Rinfocan- Prescription Drug Information for Canadians
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AMIODARONE
(Generic Name)
BRAND NAME
Cordarone
TYPE OF DRUG
Antiarrhythmic.
PRESCRIBED FOR
Abnormal heart rhythms.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Amiodarone should be prescribed only in situations where the
abnormal rhythm is so severe as to be life-threatening, and it
does not respond to other drug treatments. Amiodarone works by
affecting the movement of nervous impulses within the heart.
Amiodarone may exert its effects 3 to 5 days after you start
taking it and often takes 1 to 3 weeks to affect your heart. Since
Amiodarone therapy is often started while you are in the
hospital, especially if you are being switched from another
antiarrhythmic drug to Amiodarone, your doctor will be able to
closely monitor how well the drug is working for you.
Amiodarone's antiarrhythmic effects can persist for weeks after
you stop taking the drug.
CAUTIONS AND WARNINGS
Do not take Amiodarone if you are allergic or sensitive to it or if
you have heart block.
Amiodarone can cause potentially fatal drug side effects. At high
doses, 10 to 15 percent of people can develop lung and
respiratory effects that have the potential of being fatal. Liver
damage caused by Amiodarone can also be fatal.
Amiodarone can cause a heart block, a drastic slowing of
electrical impulse movement between major areas of the heart,
or extreme slowing of the heart rate. Amiodarone heart block
occurs about as often as heart block caused by some other
antiarrhythmic drugs, but its effects may last longer than those of
the other drugs.
The majority of adults who take Amiodarone develop tiny
deposits in the corneas of their eyes. These deposits may cause
halos or blurred vision in up to 10 percent of people taking
Amiodarone.
Amiodarone can cause a reduction in thyroid activity or worsen
an already sluggish thyroid gland in 2 to 10 percent of people
taking the drug.
Antiarrhythmic drugs are less effective and cause abnormal
rhythms if blood potassium is low. Check with your doctor to see
if you need extra potassium.
One-tenth of people taking Amiodarone can experience unusual
sensitivity to the sun. Protect yourself by using an appropriate
sunscreen product and reapplying it frequently.
PREGNANCY/BREAST-FEEDING
In animal studies, Amiodarone has been found to be toxic to a
developing fetus in animal studies when given at a dose 18 times
the maximum adult dose. Pregnant women should carefully
review with their doctors both the benefits to be obtained by
taking this drug and the potential dangers.
Amiodarone passes into mother's milk. Nursing mothers who
must take this drug should bottle-feed to avoid any possible
complications in their babies.
SENIORS
Amiodarone must be used with caution, regardless of your age.
This drug is broken down in the liver, and a reduced dosage may
be needed if you have poor liver function. Kidney function is not
a factor in determining how much Amiodarone you need.
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
About 75 percent of people taking 400 milligrams or more of
Amiodarone every day develop drug side effects. As many as 10
percent of people have to stop taking the drug because of a side
effect.
Common side effects include fatigue, a feeling of ill health,
tremors, unusual involuntary movements, loss of coordination, an
unusual walk, muscle weakness, dizziness, tingling in the hands
or feet, reduced sex drive, sleeplessness or difficulty sleeping,
headache, nervous system problems, nausea, vomiting,
constipation, loss of appetite, abdominal pains, unusual
sensitivity to bright light, dry eyes, halos.
Unusual sensitivity to the sun is the most common skin reaction
to Amiodarone, but people taking this drug may develop a blue
skin discoloration that may not go away completely when the
drug is stopped. Other skin reactions are sun rashes, hair loss,
and black-and-blue spots.
Amiodarone can cause heart failure, slowing of the heart rate,
and abnormal rhythms. Up to 9 percent of people taking
Amiodarone develop abnormalities in liver function.
Other side effects include inflammation of the lung or fibrous
deposits in the lungs, changes in thyroid function, changes in
taste or smell, bloating, unusual salivation, and changes in blood
clotting.
DRUG INTERACTIONS
Amiodarone increases the effects of Procainamide, Quinidine,
Phenytoin, and Warfarin. These interactions can take from 3
days to several weeks to develop. The dosage of these drugs
must be reduced drastically to take the interaction into account.
Amiodarone can interact with beta blockers and calcium channel
blockers to cause unusual slowing of the heart.
FOOD INTERACTIONS
Amiodarone is poorly absorbed into the blood and should be
taken on an empty stomach. Although food delays the absorption
of Amiodarone into your bloodstream, the drug can be taken
with food or meals if it upsets your stomach.
USUAL DOSE
The usual starting dose is 800 to 1600 milligrams per day, taken
in 1 or 2 doses. Your dosage should be reduced to the lowest
effective dose to minimize side effects. The usual maintenance
dose is 400 milligrams per day.
OVERDOSAGE
Amiodarone overdose is generally not serious because the drug
usually takes several days or weeks to exert an effect on the
body. Anyone who has taken an overdose of Amiodarone should
be taken to a hospital emergency room for treatment. ALWAYS
remember to take the medicine bottle with you.
SPECIAL INFORMATION
Side effects are very common with Amiodarone. Three-fourths
of people taking the drug will experience some drug-related
problem. Call your doctor if you develop chest pains, difficulty
breathing, or any other sign of changes in lung function, an
abnormal heartbeat, bloating in your feet or legs, tremors, fever,
chills, sore throat, unusual bleeding or bruising, changes in skin
color, unusual sunburn, or any other unusual side effect.
Amiodarone can make you dizzy or light-headed. Take care
while driving a car or performing any complex tasks.
If you take Amiodarone once a day and forget to take a dose, but
remember within 12 hours, take it as soon as possible. If you
don't remember until later, skip the forgotten dose and continue
with your regular schedule.
If you take Amiodarone twice a day and remember within 6
hours of your regular dose, take it as soon as you remember. Call
your doctor if you forget 2 or more doses in a row. Do not take a
double dose of Amiodarone.
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