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.
Amiodarone 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.
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Get A Second OpinionHow 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.
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Book an AppointmentAmiodarone 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. |
