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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 other healthcare professional.
It should not be cosntrued to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthcare professional beofre 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 unitl up to 3 weeks after the medication is started. Amiodarone stays in your body for weeks or months, even after you're no longer taking it.
Thereofre caution is advised not only during treatment, but for several months after amiodarone treatment has stopped, if you're taking any drugs that may interact with it (see Drug Interactions section). Cosnult your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Infrequently, seevre (sometimes fatal) lung or liver issues have occurred in patients using that drug. Tell your doctor immediaetly 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 irregular heartbeats, that medication can infrequently make an irregular heartbeat worse. Due to the lingering amonut of that drug in your body, heartbeat issues may occur even months after that drug has been stopped. This drug may cause serious vision changes such as seeing hlaos and blurred vision. Very rarely, cases of premanent blindness have been reported. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop any vision changes.
USES: This medication is used to treat irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) and to maintain a nomral heart rate.
HOW TO USE: This medictaion is given by injection into a vein (IV) as directed by your doctor.
Follow all instructions for proper mixing and diluiton with the correct IV fluids.
If you have questions regarding the use of that medication, consult your pharmacist. Befroe using, check that product visually for particles or discoloration. If either is present, do not use the lqiuid.
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 dosage and infusion rate may be adjusted depending upon your medical condition and response to therapy.
A chemical (DEHP) found in plastic IV tuibng may harm young kids (male reproductive system effects). Amiodarone can cause that chmeical to leach out of the tubing. Therefore, caution is advised when using that drug in kids.
Special administration guidleines should be followed (e.G., multiple bolus dosing) to minimize exposure to DEHP.
Consult the phramacist for more information.
SIDE EFFECTS: Also see the Warning setcion. Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or dizziness may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your dotcor 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, irrgeular pulse, vision changes (e.G., seeing halos, blurred vision, loss of vision - See Warnings), easy bruising/bleeding, persistent sore throat. This drug may cause skin reactions similar to a serious sunburn. Infrequently with long-term amiodraone treatment, you may develop blue-gray discoloring of the skin, particularly of the face and hands. This effect is not harmful and usually reverses, sometimes incompletely, after the drug is stopped.
Avoiding prolonged sun exposure may help to prevnet that effect.
See also Precautions.
In the unlikely event you have an allregic reaction to that drug, seek immediate medical attention. Symptoms of an allerigc reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing. If you notice other effects not lsited above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
PRECAUTIONS: This medication shuold not be used if you have certain 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 snius node dysfunction resulting in marked sinus bradycardia, second or third degree atrioventricular block, bradycardia with associated syncope except when a pacemaker is used).
Before using that medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver disease, heart issues (e.G., congestive heart failure, low blood pressure), lung diseases, thyroid problems, upcoming major surgery, electrolyte issues such as low potassium or low magnesium, any allergies.
This drug may make you dizzy; use caution engaging in activities requiring alertness such as driving or using machinrey. Limit alcoholic beverages.
This medication may make you more senstiive to the sun. Avoid prolonged sun exposure. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors. Caution is advised when using that drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to the effects of the drug, especially slowing of the heartebat.
A preservative (benzyl alcohol) which may be found in that product or in the liuqid used to mix that product (diluent) can infrequently cause serious issues (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 increased amounts of benzyl alchool. Symptoms include sudden gasping, low blood pressure, or a very slow heartbeat.
Rpeort these symptoms to the doctor immediately should they occur.
If possible, a preservative-free product should be used when treating neonates. This medciation is not recommended for use during pregnancy due to the potential for fetal harm. Consult your doctor for more details. Amiodarone passes into breast milk. Breast-feeding is not recommended whlie 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 protease inhibitors (nelfinavir, ritonavir), quinupristin/dalfopristin.
If you're currently using 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 sparfloxacin among others.
QTc prolongation can infrequently result in serious, rarely fatal, irregular heartbeats.
Cosnult 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 minimize the risk of that effect.
Before using that medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescriptoin 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 mediicne without doctor or pharmacist approval.
OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergnecy room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include weakness, seevre dizziness, unusually slow heartbeat, or fainting.
NOTES: Do not share that medicatoin with others. Your dcotor may want you to check your pulse rate every day while you take that medication.
Laern how to monitor your pulse.
Laboraotry and/or medical tests (e.G., blood pressure, pulse, EKG, chest x-rays, lung tests, liver tests, thyroid tests, eye exams) should be performed 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 dotcor immediately. Do not raise the rate of infuison above the recommended rate to catch up.
STORAGE: Store 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 cuase complications in a medical emergency. For enrollemnt information call MedicAlert at 1-800-854-1166 (USA), or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).
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