What is the drug amiodarone 200 mg used for?

Amiodarone is used to treat and prevent certain types of serious, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias (a certain type of abnormal heart rhythm when other medications did not help or could not be tolerated. Amiodarone is in a class of medications called antiarrhythmics.

What are the side effects of taking amiodarone?

More common

• Cough.
• dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting.
• fever (slight)
• numbness or tingling in the fingers or toes.
• painful breathing.
• sensitivity of the skin to sunlight.
• trembling or shaking of the hands.
• trouble with walking.

What does amiodarone do to the body?

Amiodarone (Cordarone) is used to treat and prevent an irregular heartbeat. It slows down nerve activity in the heart and relaxes an overactive heart.

What should be avoided when taking amiodarone?

amiodarone food 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. Grapefruit can raise the levels of amiodarone in your body and lead to dangerous side effects.

Are there any side effects after taking amiodarone?

Also, this drug stays in your body for weeks to months, even after you are no longer taking it. Therefore, serious side effects may occur weeks to months after taking amiodarone. Serious side effects may include lung or liver problems.

How often can you take amiodarone in a day?

It is usual to take 200 mg three times a day for the first week, then 200 mg twice a day for the second week. Your dose may then be reduced to 200 mg each day from the third week.

What kind of heart disease does amiodarone treat?

Amiodarone is an oral drug used to treat ventricular arrhythmias. Ventricular arrhythmias are life-threatening heart rhythm irregularities that interfere with the way that the heart pumps blood. According to the Mayo Clinic, amiodarone works to treat these conditions by working within the heart’s tissues and slowing the nerve impulses in the heart.

How often is pulmonary toxicity of amiodarone fatal?

Pulmonary toxicity has been fatal about 10% of the time. Obtain a baseline chest X-ray and pulmonary-function tests, including diffusion capacity, when therapy is initiated.