What are the symptoms of amiodarone toxicity?

The clinical presentation of amiodarone pulmonary toxicity is very nonspecific. Common symptoms are shortness of breath, dry cough, fever, respiratory distress, and fatigue; sometimes it can mimic acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Which of the following side effects may be expected during amiodarone infusion?

Common side effects of Cordarone IV (amiodarone hydrochloride) include:

low blood pressure (hypotension),
slow heart rate,
cardiac arrest,
nausea,
fever,
congestive heart failure,
abnormal heart rhythm,
cardiogenic shock, and.

What are the long term side effects of amiodarone?

Amiodarone has been associated with multiple systemic adverse effects, including bradycardia, hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, pulmonary toxicity, ocular deposits, and liver function derangements.

Does amiodarone cause bradycardia?

Intravenously administered amiodarone causes heart block or bradycardia in 4.9 percent of patients and hypotension in 16 percent. 2 If these conditions occur, infusion of the drug should be discontinued, or the rate of infusion should be reduced.

Why is amiodarone so bad?

HEART: Amiodarone can cause slow heart rhythm disorders such as slowing of the sinus rate and AV block. You may feel fatigued, lethargic, have poor exercise tolerance, and may experience dizziness and fainting.

How long should you stay on amiodarone?

This medication must be taken regularly for one to three weeks before a response is seen and for several months before the full effect occurs. Due to the drug’s long half-life, it will remain in your body for up to two months. How should it be used? Amiodarone comes in tablets.

Can amiodarone be stopped suddenly?

Your doctor may decrease your dose during your treatment if you develop side effects. Follow your doctor’s directions carefully. Do not stop taking amiodarone without talking to your doctor. You may need to be closely monitored or even hospitalized when you stop taking amiodarone.

When should you not take amiodarone?

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to amiodarone or iodine, or 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.

Is there a lawsuit against amiodarone?

Personal injury lawsuits have been filed against Zydus and Wyeth on behalf of patients who were seriously or fatally injured after taking Amiodarone. A class action lawsuit was also filed against Wyeth and other companies that manufactured Amiodarone.

Is amiodarone a last resort?

Although amiodarone is the most effective antiarrhythmic agent for maintaining sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation, it is generally used as the drug of the last resort in the United States.

What drug can replace amiodarone?

Multaq® (dronedarone) is a new drug for atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter that is a potential replacement for amiodarone.

How dangerous a drug is amiodarone?

Amiodarone may cause a condition that affects the heart rhythm (QT prolongation). QT prolongation can rarely cause serious (rarely fatal) fast/irregular heartbeat and other symptoms (such as severe dizziness, fainting) that need medical attention right away.

What should I avoid while taking amiodarone?

Amiodarone may be taken with or without food but should be taken at the same way each time. You should avoid consuming grapefruits and grapefruit juice while taking amiodarone. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

What happens if you stop taking amiodarone?

In rare cases, patients who have taken amiodarone for long periods of time and in higher doses may begin to see yellowish halos due to a build-up of small bodies of fat on the eye, known as corneal microdeposits. This side effect reportedly goes away roughly seven months after stopping amiodarone.

Which are the safer alternatives to amiodarone?

Dronedarone has been viewed as a potential therapeutic alternative for amiodarone because of a lower risk for pulmonary, thyroid, and dermatologic adverse effects. Compared with amiodarone, dronedarone has poor bioavailability and a shorter terminal disposition half-life, which dictates a twice-daily dosing regimen.

What are the symptoms of amiodarone toxicity? The clinical presentation of amiodarone pulmonary toxicity is very nonspecific. Common symptoms are shortness of breath, dry cough, fever, respiratory distress, and fatigue; sometimes it can mimic acute respiratory distress syndrome. Which of the following side effects may be expected during amiodarone infusion? Common side effects of Cordarone…