plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight or sunlamps and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Amiodarone may make your skin sensitive to sunlight. Exposed skin may turn blue-gray and may not return to normal even after you stop taking this medication.
What is a life threatening risk associated with the use of amiodarone?
Amiodarone should only be used if you have a life threatening arrhythmia or irregular heart rate. This medication has the risk of serious side effects. These include serious lung problems, liver problems, and a worsening of your irregular heart rate. These problems can be fatal.
What should be monitored when taking amiodarone?
Patients treated with amiodarone should be followed regularly to assess ongoing need for amiodarone, efficacy of the drug, appropriateness of dosage, adverse effects, and potential drug interactions.
What is the black box warning for amiodarone?
The black box warning indicated that amiodarone should only be administered in a controlled hospital setting and that the patient should be strictly monitored during a limited course of treatment.
When should you not give amiodarone?
You should not use amiodarone 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.
What is amiodarone toxicity?
The three main complications of long-term amiodarone use are pulmonary toxicity, thyroid disease and liver toxicity. Pulmonary toxicity progresses slowly in the setting of amiodarone use, may be subtle initially and is the most common cause of death related to amiodarone therapy.
Does amiodarone affect heart rate?
Amiodarone produced a lower heart rate than placebo at all exercise levels (p<0.0001 for all). VO2 was similar in both groups whereas O2 pulse was higher in the amiodarone group at all exercise levels.
Does amiodarone affect potassium?
Amiodarone has multiple effects on myocardial depolarization and repolarization that make it an extremely effective antiarrhythmic drug. Its primary effect is to block the potassium channels, but it can also block sodium and calcium channels and the beta and alpha adrenergic receptors.
Can amiodarone raise BP?
In addition to being an antiarrhythmic medication, amiodarone also causes blood vessels to dilate (enlarge). This effect can result in a drop in blood pressure. Because of this effect, it also may be of benefit in patients with congestive heart failure.
Does amiodarone affect pulse rate?
What is amiodarone used for in an emergency?
Amiodarone is one of the most common anti-arrhythmic drugs used in the Emergency Department. Recent guidelines on cardiac arrest with shockable rhythm [refractory ventricular fibrillation (VF)/pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT)] recommend amiodarone as anti-arrhythmic of first choice.
What are the side effects of amiodarone for heart disease?
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. Amiodarone can cause dangerous side effects on your heart, liver, lungs, or thyroid.
How does amiodarone interact with other medications or foods?
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with amiodarone and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products while taking this medicine. Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Amiodarone can make you sunburn more easily.
How is amiodarone excreted 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. In clinical studies of 2 to 7 days, clearance of amiodarone after intravenous administration in patients with VT and VF ranged between 220 and 440 ml/hr/kg.
What should I avoid while taking St John’s Wort and amiodarone?
Avoid taking an herbal supplement containing St. John’s wort. Amiodarone could make you sunburn more easily. Avoid sunlight or tanning beds. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.
