Call your doctor at once if you have any of these side effects, even if they occur up to several months after you stop using amiodarone: wheezing, cough, chest pain, cough with bloody mucus, fever; a new or a worsening irregular heartbeat pattern (fast, slow, or pounding heartbeats); a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
Full Answer
How dangerous is amiodarone?
- Bradycardia or slow heartbeat
- Sick sinus syndrome or an abnormal heart rhythm but are not treating it with a pacemaker- amiodarone is not recommended for patients with this condition
- Heart disease such as congestive heart failure
- Hypokalemia or low potassium in your blood
- Hypotension or low blood pressure
Is amiodarone a dangerous drug?
The FDA has made it clear that this drug should only be prescribed for life-threatening heart rhythm abnormalities such as recurrent ventricular fibrillation. Amiodarone side effects can be life threatening. The drug can cause serious lung toxicity. It can also harm the liver and the thyroid gland.
Does amiodarone cause weight gain?
Weight increased is found among people who take Amiodarone hydrochloride, especially for people who are male, 60+ old, have been taking the drug for 1 - 6 months. The phase IV clinical study analyzes which people take Amiodarone hydrochloride and have Weight increased.
Can I stop taking amiodarone?
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. Amiodarone may remain in your body for some time after you stop taking it, so your doctor will watch you carefully during this time. Click to see full answer.
What are the side effects of stopping amiodarone?
In older reports, tremor and ataxia with encephalopathy and neuropathy were the commonest reason for the withdrawal of amiodarone [ 4 ], and central and peripheral nervous system neuro-toxicity were described commonly [ 5 ].
Can you stop amiodarone suddenly?
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. Amiodarone may remain in your body for some time after you stop taking it, so your doctor will watch you carefully during this time.
How long does it take for amiodarone to wear off?
Amiodarone has a very long half-life (this is the time it takes for 50% of a dose of amiodarone to be eliminated by the body) of 15 to 142 days. It also has an active metabolite, desethylamiodarone that has a half-life of 75 days.
How is amiodarone cleared from the body?
Amiodarone is eliminated primarily by hepatic metabolism and biliary excretion and there is negligible excretion of amiodarone or DEA in urine. Neither amiodarone nor DEA is dialyzable.
Do you take amiodarone for life?
Treatment with amiodarone is usually long-term unless you experience an adverse effect. You should continue to take it unless you are advised otherwise by your doctor. If you are having an operation or any medical/dental treatment, remember to tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking amiodarone.
Is there a better drug than amiodarone?
Dronedarone has been viewed as a potential therapeutic alternative for amiodarone because of a lower risk for pulmonary, thyroid, and dermatologic adverse effects. Compared with amiodarone, dronedarone has poor bioavailability and a shorter terminal disposition half-life, which dictates a twice-daily dosing regimen.
What organs does amiodarone affect?
Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic medication that can adversely effect various organs including lungs, thyroid gland, liver, eyes, skin, and nerves.
Does amiodarone stop AFIB?
The drug prevents the recurrence of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and produces a modest reduction of sudden deaths in high-risk patients. Amiodarone is more effective than sotalol or propafenone in preventing recurrent atrial fibrillation in patients for whom a rhythm-control strategy is chosen.
Is 200 mg of amiodarone a lot?
Low-dose amiodarone (100-300 mg per day) is effective for a wide variety of ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias, including as part of a rhythm control strategy for patients with atrial fibrillation, especially when structural heart disease is present.
What drugs should not be taken with amiodarone?
Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.Bepridil.Cisapride.Colchicine.Dronedarone.Fingolimod.Fluconazole.Grepafloxacin.Indinavir.More items...
Does amiodarone make you gain weight?
Amiodarone (Pacerone) can cause weight gain. One of the possible side effects of this medication is low thyroid function, which can cause you to gain weight due to body fat.
When should you hold amiodarone?
If liver enzyme levels are three times higher than normal, amiodarone should be discontinued unless a patient is at high risk for recurrence of life-threatening arrhythmia.
When should I stop amiodarone after cardioversion?
Amiodarone is usually recommended for 6 weeks but may be extended to up to 12 months following cardioversion. It may also be used for selected patients as pre-treatment if undergoing cardioversion or ablation.
Can you cut amiodarone in half?
Take this medicine by mouth • Swallow the tablets whole. Do not crush or chew your tablets • If you feel the effect of your medicine is too weak or too strong, do not change the dose yourself, but ask your doctor.
Is 200 mg of amiodarone a lot?
Low-dose amiodarone (100-300 mg per day) is effective for a wide variety of ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias, including as part of a rhythm control strategy for patients with atrial fibrillation, especially when structural heart disease is present.
