Amiodarone

Description

Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic medicine which is used to treat irregular heart beats. This medicine should be used only for life-threatening arrhythmias. It may cause severe lung and liver injury which could be fatal.

Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Amiodarone

  • Cough
  • Dizziness
  • Increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
  • Blurred vision
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Skin rash
  • Yellow colored eyes or skin
  • Headache
  • Constipation
  • Nausea and Vomiting
  • Loss of appetite

Uses of Amiodarone

What is it prescribed for?

  • Arrhythmias
Read More
Concerns

Commonly asked questions

  • Onset of action
    The effect of this medicine can be observed in 2 days to 3 weeks.
  • Duration of effect
    The effect of this medicine lasts for an average duration of 58 days.
  • Safe with alcohol?
    Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
  • Is it habit forming?
    No habit forming tendencies were reported.
  • Usage in pregnancy?
    This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women.
  • Usage while breast-feeding?
    This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women.

Allergy

Not recommended in patients allergic to Amiodarone

Cardiogenic shock

Not recommended in patients with cardiogenic shock

Heart block greater than first degree

Not recommended in patients with second or third-degree atrioventricular block.

sinus bradycardia

Not recommended in patients with sinus bradycardia
Warnings for special population

Pregnancy

This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women.

Breast-feeding

This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women.
General warnings

Pulmonary Toxicity

This medicine may cause severe lung injury which includes hypersensitivity pneumonitis and Interstitial pneumonitis. Discontinue the treatment as soon as these symptoms appear until the exact cause is identified.

Worsened Arrhythmia

This medicine may cause exacerbation of the arrhythmias. This effect is more common in the patients being treated with other antiarrhythmic medicines or any changes in the dose. Close monitoring of potassium, magnesium levels is necessary before initiation of the treatment. Any symptoms of heart palpitations should be reported to the doctor.

Thyrotoxicosis

This medicine may increase the thyroid levels and may lead to a serious condition called thyrotoxicosis. Close monitoring of thyroid levels is necessary. Any symptoms of irritability, irregular heartbeats, nervousness and weight loss should be reported to the doctor.

Impaired liver function

This medicine may increase liver enzymes levels. Any signs of elevated liver enzymes should be reported to the doctor. Reduce the dose or discontinue the medicine if the value increases by 3 times the normal.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of Amiodarone, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed dose.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical treatment or contact the doctor in case of an overdose.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol

Description

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.

Instructions

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine

Budesonide

Azole antifungal agents

Theophylline

Azithromycin

Disease interactions

Electrolyte imbalance

The effect of antiarrhythmic medicines depends on the electrolytes. The increase in the potassium levels may increase the toxic effects of antiarrhythmic medicines. The baseline of these electrolytes should be obtained before initiation of the therapy and any changes in the values should be reported to the doctor.
Food interactions
Consumption of grapefruit juice is not recommended when you are receiving this medicine. Any symptoms of irregular heartbeat should be reported to the doctor.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Amiodarone as advised by your doctor. Do not take in larger amounts than advised. It is advised to take this medicine at the same time every day. Consult the doctor if you experience any undesirable effects. Do not stop taking the medicine without consulting your doctor.
Miscelleneous

Can be taken with or without food, as advised by your doctor

To be taken as instructed by doctor

May cause sleepiness

How it works
It works by reducing the hyperactivity of the heart muscles.
Legal Status

Approved

Approved

Approved

Approved

Classification

Category

Group III antiarrhythmics

Schedule

Schedule H

[Internet]. 2017 [cited 26 April 2017]. Available from:

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/25742

DailyMed - Amiodarone Hcl- amiodarone hydrochloride tablet [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 26 April 2017]. Available from:

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=08641e51-abca-4c1c-ba19-d24435332018

Amiodarone: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2017 [cited 26 April 2017]. Available from:

https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a687009.html

Prescribing medicines in pregnancy database [Internet]. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 2017 [cited 26 April 2017]. Available from:

https://www.tga.gov.au/prescribing-medicines-pregnancy-database#searchname

[Internet]. Toxnet.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 26 April 2017]. Available from:

https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search2/f?./temp/~jVN97P:1

How will this medicine affect me?

Consult top doctors online and get an answer now
Consult now
Consult now

Looking for a doctor?

Book an appointment with the top doctors near you
Book now
Book now
Something doesn’t feel right?
Report an error

Information on this page was last updated on 16 Nov 2017

Disclaimer

We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.