Amiodarone counselling

What should be avoided when taking amiodarone?

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may increase the side effects of amiodarone by increasing the amount of this medicine in your body. You should not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using this medicine. Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor.

Should amiodarone be taken morning or night?

Amiodarone may be given once, twice or three times each day . Your doctor will tell you how often to give it. Once a day : this can be in the morning OR the evening . Twice a day : this should be once in the morning and once in the evening .

How long should I take amiodarone?

This medication must be taken regularly for one to three weeks before a response is seen and for several months before the full effect occurs. Due to the drug’s long half-life, it will remain in your body for up to two months.

What is Amiodarone Cordarone used for?

This medication is used to treat certain types of serious (possibly fatal) irregular heartbeat (such as persistent ventricular fibrillation/tachycardia). It is used to restore normal heart rhythm and maintain a regular, steady heartbeat. Amiodarone is known as an anti-arrhythmic drug.

Can you drink coffee while taking amiodarone?

Notes for Consumers: Side effects from Caffeine may get worse if you take Amiodarone . Too much Caffeine can cause effects like nausea, nervousness, or sleeplessness. You may need to limit your Caffeine intake.

What are the long term side effects of amiodarone?

Amiodarone has been associated with multiple systemic adverse effects, including bradycardia, hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, pulmonary toxicity, ocular deposits, and liver function derangements.

What is the safest antiarrhythmic drug?

Of all antiarrhythmic agents, dofetilide and amiodarone have been proven safe in patients with heart failure.

Is 200 mg of amiodarone a lot?

High doses of Amiodarone , for example 600 mg / day should be given initially to achieve effective tissue levels as rapidly as possible. Owing to the long half-life of the drug, a maintenance dose of only 200 mg / day, or less is usually necessary.

Can amiodarone be stopped suddenly?

Your doctor may decrease your dose during your treatment if you develop side effects. Follow your doctor’s directions carefully. Do not stop taking amiodarone without talking to your doctor. You may need to be closely monitored or even hospitalized when you stop taking amiodarone .

When should you not take amiodarone?

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to amiodarone or iodine, or if you have: a serious heart condition called “AV block” (2nd or 3rd degree), unless you have a pacemaker; a history of slow heartbeats that have caused you to faint; or. if your heart cannot pump blood properly.

Is amiodarone hard on the kidneys?

Amiodarone can interact with simvastatin, atorvastatin, and lovastatin, increasing the risk of severe muscle breakdown and kidney failure or liver disease.

Is there a lawsuit against amiodarone?

A 2015 lawsuit claimed that amiodarone pulmonary toxicity is a known side effect of the drug but patients were not sufficiently warned by the drug manufacturer.

What are the adverse effects of amiodarone?

The most common side effects that can occur with amiodarone oral tablet include: nausea . vomiting. fatigue . tremor . lack of coordination. constipation . insomnia . headache .

Is amiodarone a last resort?

Although amiodarone is the most effective antiarrhythmic agent for maintaining sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation, it is generally used as the drug of the last resort in the United States.

Is amiodarone a good drug?

However, its pronounced antiarrhythmic effects redirected its use and amiodarone has become a widely used class III anti-arrhythmic drug . Compared to other antiarrhythmic drugs , it is more effective in treating both supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias.