• Heart Disease

What You Should Know About Using Amiodarone

Medically reviewed and edited by Gidget Black MSN, APRN, FNP-BC

Arrhythmias affect around 5% of the U.S. population and can be challenging to treat and manage.

This is largely because many individuals don’t respond well to their initial treatments, leading doctors to turn to more potent medications like amiodarone.

Although amiodarone is effective in treating these conditions, it must be used correctly to avoid long-term issues.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how amiodarone is administered, the potential side effects you may experience when taking amiodarone, and what you can do to prevent further complications.

What is Amiodarone Used for and How Does it Work?

Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic medication that is commonly used to manage life-threatening cardiac conditions that cause irregular heartbeats.

These conditions may include heart rhythm disorders and other issues that develop due to faulty ventricles.

Amiodarone works by extending the time it takes for the heart’s cells to recharge — which is what allows it to beat — to prevent the muscle from beating too quickly or irregularly.

By doing this, amiodarone influences the electrical activity of the heart muscle to help stabilize its rhythm.

This helps individuals avoid potentially fatal episodes that can arise from an irregular heartbeat.

Because amiodarone is such a powerful drug, it’s usually only given as a last resort and when other cardiovascular treatment options haven’t worked.

This is largely due to its potential side effects that can have a significant impact on various major organs in the body, including the lungs, liver, and thyroid.

How is Amiodarone Administered?

Amiodarone is available in various forms, including oral tablets, intravenous infusion, and injections given by a healthcare provider.

Due to the challenges associated with administering amiodarone intravenously, it’s most commonly prescribed as an oral medication. Amiodarone tablets can be taken with water before or after meals.

In some cases, your doctor may initiate treatment with a higher dose for a brief period of time to stabilize irregular heartbeats quickly.

Once this has been achieved, they will prescribe a lower dose for the long-term management of heart rhythm disorders.

What should you do if you miss a dose?

If you miss a dose of amiodarone, it’s essential to take it as soon as you remember. However, if your next dose is scheduled to be taken soon, it’s best to skip the missed one.

After you’ve taken the next dose, resume the regular administration schedule recommended by your doctor.

It’s important that you don’t take two tablets to make up for a missed dose, as this increases the risk of severe adverse reactions and complications.

You can also talk to your doctor or pharmacist when you’ve missed a dose. This helps them to determine the safest way for you to proceed with this medication.

Does Amiodarone Cause Side Effects?

Amiodarone is known to cause a variety of side effects that range from mild to severe. With prolonged use, this drug can also have a negative impact on your overall well-being.

That’s why it’s essential to know which side effects to look out for and tell your doctor if you experience any severe adverse reactions.

Common side effects

Common side effects of amiodarone typically develop within a few days of using the medication.

These adverse effects are usually not too serious and tend to resolve on their own. You may experience any of the following side effects when using amiodarone:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Fatigue

• Tremor

• Constipation

• Lack of coordination

• Insomnia

• Headaches

• Uncontrollable body movements

• Decreased sex drive or sexual performance issues

• Photosensitivity

Although most common side effects are mild and won’t require medical intervention, amiodarone can also cause serious adverse reactions in some instances.

These should be addressed by a professional, as some of them can be life-threatening. Serious side effects include:

• Allergic reactions

• Lung problems

• Hypothyroidism

• Hyperthyroidism

• Liver disease

• Deposits in the corneas that can lead to vision changes

• Additional heart problems

• Stomach issues

• Scrotum pain and swelling in males

• Nerve damage

• Serious skin reactions – including a blue-gray appearance and increased photosensitivity that can lead to severe sunburn

If you experience any of these mild or severe side effects when taking amiodarone, see your doctor as soon as possible.

While most of these effects resolve within a few days, it’s important to make sure that your symptoms don’t indicate anything more serious.

