Amiodarone- Quick Info

Amiodarone is one of the effective antiarrhythmic medications which can affect the rhythm of heartbeats. This drug can also be taken to keep the heart beating normal in those individuals who are suffering from the heart rhythm diseases of ventricles (heart’s lower chambers, which allow the blood to circulate through heart). Amiodarone is also quite useful to treat ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia.

Is Amiodarone FDA Approved?

Yes, The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) had given its approval to Amiodarone for the treatment of arrhythmias in December 1985.

The Purpose of Using Amiodarone

• Amiodarone for Ventricular Tachycardia – Amiodarone can be taken for the treatment of ventricular tachycardia in many cases. This medication can be also used in people who have hemodynamically stable ventricular tachycardia. However, people suffering from hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia should not use this drug initially.
• Amiodarone for Atrial Fibrillation – People who have had experienced any open heart surgery are at high risk of getting Atrial fibrillation. While this dug is not approved by the FDA for Atrial Fibrillation, it is a generally prescribed off-label treatment because of the shortage of the effective treatment alternatives.
• Amiodarone to keep the Heart Beating Normal - This drug can help the people to keep their heart beat normal, especially in those who are experiencing the heart rhythm disorders of ventricles.

Recommended Dosage of Amiodarone

You will get the first few Amiodarone doses in the hospital setting because there, your heart will be monitored in case the medicine causes side effects.

You have to use this medication in the exact amount as prescribed by the physician. Never try to take this drug in larger quantity or for longer than prescribed by your health care provider.

Take this drug with one glass of water. You can take Amiodarone without or with your meals.

It is quite essential to use this medication regularly for more advantages. Keep on taking this medicine even if you have no symptoms or whether you feel fine.

In case you requite any sort of surgery, inform your surgeon in advance that you are taking Amiodarone. He may ask you to stop the use of it for a short span of time.

Safety Measures for Amiodarone

Amiodarone can be used only in the life-threatening situations. This drug has the ability to cause side effects which can prove to be fatal. Hence, use it only if your doctor asks you for that.

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to Amiodarone or iodine, or if you have:

• Some severe heart conditions, especially “AV block”;
• slow heart beats;
• lung disorder or asthma;
• vision problems;
• liver disease;
• a thyroid disorder;
• low or high blood pressure;
• if you have a pacemaker or defibrillator implanted in your chest

Never use this medication without informing the doctor in case you are expecting or breast feeding your baby. It can do harm to your unborn baby.

To make sure if Amiodarone is not causing any negative effects, your blood has to be tested regularly. Your liver and thyroid function also need to be tested. Hence, never miss the scheduled visit to your physician.

What if I Miss Amiodarone?

Well, you can simply take the missed dosage the moment you remember about that. You can even miss the missed dosage in case it is the time to take the scheduled one. Also, don’t try to take any other medicine to make up for the missed part.

What if I Overdose Amiodarone?

Ask for the emergency medical help the moment you realize that you have taken this medication in extra quantity or for longer.

Amiodarone’s Risk Increases with Certain Drugs

• clopidogrel (Plavix);
• cimetidine (Tagamet);
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf);
• diclofenac (Cataflam, Arthrotec, Flector Patch, Voltaren, Solareze);
• dextromethorphan ;
• loratadine (Claritin Alavert);
• digoxin (Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin ,digitalis);
• an antidepressant;
• St. John’s wort;
• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
• diabetes or insulin medication;
• a diuretic (water pill);
• medication to treat AIDS or HIV;
• narcotic pain medication;
• antifungal medication like ketoconazole (Nizoral) or itraconazole (Sporanox);
• antibiotic like ciprofloxacin (Cipro), azithromycin (Zithromax), levofloxacin (Levaquin), clarithromycin (Biaxin), telithromycin (Ketek), rifampin (Rimactane, Rifadin, Rifamate, Rifater), and others;
• beta-blocker like bisoprolol (Ziac, Zebeta), atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Toprol, Lopressor), and others;
• cholesterol-lowering medications like atorvastatin (Lipitor), cholestyramine (Questran, Prevalite), lovastatin (Mevacor), simvastatin (Zocor);
• heart rhythm medication like disopyramide (Norpace), procainamide (Pronestyl, Procan), quinidine (Quinidex Quinaglute,) or
• Seizure medication like phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Tegretol, Carbatrol), and others.

Possible Complications of Amiodarone

• more worse irregular heartbeat pattern;
• feeling that you may pass out;
• fast, pounding, or slow heartbeats;
• wheezing;
• cough;
• trouble in breathing;
• chest pain;
• coughing up blood;
• feeling short of breath;
• blurred vision;
• pain behind eyes or headache;
• swelling;
• mild exertion;
• weight loss;
• rapid weight gain;
• thinning hair;
• feeling too cold or too hot;
• irregular menstrual periods;
• excessive sweating;
• swelling in neck (goiter);
• loss of appetite;
• low fever;
• clay-colored stools;
• dark urine;
• jaundice ;
• constipation;
• feeling tired or dizzy;
• sleep problems (insomnia)

Where to Buy Amiodarone?

You can simply buy Amiodarone at several local drug stores as well as online too. There are many recognized and authentic drug companies which offer different sorts of drugs on internet i.e. online.  Moreover, they offer the customers all the genuine real and complete information associated with the medicine.