advice on the effects. You can report any adverse reactions to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other medications can alter the effects of amiodarone?

There are times when it’s not recommended to take certain medicines in conjunction. Certain drugs may affect the blood levels from other medications that you take, which can cause more side effects or make the medication less effective.

Amiodarone is a lengthy period of time to completely cleanse your body. Drug interactions are likely to occur for several months following the discontinuation of the drug amiodarone. Discuss with your physician prior to taking any medications during this period. Note down the time since the last time you took amiodarone.

Many medications can be incompatible with amiodarone. This includes over-the-counter and prescription medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements. The interactions of all medications are not included in this article. Inform your doctor of all of your medications and any medication you begin or stop taking.