Cordarone Drug Info
Cordarone Drug Uses: Cordarone is used for many serious arrhythmias of the heart including ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, and atrial flutter.
How to Use Cordarone: Cordarone usually is given in several daily doses to minimize stomach upset which is seen more frequently with higher doses. For this same reason, it is also recommended that amiodarone be taken with meals.
Cordarone Drug Interactions: Cordarone may interact with beta- blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), propranolol (Inderal), metoprolol (Lopressor), or certain calcium-channel blockers, such as verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan, Covera-HS) or diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac), resulting in an excessively slow heart rate or a block in the conduction of the electrical impulse through the heart. Cordarone increases the blood levels of digoxin (Lanoxin) when the two drugs are given together. It is recommended that the dose of digoxin is cut by 50% when amiodarone therapy is started.
Cordarone Possible Side Effects: About 7 out of every 10 patients taking amiodarone will experience some type of side reaction, and between 1 in 20 and 1 in 5 will experience side effects that are severe enough to stop the medication. The most severe side effects of amiodarone therapy are related to the lungs. These reactions can be fatal. (One in 10 of those that develop lung toxicity will die.) Patients should report any symptoms of cough, fever, or painful breathing. Patients with underlying lung disease do not appear to be at increased risk for the development of amiodarone- associated lung toxicity although their prognosis is worse if they do experience these side effects. Although quite rare, fatal liver toxicity has occurred with amiodarone therapy. Liver toxicity may manifest as weight loss, enlarged liver (which physicians can diagnose by feeling the liver in the abdomen), ascites (an accumulation of fluid in the abdomen surrounding the abdominal organs), abdominal pain, loss of appetite, or inflammation of the liver (drug hepatitis). In some cases, amiodarone dosage may be reduced. In other cases, amiodarone therapy may need to be stopped.
Cordarone Overdose: Seek emergency medical attention immediately if an overdose is suspected.
Cordarone Storage: Store Cordarone at room temperature away from moisture and sunlight. Avoid excessive heat. Avoid freezing. Keep out of the reach of children. Dispense of this medicine in a tight, light-resistant container. Do not store Cordarone in the bathroom.
Cordarone Missed Dose: Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Disclaimer: The information found on this website is for informational purposes only. It does not cover all possible uses, procedures, safety measures, side effects, or drug interactions of the products. We are not responsible for the accuracy and reliability of this drug information, or any consequences arising from the use of this information. This is only general information and should not be relied on for any purpose.
|
