Do not use amiodarone
If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to amiodarone or any of the other ingredients of the medicinal product prescribed to you. If you think may be allergic, ask your doctor.
Allergy symptoms may include:
- Asthma attacks with shortness of breath, audible wheezing or rapid breathing.
- More or less sudden swelling of the face, lips, tongue or elsewhere in the body. It is especially critical if it affects the vocal cords.
- Hives, itching, rash
- Anaphylactic shock (loss of consciousness, paleness, sweating, etc.).
Nor you should take this medicine if:
- You have a low heartbeat, or other rhythm disturbances or from cardiac conduction.
- You suffer from any disease related to the thyroid gland.
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- You are taking medications that can produce torsades de pointes (A serious heart rhythm disorder).
Take special care with amiodarone
In a case of occurrence of unusual shortness of breath (breathlessness), cough, fatigue or prolonged fever or unexplained, diarrhea, weight loss or in a case of recurrence a very fast heart rate, consult your doctor.
The decrease in heart rate may be more pronounced in elderly patients.
The drug amiodarone can produce ECG changes that do not reflect toxicity.
There are cases in which new arrhythmias or worsening episodes of treated arrhythmias (including fatal cases) can occur. This usually happens when associated with other drugs or electrolyte disturbances (such as changes in blood levels of calcium). In these cases, your doctor will assess the withdrawal of treatment with this medicine.
Your doctor will reduce or will stop treatment with amiodarone if your level of liver enzymes (transaminases) exceeds three times the normal value. This is due to a severe liver disorder.
Neuromuscular disorders, which usually disappear after withdrawing the drug, may occur.
Consult your doctor if vision changes appear, such as blurred vision, decreased visual acuity, a perception of colored halos, foggy feeling.
If any of these problems appears, you will need to undergo a complete eye examination.
Before starting treatment, your doctor may order tests: complete clinical examination, determination of thyroid function, liver enzymes, serum potassium, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram.
During treatment, your doctor may indicate to monitor thyroid and liver function every 6 months. In addition, pulmonary function tests, chest radiography, electrocardiography or ophthalmological examination will be made if it appears or you suffers worsening symptoms.
If you are having surgery or will be treated with anesthetics, you should inform your doctor that you are taking amiodarone.
Avoid exposure of the skin to sun or sunlamps throughout treatment and take appropriate protective measures.
Before starting treatment with amiodarone, if blood potassium levels are low, these must be corrected.
Injectable amiodarone should be used only in specialized hospitals and with an ongoing monitoring (electrocardiogram, blood pressure, etc.).
IV administration (direct) should be limited to emergency situations when other treatment options fail.
If in doubt, consult your doctor.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including herbal products or drugs obtained without a prescription.
This medicine may alter your response to other medicines; therefore, you should tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicine, including those obtained without a prescription. Your doctor will decide which medication should stop or if the dose should be modified.
It is contraindicated treatment associated with drugs that may induce "torsades de pointes" (serious heart rhythm problems):
- Class Ia antiarrhythmic drugs (quinidine, hydroquinidine, disopyramide), sotalol, bepridil.
- No antiarrhythmic drugs like vincamine, some neuroleptic drugs (such as chlorpromazine, levomepromazine, thioridazine, trifluoperazine, haloperidol, amisulpride, sulpiride, tiapride, pimozide), cisapride, intravenous erythromycin, pentamidine (when administered parenterally).
It is not recommended the joint use of the following drugs:
- Other drugs that may cause arrhythmia (phenothiazines, tricyclic antidepressants).
- Beta-blockers and inhibitors of calcium channels that decrease heart rate (verapamil, diltiazem).
- stimulant laxatives that can decrease blood levels of calcium.
- fluoroquinolones.
It should be especially careful when amiodarone is combined with the following drugs:
- Drugs that can decrease blood levels of calcium (diuretics which can decrease potassium levels, alone or in combination, corticosteroids, tetracosactide, amphotericin B intravenously).
- Oral anticoagulants (acenocoumarol, warfarin) because it increases the risk of bleeding.
- Digitalis, phenytoin, flecainide, cyclosporine, fentanyl, lidocaine, tacrolimus, sildenafil, midazolam, triazolam, dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, simvastatin and other statins, since may appears an increase in blood levels of these drugs.
Amiodarone contains iodine which can interfere with iodine marked uptake . However, thyroid tests (free T3, free T4, and TSH) remain interpretable.
Special physiological situations
Pregnancy and lactation
always consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine during pregnancy or lactation.
Pregnancy
In the case of pregnancy, you should not take amiodarone because it affects the thyroid gland of the fetus. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.
Lactation
If you are breastfeeding your child, do not take this medicine because it is excreted in breast milk.
Do not stop treatment with amiodarone without consulting it with your doctor.
Children:
Have not been established the safety and efficacy of amiodarone in pediatric patients, so if given, should be undertaken with caution.
Driving and using machines
There is no specific information indicating that amiodarone affects the patient's ability to drive and use machines.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine.
Like all medicines, amiodarone can cause side effects although not everybody gets them.
The frequency of side effects is classified into:
Very common: affect 1 out of 1-10 patients
Common: affect 1 out of 10-100 patients
Uncommon: affect 1 out of 100-1.000 patients
Rare: affect 1 out of 1.000-10.000 patients
Very Rare: affect less than 1 in 10,000 patients
Incidence not known: Can not be established the true incidence from the available data
Hematologic side effects:
Very rare side effects: Anemia, lack of development of the bone (bone marrow aplasia, reduction in the number of platelets (thrombocytopenia).
Cardiac side effects:
Common side effects: weak heart rate (bradycardia) moderately.
Uncommon side effects: Onset or worsening of changes in heart rhythm (arrhythmia). Disorders of conduction of electrical heart impulse
Very rare side effects: weak heart rate (bradycardia) or even sinus arrest, especially in elderly.
Endocrine side effects:
Common side effects: Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
Very rare side effects: Increased blood creatinine. Disorders of antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
Ocular side effects:
Very common side effects: Perception of color halos to a very intense light or blurred vision decreased vision. These disturbances may disappear when the treatment is withdrawn.
Very rare side effects: Inflammation of the optic nerve (optic neuritis) which can progress to blindness.
Gastrointestinal side effects:
Very common side effects: Nausea, vomiting, altered taste (dysgeusia), which usually disappear by reducing the dose.
Hepatobiliary side effects:
Very common side effects: Moderate increase in transaminases, which is normalized by reducing the dose or spontaneously.
Common side effects: Acute liver disorders with increased blood transaminases and/or jaundice (yellowing of the skin). Liver failure.
Very rare side effects: chronic liver disorders.
immunological side effects:
It can cause sudden swelling due to the accumulation of fluid under the skin (angioedema).
Other side effects:
Very rare side effects: Increased blood creatinine.
Neurologic side effects:
Common side effects: tremor, nightmares, sleep disturbances.
Uncommon side effects: A loss of sensibility in the extremities (peripheral neuropathy) and/or muscle disorders (myopathies), that disappear when treatment is stopped.
Very rare side effects: Disturbances of voluntary movements (ataxia), benign intracranial hypertension, headache.
Genital side effects:
Very rare side effects: testicular inflammation, erectile dysfunction.
Respiratory side effects:
Common side effects: Pulmonary toxicity.
Very rare side effects: Contraction of bronchial muscles (bronchospasm) in patients with severe respiratory failure and asthmatic patients. Acute respiratory distress syndrome in adults, usually after surgery. It can also occur pulmonary hemorrhage.
Skin side effects:
Very common side effects: Sensitivity to light (photosensitivity).
Common side effects: Spots on the skin gray or lilac when high doses are taken for a long time. Upon cessation of treatment, the spots disappear albeit slowly.
Very rare side effects: Spots on the skin (erythema) when associated with radiotherapy. Rashes.
Skin inflammation (dermatitis). Hair loss (alopecia).
Vascular side effects:
Very rare side effects:
Inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis).
The occurrence of adverse reactions with amiodarone is common, particularly cardiac, pulmonary and hepatic adverse effects. Sometimes these events are related to dose and reversed after reduction .
This list does not include all adverse reactions associated with the use of amiodarone, both well established as those that are under consideration or confirmation. In case you feel unwell, should immediately consult with the doctor who prescribed this medicine.
If you notice any side effects not listed in this website or in the leaflet accompanying the package, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If any of the side effects gets serious, tell your doctor or pharmacist.
This page contains list of brands of authorized pharmaceutical specialties of the active principle amiodarone in the countries listed below:
[ Australia] [ Brazil] [ Canada] [ France] [ Germany] [ India] [ Italy] [ Japan] [ Mexico] [ Pakistan] [ Puerto Rico] [ Spain] [ Turkey] [ United Kingdom] [ U.S.A]
Given the nature of the pharmaceutical market, some specialties may be unavailable, have been removed from the pharmaceutical market or have changed its name. So that, in no case can take decisions based on the information contained in the page. MEDIZZINE is not responsible for any damage arising from the information provided, which may be incomplete or outdated.
Warning:
With exceptions expressly indicated, these lists do not include active principle associations with other drugs or clinical use containers.
Australia: ▲
AMIODARONE ACTAVIS 100 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE ACTAVIS 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE ALPHAPHARM 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE WINTHROP IV 150 mg/3 mL, injectable solution
AMIODARONE WINTHROP 100 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE WINTHROP 200 mg, tablets
RITHMIK 200 mg, tablets
TERRY WHITE CHEMISTS AMIODARON 200 mg, tablets
CHEMMART AMIODARONE 200 mg, tablets
GENRX AMIODARONE 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE SANDOZ 100 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE SANDOZ 200 mg, tablets
AAMIODARONE ALPHAPHARM 100 mg, tablets
AAMIODARONE ALPHAPHARM 200 mg, tablets
ARATAC 100 mg, tablets
ARATAC 200 mg, tablets
CORDARONE X 100 mg, tablets
CORDARONE X 200 mg, tablets
CORDARONE X IV 150 mg/3 mL injectable solution
Brazil: ▲
AMIOBAL 100 mg, 30 tablets
AMIOBAL 200 mg, 30 tablets
AMIORON 200 mg, 20 tablets
ANCORON 100 mg, 20 tablets
ANCORON 200 mg, 20 tablets
ANCORON 200 mg/ml, 30 ml oral drops
ANCORON 50 mg/ml, oral solution
ATLANSIL 100 mg, 20 tablets
ATLANSIL 50 mg/ml, oral solution
ATLANSIL 200 mg, 20 tablets
CARDICORON 100 mg, 20 tablets
CARDICORON 200 mg, 20 tablets
AMIODARONA RANBAXY 100 mg, 20 tablets
AMIODARONA RANBAXY 200 mg, 20 & 30 tablets
AMIODARONA SANOFI-AVENTIS 100 mg, 20 tablets
AMIODARONA SANOFI-AVENTIS 200 mg, 20 tablets
COR MIO 200 mg, 20 & 30 tablets
MIOCOR 200 mg, 20 tablets
MIODAREN 200 mg, 20 tablets
MIODARID 200 mg, 20 tablets
MIODARON 200 mg, 20 tablets
MIODON 100 mg, 30 tablets
MIODON 200 mg, 30 tablets
MIODON 50 mg/ml, oral solution
Canada: ▲
AMIODARONE HOSPIRA 50 mg/ml, injectable solution
AMIODARONE PHARMACEUTICAL PARTNERS 50 mg/ml, injectable solution
AMIODARONE SANDOZ 50 mg/ml, injectable solution
AMIODARONE SANIS HEALTH 200 mg, 100 tablets
AMIODARONE SORRES PHARMA 200 mg, 100 tablets
AMIODARONE TEVA 50 mg/ml, injectable solution
APO-AMIODARONE 200 mg, 30 & 100 tablets
AVA-AMIODARONE 200 mg, 100 tablets
CORDARONE 200 mg, 100 tablets
DOM-AMIODARONE 200 mg, 100 tablets
MYLAN-AMIODARONE 200 mg, 100 tablets
PHL-AMIODARONE 200 mg, 100 tablets
PMS-AMIODARONE 100 mg, 100 tablets
PMS-AMIODARONE 200 mg, 100 tablets
PRO-AMIODARONE 200 mg, 30 & 100 tablets
RATIO-AMIODARONE 200 mg, 50 & 100 tablets
RIVA-AMIODARONE 200 mg, tablets
SANDOZ AMIODARONE 200 mg, 50 & 100 tablets
TEVA-AMIODARONE 200 mg, 100 tablets
France: ▲
AMIODARONE ACTAVIS 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE AGUETTANT 50 mg/ml, injectable solution (I.V.)
AMIODARONE ALMUS 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE ALTER 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE ARROW 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE BIOGARAN 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE CRISTERS 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE EG 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE ISOMED 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE MYLAN 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE QUALIMED 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE RANBAXY 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE RATIOPHARM 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE SANDOZ 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE TEVA 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE ZENTIVA 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE ZYDUS 200 mg, tablets
CORDARONE 200 mg, tablets
CORDARONE 150 mg/3 ml, solution injectable (IV)
Germany: ▲
AMIODARON 1A PHARMA 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARON AL 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARON BETA 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARON CARINO 150 mg/3 ml, injectable solution
AMIODARON STRAGEN 50 mg/ml, injectable solution
AMIODARON HEUMANN 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARON HEUMANN HEUNET 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARON HIKMA 50 mg/ml, injectable solution
AMIODARON SANDOZ 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARON STADA 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARON WINTHROP 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARON-CT 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARON-KAMELN 50 mg/ml, injectable solution
AMIODARON-RATIOPHARM 100 mg, tablets
AMIODARON-RATIOPHARM 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARON-RATIOPHARM 150 mg/3 ml, injectable solution
AMIODURA 200 mg, tablets
AMIOGAMMA 200 mg, tablets
AMIOHEXA 200 mg, tablets
CORDAREX 150 mg/3 ml, injectable solution
CORDAREX 200 mg, tablets
CORDARONE ACA 200 mg, tablets
CORDARONE AXICORP 200 mg, tablets
CORDARONE CC PHARMA 200 mg, tablets
CORDARONE EMRA 200 mg, tablets
CORDARONE EMRA 150 mg/3 ml, injectable solution
CORDARONE EURIM 200 mg, tablets
CORDARONE KOHLPHARMA 200 mg, tablets
CORDARONE KOHLPHARMA 150 mg/3 ml, injectable solution
India: ▲
ALDARONE 50 mg/mL, injectable solution
AMIODAR 100 mg, tablets
AMIODAR 250 mg, tablets
AMIODON 150 mg/3 ml, injectable solution
AMIPACE 100 mg, tablets
AMIPACE 200 mg, tablets
BIODARON 200 mg, tablets
CARDASOL 150 mg/3 ml, injectable solution
CARDICHEK 150 mg/3 ml, injectable solution
CORDARONE 100 mg, tablets
CORDARONE 200 mg, tablets
CORDARONE 150 mg/3 ml, injectable solution
CORDARONE-X 150 mg/3 ml, injectable solution
CORDARONE-X 200 mg, tablets
DURON 100 mg, tablets
DURON 200 mg, tablets
DURON 150 mg/3 ml, injectable solution
EURYTHMIC 100 mg, tablets
EURYTHMIC 200 mg, tablets
EURYTHMIC 150 mg/3 ml, injectable solution
PANARON 200 mg, tablets
RITEBEAT 100 mg, tablets
RITEBEAT 200 mg, tablets
RITEBEAT 150 mg/3 ml, injectable solution
TACHYRA 100 mg, tablets
TACHYRA 200 mg, tablets
TACHYRA 150 mg/3 ml, injectable solution
Italy: ▲
AMIODAR 200 mg, tablets
AMIODAR 150 mg/3 ml, injectable solution
AMIODARONE BIOINDUSTRIA 150 mg/3 ml, injectable solution
AMIODARONE FARMA 1 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE MYLAN 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE PH & T 150 mg/3 ml, injectable solution
