Common uses

Cordarone (Amiodarone) belongs to the group of medicines known as antiarrhythmics. It is used to correct irregular heartbeats to a normal rhythm.
Cordarone produces its helpful effects by slowing nerve impulses in the heart and acting directly on the heart tissues.
Before using

Amiodarone should be used under close medical supervision. A response may not be seen until up to 3 weeks after the medicine is started. Amiodarone stays in your body for weeks or months, even after you are no longer taking it. Therefore, caution is advised not only during treatment, but for several months after amiodarone treatment has stopped, if you are taking any medicines that may interact with it. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Severe (rarely fatal) lung or liver problems have occurred in patients using this medicine.
Contact your doctor immediately 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 medicines used to treat irregular heartbeats, this medicine can infrequently make an irregular heartbeat worse. Due to the lingering amount of this medicine in your body, heartbeat problems may occur even months after this medicine has been stopped. Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with this medicine. Inform your doctor/pharmacist of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking.
Additional monitoring of your dose or condition may be needed if you are taking "blood thinners" (e.g., warfarin), cimetidine, cyclosporine, digoxin, fentanyl, local/general anesthesia, heart medicines (e.g., diltiazem, verapamil, beta-blockers such as propranolol), other HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., amprenavir), methotrexate, phenytoin, rifampin, "statins" (e.g., simvastatin), or st. John's wort. Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions including liver or lung disease, heart problems (e.g., congestive heart failure, low blood pressure), thyroid problems, upcoming major surgery, electrolyte problems such as low potassium/magnesium levels, allergies, pregnancy, or breast-feeding. Use of this medicine is not recommended if you have a history of 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 pacemaker is used).

Directions

Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your doctor. This medicine is best taken with food. However, it is more important to take it consistently, with regard to meals. If taken with food, try to always take with food to improve absorption of this medicine. If you prefer to take on an empty stomach, then always try to take on an empty stomach. Ask your pharmacist for more information. Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while being treated with this medicine. This medicine works best when there is a constant level of the medicine in your body. Take this medicine on a regular schedule around the clock, unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Take this medicine at the same time each day. Store this medicine at room temperature 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) in a tightly-closed container, away from heat, moisture, and light. If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Cautions

It may take several days to weeks for this medicine to work. Do not stop taking this medicine or change the dose without checking with your doctor. Some conditions may become worse when the medicine is suddenly stopped or when more medicine is taken than prescribed. Keep all doctor and laboratory appointments while you are taking this medicine. Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., 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. Tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking this medicine before you have any medical or dental treatments. This medicine may cause dizziness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to this medicine. Limit alcoholic beverages while taking this medicine. This drug may cause serious vision changes such as seeing halos and blurred vision. Very rarely, cases of permanent blindness have been reported. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop any vision changes. This medicine may cause increased sensitivity to the sun. Avoid exposure to the sun or sunlamps until you know how you react to this medicine. Use a sunscreen or protective clothing if you must be outside for a prolonged period.
Before you begin taking any new medicine, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any medicine that contains cimetidine.

Possible side effects

Also see the before using this medicine section. Side effects that may occur while taking this medicine include constipation, loss of appetite, bitter taste in mouth, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, trouble sleeping, headache, flushing of the face, or decreased sexual interest. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. Amiodarone when used in combination with simvastatin, may infrequently cause muscle damage (which can rarely lead to a very serious condition called rhabdomyolysis). Contact your doctor immediately if you develop muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness (especially with fever or unusual tiredness). Contact your doctor immediately if you experience coldness, sweating, unexplained weight change, enlarged thyroid gland, nervousness, uncontrolled shaking or tremor, sluggishness, loss of coordination, tingling or numbness of hands or feet, irregular pulse, vision changes (e.g., seeing halos, blurred vision, or loss of vision), easy bruising or bleeding, or persistent sore throat. This medicine may cause skin reactions similar to a serious sunburn. Infrequently with long-term amiodarone 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 medicine is stopped. Avoiding prolonged sun exposure may help to prevent this effect (also see cautions section). An allergic reaction to this medicine is unlikely but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, or trouble breathing. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.

If you take too much

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include weakness, severe dizziness, unusually slow pulse, or fainting.

Additional information

For women: this medicine has been shown to cause harm to the human fetus. If you plan on becoming pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using this medicine during pregnancy. This medicine is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine.

Drug interactions

Amiodarone may interact with other medicines, causing serious side effects. Tell your healthcare professional about the other medicines you take or plan to take, especially:
• Antibiotics called fluoroquinolones, azoles, and macrolide antibiotics
• Digoxin (also called Lanoxin, a drug used to treat irregular heartbeat or heart failure)
• Other drugs to control heartbeat, such as quinidine, procainamide (also called Procan or Procanbid), disopyramide (also called Norpace), and phenytoin (also called Dilantin).
• Warfarin (a drug used to treat blood clots)
• Simvastatin (also called Zocor, a drug used to treat high cholesterol
• Drugs to treat high blood pressure, called beta blockers and calcium channel blockers
Do not drink grapefruit juice while you are being treated with amiodarone because it affects how the stomach absorbs amiodarone. Drinking grapefruit juice while taking amiodarone may cause an overdose.