Answers
It would be totally wrong for us to comment on whether you can stop taking amiodarone. If your doctor is unsure, perhaps you should make an appointment with a cardiologist and ask. But please don't discontinue it without any advise or without being monitored frequently, once you stop taking it.
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How should i go off of amiodarone?
Quickly.: If you have been recommended to stop amiodarone, there is no need for a "wean" or for a taper . You can stop the drug suddenly. It has a very long h... Read More
How does amiodarone work?
Multiple effects: Amiodarone is primarily a class iii anti-arrhythmic agent. It prolongs the depolarization phase of cardiac muscle--the muscle takes longer to reset af ... Read More
What are some alternatives to amiodarone?
Slow Down There: Antiarrhythmics are, as a rule, complicated drugs with a lot of side effects and a ton of potential contraindications. They are not easily interchange... Read More
How many days is amiodarone drip good for?
Amiodarone : We generally give an IV loading dose and then switch either to PO or a small IV maintainence dose as amiodarone is a long half time drug. You can use ... Read More
Is amiodarone a class L antiarhytmic?
All the same: All drugs in this group called class lll antiarhytmics including amiodarone have potentially serious side effects that can be life threatening. Amioda... Read More
Can you take other medicines?
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal (eg, St. John's wort) or vitamin supplements.
Can QT prolongation cause fainting?
This medicine can cause changes in your heart rhythm, such as a condition called QT prolongation. It may cause fainting or serious side effects in some patients. Contact your doctor right away if you have any symptoms of heart rhythm problems, such as a fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat.
Can you stop taking amiodarone before surgery?
You may need to stop using this medicine several days before having surgery or medical tests. Amiodarone increases the sensitivity of your skin to sunlight. Too much sun exposure could cause a serious sunburn. Your skin may continue to be sensitive to sunlight for several months after treatment is stopped.
Does grapefruit juice affect amiodarone?
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may increase the side effects of amiodarone by increasing the amount of this medicine in your body.
How long does it take to withdraw from amiodarone?
withdrawal amiodarone afer at least 6 months of sinus rhythm maintenance on amiodarone therapy. Drug: withdrawal or continuation of amiodarone therapy. withdrawal or continuation of amiodarone therapy after at least 6 months sinus rhythm maintenance on amiodarone therapy. Active Comparator: continuation amiodarone.
Is amiodarone an antiarrhythmic?
Brief Summary: Amiodarone is considered to be the most effective antiarrhythmic drug in the pre vention of persistent atrial fibrillation. It can however cause many adverse events, both cardiac and non-cardiac. Long-term maintenance of sinus rhythm after cardioversion is difficult especially because of high recurrence rates during ...
How long can you use amiodarone after surgery?
Some clinicians advocate only in-hospital use of amiodarone until cardioversion, whereas others continue its use for several weeks following cardiac surgery. Inadvertent long-term administration of the drug could be harmful. This study assessed the risk of AF recurrence under 2 different regimens of amiodarone treatment.
Is amiodarone effective for AF?
Long-term treatment of patients with amiodarone should be reconsidered, because it may not be as effective as previously thought in preventing symptoms and AF recurrence. The surprising incidence of neurologic events requires further investigation.
Does stopping amiodarone after cardiac surgery increase the risk of recurrence?
Does stopping amiodarone after successfully treating atrial fibrillation occurring after cardiac surgery increase the risk of recurrence? Long-term treatment of patients with amiodarone should be reconsidered, because it may not be as effective as previously thought in preventing symptoms and AF recurrence.
What to do before taking Amiodarone?
Periodic blood work will need to be done to test your liver and thyroid function. You may also be asked to perform a breathing test to measure your pulmonary (lung) function.
How long does a syringe stay in your system?
Due to the drug’s long half-life, it will remain in your body for up to two months.
How to monitor your response to a med?
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory so that your response to this medication can be monitored. Blood tests, electrocardiograms (EKGs) and chest X-rays may be performed periodically. Your dosage may need to be adjusted (or the drug may be stopped temporarily), depending on your response.
Does amiodarone come in tablets?
Amiodarone comes in tablets. Your prescription label tells you how much to take at each dose. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
Does caffeine affect amiodarone?
Cigarettes and beverages that contain caffeine may increase the irritability of your heart and interfere with the action of amiodarone. Always have enough of this medication on hand. Check your supply before vacations, holidays, and other times when you may be unable to get more medication.
Can amiodarone burn your skin?
If are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you plan to become pregnant. This medication can make your skin more sensitive than usual to sunlight and sunlamps, which could cause a serious burn. This effect may continue for weeks or months after you stop taking amiodarone.
Can you take expired medications?
Never take outdated medications. Some medication prescription labels list an expiration date. If such a date is not on your medication label or if you are unsure how old a medication is, call your pharmacy.