Amiodarone is a prescription drug that belongs to a class of drugs called arrhythmic medications. As an arrhythmic medication, amidarone works to prevent and treat abnormal and irregular heartbeats. Amidarone is available as an oral tablet under the brand name drug Pacerone. In the following article, we discuss the brand name, uses, dosage, side effects, warnings, and interactions of amiodarone. Read on to learn more about this arrhythmic medication.
What is Amiodarone?
Amiodarone is a medication which belongs to class III of arrhythmic medications. It belongs to a group of medications called antiarrhythmics. Antiarrhythmics are used to prevent and treat abnormal heartbeats. Amiodarone can be taken orally or through injection to prevent serious heart conditions such as cardiac arrest.
Amiodarone Brand Name
Amiodarone is available as an oral tablet as the brand name drug Pacerone. It is also available as a generic drug.
Amiodarone Mechanism Of Action
Amiodarone inhibits the heart’s ability to respond to electric signals which can lead to irregular heartbeat. It slows down nerve activity in the heart and relaxes overactive heart muscles.
Amiodarone Uses
Amiodarone is used to treat serious heart related conditions including fast and irregular heartbeat.
Amiodarone Dosage
Amiodarone is available as an oral tablet at strengths of 100mg, 200mg, and 400mg. It is also available as an injectable solution at strengths of 50mg/mL, 150mg/mL, and 300mg/mL. Your dosage for amiodarone can vary depending on many factors, including the following:
- Your age
- Your weight
- Strength of dosage
- Severity of condition
Amiodarone Dosage For Ventricular Arrhythmias
Oral: 800mg-1600mg orally once a day for 1-3 weeks.
Intravenous (IV): 150 mg over first 10 min (15mg/min), followed by 360 mg over next 6 hours (1 mg/min), THEN 540 mg over the remaining 18 hours (0.5 mg/min), for a total of 1000 mg over 24 hours before administering maintenance infusion
Amiodarone Dosage For Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
Intravenous: 150 mg intravenous in 10 minutes; may repeat every 10 minutes as necessary. Then, 1 mg/min IV for 6 hours. Then, 0.5 mg/min IV for 18 hours; Dosage should not exceed 2.2 g/24 hours.
Side Effects Of Amiodarone
Amiodarone does have some associated side effects. Some side effects are more serious and less common than others.
Common Side Effects
The common side effects of amiodarone include the following:
- Headache
- Constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Decreased sex drive
- Flushing
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Difficulty staying asleep
- Changes in taste and smell
- Changes in amount of saliva
If these side effects are mild, they may disappear within a few days. If you have stopped taking your medication and the effects are still present, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Serious Side Effects
If you are experiencing any of the following serious side effects of amiodarone, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately. Call 911 if you think your symptoms are life threatening.
- Rash
- Restlessness
- Significant weight gain
- Excessive sweating
- Thinning hair
- Intolerance to heat or cold
- Uncontrollable shaking
- Changes in menstrual cycle
- Decreased concentration
- Poor conditioning
- Trouble walking
Disclaimer: Here at Manifest Pharmacy, our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible side effects. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always discuss possible side effects with a healthcare professional who knows your medical history.
Amiodarone Warnings
Amiodarone can cause changes in heart rhythm, sometimes resulting in a serious condition called QT prolongation. This may cause fainting or heart attack in some patients. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any symptoms of heart rhythm problems, such as increased pounding of the heart or irregular heartbeat.
In rare cases, amiodarone can contribute to serious liver problems. Talk to your doctor immediately if you experience pain in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, yellow eyes, nausea or vomiting.
Interactions of Amiodarone
Amiodarone may inhibit the removal of other medications from your body. This can affect how other medications work. Affected drugs may include macitentan, phenytoin, "statin" drugs such as atorvastatin and lovastatin, trazodone, warfarin.
Amiodarone Dosage, Side Effects, Brand Name, Uses & Warnings Summary
Amidarone is a prescription drug that belongs to a class of drugs called arrhythmic medications. As an arrhythmic medication, amidarone works to prevent and treat abnormal and irregular heartbeats. Amidarone is available as an oral tablet under the brand name drug Pacerone.
