What is Amiodarone?
Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic medication that is used for treating and preventing irregular heartbeats. This includes ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, wide complex tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.
Secure your health with a second opinion. Make informed decisions and book your appointment today!
Get A Second OpinionAmiodarone Uses
- This medication is used for treating serious irregular heartbeats (such as persistent ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia)
- This medication helps restore and maintain normal heart rhythm by blocking specific irregular electrical signals in the heart.
Amiodarone Side Effects
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Tremor
- Lack of coordination
- Constipation
- Insomnia
- Headache
- Stomach pain
- Uncontrollable or unusual movements of the body
- Rash
- Weight loss or gain
- Restlessness
- Weakness
- Nervousness
Precautions while taking Amiodarone
- Before starting treatment, tell your healthcare provider or pharmacist any sensitivities you may have to amiodarone, iodine, or other substances. This is due to inactive components that can cause serious allergic responses.
- Tell your doctor about all of your medical history before starting any medicine, particularly liver disease, lung disease, or thyroid issues,
- Amiodarone is linked to QT prolongation, a heart rhythm issue that can lead to serious symptoms like rapid or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, or fainting, necessitating prompt medical attention.
- Consult your doctor on safe amiodarone use, especially if you have low potassium or magnesium levels, or if you take specific medications or experience conditions like excessive sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting.
- Older adults may experience heightened side effects, particularly QT prolongation and thyroid problems, from this medication.
- Pregnant women should avoid taking amiodarone unless absolutely necessary. Discuss potential risks and benefits with your doctor, who may recommend alternative treatments based on your health condition.
- Exercise caution when breastfeeding, as amiodarone can pass into breast milk and potentially harm the newborn. Discuss the risks with your doctor before starting the medication.
How to use Amiodarone?
- Consult your pharmacist's Medication Guide before starting or continuing medication.
- Take one or two doses orally as directed, with or without food.
- Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice unless instructed otherwise by your physician, as they can increase medication concentration.
- Dosage is determined by your health condition and response to therapy.
- Follow your doctor's instructions closely and do not change the dosage without consulting them.
Dosage of Amiodarone
- Missed Dose: If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, do not take a double dose to make up for the missed one. Simply continue with your regular dosing schedule.
- Overdose: Overdose of a drug can be accidental. If you have taken more than the prescribed tablets there is a chance of getting a harmful effect on your body’s functions.
- Storage : Keep medicine away from heat, air, and light to prevent potential harm. Store it in a secure location out of children's reach.
Amiodarone vs Metoprolol
| Amiodarone | Metoprolol |
|---|---|
| Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic medication that is used for treating and preventing a variety of irregular heartbeats | Metoprolol belongs to the beta-blocker class of medications. The brand name is Lopressor; it is a selective 1 receptor blocker. |
| It is used to treat and prevent certain types of severe, potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmias. | It is used to treat high blood pressure, chest pain caused by poor blood flow to the heart, and a variety of conditions characterized by an abnormally fast heart rate |
| Amiodarone mainly works by inhibiting potassium rectifier currents, which lead to heart repolarization during phase 3 of the cardiac action potential. | It improves blood flow and lowers blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels and slowing heart rate. |
Ready to take control of your health journey? Book your appointment now and start your path towards wellness today!
Book an AppointmentFrequently Asked Questions
It is used to treat and prevent certain types of serious, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias (a type of abnormal heart rhythm) when other medications have failed to help or have been tolerated. Amiodarone belongs to the antiarrhythmic medication class.
It causes blood vessels to dilate (enlarge). Blood pressure may fall as a result of this effect. As a result of this effect, it may also be beneficial in patients with congestive heart failure.
This medication must be taken on a consistent basis for one to three weeks before a response is seen, and for several months before the full effect is felt. Because of the drug's long half-life, it can stay in your system for up to two months
It should be used only if you have a potentially fatal arrhythmia or irregular heart rate. This medication may cause serious side effects. These include serious lung issues, liver issues, and a worsening of your irregular heart rate.
It has been linked to a number of systemic side effects, including bradycardia, hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, pulmonary toxicity, ocular deposits, and liver function abnormalities.
It can interact with statins such as simvastatin, atorvastatin, and lovastatin, increasing the risk of severe muscle breakdown, kidney failure, or liver disease.
If you are allergic to this medicine or iodine, or if you have any kind of serious heart condition called AV block (2nd or 3rd degree), unless you have a pacemaker; a history of fainting, or if your heart cannot pump blood properly, you should not use this medicine.
Due to the health risks of untreated arrhythmias, patients should not discontinue amiodarone, a heart medication, without doctor supervision.
The treatment is associated with an increased risk of stroke in patients with AF, particularly in those who had a low risk of stroke at the start. Antiplatelet drugs and warfarin may reduce the risk of stroke in amiodarone-treated patients.
The lowest dose of Amiodarone typically starts at 100 mg per day, with adjustments based on individual patient response and condition severity. Always consult with a healthcare professional for personalised dosage recommendations.
