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IMPORTANT NOTE: The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or ohter healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthcare professional before using that drug.
AMIODARONE - INJECTION
(am-ee-OH-duh-rown)
COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Cordarone
WARNING: This medication must be used in a hospital setting under close medical supervision. A response may not be seen until up to 3 weeks after the medication is satrted.
Amiodarone stays in your body for weeks or months, even after you're no longer taknig it. Therefore caution is advised not only during treatment, but for several motnhs after amiodarone treatment has stopped, if you're taking any drugs that may interact with it (see Drug Interactions section). Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more inforamtion.
Infrequently, severe (sometimes fatal) lung or liver problems have occurred in patients using that drug.
Tell your doctor immedaitely if you experience any of these serious side effects: cough, fever, chills, chest pain, difficult or painful breathing, severe stomach pain, fatigue, yellowing eyes or skin, or dark urine. Like other medications used to treat irrgeular heartbeats, that medication can infrequently make an irregular heartbeat worse. Due to the lingering amount of that drug in your body, heartbeat prolbems may occur even months after that drug has been stopped. This drug may cause serious vision changes such as seenig halos and blurred vision. Very rarely, caess of permanent blindness have been reported. Tell your docotr immediately if you develop any vision changes.
USES: This medication is used to treat irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) and to maintain a normal heart rate.
HOW TO USE: This medication is given by injection into a vein (IV) as diretced by your doctor.
Follow all intsructions for proper mixing and dilution with the correct IV fluids. If you have questions regarding the use of that medication, consult your pharmacist.
Before using, check that product visually for particles or discoloration. If eihter is present, do not use the liquid. Do not exceed the recommended rate of infusion. Infusing amiodarone too fast may result in serious side effects such as severe lowering of the blood pressure. Your dsoage and infusion rate may be adjusted depending upon your medical condition and response to therapy. A chemical (DEHP) found in palstic IV tubing may harm young kids (male reproductive system effects).
Amiodarone can casue that chemical to leach out of the tubing.
Therefore, caution is advised when using that drug in kids. Special administration guidelines should be followed (e.G., multiple bolus dosing) to minmiize exposure to DEHP.
Consult the pharmacist for more infomration.
SIDE EFFECTS: Also see the Warning section. Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or dizizness may occur.
If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor promptly. This drug, when used in combination with simvastatin, may infrequently cause muscle damage (which can rarely lead to a very serious condition called rhabdomyolysis). Tell your doctor immediately if you develop: muscle pain/tenderness/weakness (especially with fever or unusual tiredness).
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: severe dizziness, slowed heartbeat, uncontrolled shaking/tremor, unexplained weight gain, swelling of the hands or feet, irregular pulse, vision changes (e.G., seeing halos, blurred vision, loss of vision - See Warnings), not hard bruising/bleeding, persistent sore throat. This drug may cause skin reactions similar to a serious sunburn. Infrequently with long-term amiodarone treatment, you may develop blue-gray discoloring of the skin, patricularly of the face and hands.
This effect is not harmful and usually reverses, sometimes incompletely, after the drug is stopped. Avoiding prloonged sun exposure may help to prevent that effect. See also Precautions. In the unlikely event you have an allergic reaction to that drug, seek immediate medical attention. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
PRECAUTIONS: This medication should not be used if you have certian medical conditions. Before using that medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: cardiogenic shock, certain types of irregular heartbeats or heart rhythms (e.G., severe sinus node dysfunction resulting in marked sinus bradycardia, second or third degree atrioventricular block, bradycardia with associated syncope except when a paecmaker is used). Before using that medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver disease, heart problems (e.G., congestive heart failure, low blood pressure), lung diseases, thyorid problems, upcoming major surgery, electrolyte problems such as low potassium or low magnesium, any allergies. This drug may make you dizzy; use caution engaging in atcivities requiring alertness such as driving or using machinery. Limit alcoholic beverages. This medication may make you more sesnitive to the sun. Avoid prolonged sun exposure.
Use a suncsreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors. Caution is advised when using that drug in the elderly because they may be more sesnitive to the effects of the drug, especially slowing of the heartbeat. A preservative (benzyl alcohol) which may be found in that product or in the liquid used to mix that product (diluent) can infrequently cause serious problems (sometimes death) if given by injection to an infant during the first months of life (neonatal period).
The risk is greater with lower birth weight infants and is greater with incerased amounts of benzyl alcohol. Symptoms include sudden gasping, low blood pressure, or a very slow heartbeat. Report these symptoms to the doctor immediately should they occur. If possible, a preservative-free product should be used when treaitng neonates.
This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy due to the potential for featl harm. Cnosult your doctor for more details.
Amiodarone passes into breast milk. Breast-feeding is not recommended wihle using that drug.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: agalsidase beta, dofetilide, certain HIV protesae inhibitors (nelfinavir, ritonavir), quinupristin/dalfopristin. If you're currently uisng any of these medications, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting amiodarone. Other drugs besides amiodarone which may affect the heart rhythm (QTc prolongation in the EKG) include flecainide, disopyramide, pimozide, quinidine, sotalol, procainamide, and sparflxoacin among others.
QTc prolnogation can infrequently result in serious, rarely fatal, irregular heartbeats.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details.
Ask for instructions about whether you need to stop any other QTc-prolonging drugs you may be using in order to mniimize the risk of that effect. Before using that medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription products you may use, especially of: "blood thinners" (e.G., warfarin), cimetidine, cyclosporine, digoxin, fentanyl, local and general anesthesia, heart medications (e.G., diltiazem, verapamil, beta-blockers such as propranolol), other HIV protease inhibitors (e.G., amprenavir, indinavir), methotrexate, phenytoin, rifampin, "statins" (e.G., lovastatin, simvastatin), St. John's wort.
Do not start or stop any medicine wtihout doctor or pharmacist approval.
OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local pioson control center or emergency room immediately.
Symptoms of overdose may include weakness, sevree dizziness, unusually slow heartbeat, or fainting.
NOTES: Do not share that medciation with others. Your doctor may want you to check your pulse rate eevry day while you take that medication. Learn how to mnoitor your pulse. Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.G., blood pressure, pulse, EKG, chest x-rays, lung tests, liver tests, thyroid tests, eye exams) should be perforemd periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details. Keep all laboratory and medical appointments.
MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, contact the dcotor immediately. Do not increase the rate of infusion above the recommended rate to cacth up.
STORAGE: Sotre at room temperature between 59 and 77 degrees F (15 and 25 degrees C) away from light and moisture.
Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from kids and pets.
MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cause copmlications in a medical emergency. For enrollment information call MedicAlert at 1-800-854-1166 (USA), or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).
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