AMIODARONE RATIOOPHARM 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE SANDOZ 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE ZENTIVA 200 mg, tablets
ANGORON 200 mg, tablets
CORDARONE 200 mg, tablets
CORDARONE 150 mg/3 ml, injectable solution
Japan: ▲
AMIODARONE SANDOZ 100 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE SAWAI 100 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE TE 50 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE TE 100 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE TOWA 100 mg, tablets
ANCARON 100 mg, tablets
Mexico: ▲
BRAXAN 200 mg, 20 tablets
CORDARONE 50 mg/ml, injectable solution
FORKEN 200 mg, 20 tablets
KERITMON 200 mg, 20 tablets
SINARONA 200 mg, 20 tablets
Pakistan: ▲
CORDARONE 100 mg, tablets
CORDARONE 200 mg, tablets
CORDARONE 50 mg/ml, injectable solution
MIODARONE 200 mg, tablets
SEDACORON 200 mg, tablets
SEDACORON 50 mg/ml, injectable solution
Spain: ▲
TRANGOREX 50 mg/ml, injectable solution
TRANGOREX 200 mg, 30 tablets
Turkey: ▲
AMIDOVIN 50 mg/ml, injectable solution
CORDALIN 50 mg/ml, injectable solution
CORDARONE 50 mg/ml, injectable solution
CORDARONE 200 mg, 30 tablets
United Kingdom: ▲
AMIODARONE AAH PHARMA 100 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE AAH PHARMA 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE AAH PHARMA 300 mg/10 ml, solution for injection
AMIODARONE ACTAVIS 100 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE ACTAVIS 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE ALLIANCE HEALTHCARE 100 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE ALLIANCE HEALTHCARE 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE GENERICS 100 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE GENERICS 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE KENT PHARMA 100 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE KENT PHARMA 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE MARTINDALE 300 mg/10 ml, solution for injection
AMIODARONE TEVA 100 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE TEVA 200 mg, tablets
CORDARONE 100 mg, tablets
CORDARONE 200 mg, tablets
CORDARONE 50 mg/ml, injectable solution
U.S.A. and Puerto Rico: ▲
AMIODARONE APOTEX 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE APOTEX 50 mg/ml, solution for injection
AMIODARONE APP PHARMA 50 mg/ml, solution for injection
AMIODARONE AKORN 50 mg/ml, solution for injection
AMIODARONE ALPHAPHARM 200 mg, 60 tablets
AMIODARONE AUROSAL 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE AUROSAL 400 mg, 30 & 100 tablets
AMIODARONE BARR 200 mg, 60 & 100 tablets
AMIODARONE BEDFORD 50 mg/ml, solution for injection
AMIODARONE BEDFORD 50 mg/ml, solution for injection
AMIODARONE BIONICHE PHARMA 50 mg/ml, solution for injection
AMIODARONE BIONICHE PHARMA 50 mg/ml, solution for injection
AMIODARONE CLARIS 50 mg/ml, solution for injection
AMIODARONE GLAND PHARMA 50 mg/ml, solution for injection
AMIODARONE HIKMA 50 mg/ml, solution for injection
AMIODARONE HOSPIRA 50 mg/ml, solution for injection
AMIODARONE MYLAN 200 mg, tablets
AMIODARONE SANDOZ 200 mg, 60 & 90 tablets
AMIODARONE TARO 200 mg, 60 tablets
AMIODARONE TARO 400 mg, 30 tablets
AMIODARONE TEVA 200 mg, 60 tablets
AMIODARONE TEVA 50 mg/ml, solution for injection
AMIODARONE TEVA 50 mg/ml, solution for injection
AMIODARONE ZYDUS 200 mg, 30 & 60 tablets
AMIODARONE WOCKHARDT 50 mg/ml, solution for injection
CORDARONE 200 mg, 60 tablets
CORDARONE 50 mg/ml, solution for injection
NEXTERONE 50 mg/ml, solution for injection
NEXTERONE 50 mg/ml, solution for injection
PACERONE 100 mg, 30 & 100 tablets
PACERONE 200 mg, 60 & 90 tablets
Page updated: December 13, 2010.