Rare side effects

In rare cases, amiodarone may also cause the following side effects:

• Optic neuropathy that leads to blurred vision

• Memory loss

• Confusion

• Peripheral neuropathy

If you suspect that you have developed any of these adverse effects, it’s important to consult your doctor as soon as possible.

These rare side effects may indicate that amiodarone isn’t the best medication for you, and your doctor may need to reevaluate your treatment regime.

Long-term use

Prolonged use of amiodarone can increase the risk of certain complications — especially due to the drug’s tendency to build up in various tissues of the body over time.

Complications you may experience can include:

• Pulmonary fibrosis or irreversible scarring of the lung tissue

• Hepatic cirrhosis, which can lead to liver failure

• Chronic thyroid dysfunction

• Persistent skin discoloration

Because of the risk of long-term complications, individuals taking amiodarone must be closely monitored by their doctors.

Regular follow-ups and ongoing assessments can help your healthcare provider effectively manage any side effects you may be experiencing.

Important Considerations and Precautions

Drug interactions

Amiodarone can interact with several other medications and may interfere with the efficacy of certain drugs.

It’s important to tell your doctor about any medications you are currently taking so that they can determine if it’s safe to use with amiodarone.

The following common drugs are known to negatively interact with amiodarone and have the potential to cause additional problems:

• Antibiotics like erythromycin, clarithromycin, fluconazole, and levofloxacin can cause an irregular heartbeat

• Antiviral drugs can put you at a higher risk of developing an irregular heartbeat

• Blood thinners may put you at risk for serious bleeding that can be fatal

• Over-the-counter (OTC) cough medication may lead to cardiotoxicity

• Certain depression drugs and GERD medications may exacerbate adverse reactions caused by amiodarone

• Hepatitis medication can cause an extremely slow heart rate which can be life-threatening

• High blood pressure medications may worsen your heart health

• Certain high cholesterol, anti-seizure, and tuberculosis drugs may be less effective

If you are currently taking any of these medications, it’s recommended to avoid using them while taking amiodarone or speak to your doctor about a suitable alternative.

It’s also important to note that this is not an exhaustive list, and there may be other drugs not mentioned here that also interact with amiodarone.

Storage instructions

To ensure that amiodarone retains its stability and potency, it’s essential to store it properly. This medication must be kept at room temperature, away from moisture and direct sunlight.

You should also keep it in its original packaging and out of reach of children or pets.

People who should avoid this medication

Amiodarone is typically prescribed as a last resort because of the health risks associated with it.

This means it generally isn’t safe to use for many groups of people, including:

• People with an iodine allergy

• People with heart failure or disease, as this drug can weaken and slow your heart rate

• Individuals with lung and liver disease

• People with thyroid disease

• Seniors and children under the age of 18 years

• People with nerve disease

• Individuals with epilepsy

Using amiodarone if you fall into any of these groups can put you at risk of making your condition worse. In some cases, this may even be fatal.

Are There Any Alternatives for Amiodarone?

As we’ve mentioned before, amiodarone isn’t a first-choice treatment option for cardiac arrhythmias.

This means that there are a few alternative options available, depending on the type and severity of your condition. These may include:

• Beta blockers: These medications work by slowing the heart rate and reducing the workload on the muscle, which can help control certain types of arrhythmias.

• Calcium channel blockers: These drugs can help relax the heart muscle and dilate blood vessels, which may effectively manage some types of arrhythmias.

• Sotalol: This is another type of antiarrhythmic medication commonly used to treat irregular heartbeats and ventricular arrhythmias.

• Cardioversion: This procedure involves using electrical shocks or medications to restore the heart’s normal rhythm and can be effective in treating various forms of arrhythmias.

In some cases, non-pharmacological interventions — such as lifestyle modifications and medical devices — may also be recommended as alternatives to amiodarone.

When Should You See a Doctor About Using Amiodarone?

If you’ve been diagnosed with a serious arrhythmia or have been recommended amiodarone, consult a doctor with expertise in cardiac arrhythmias to address any concerns.

You should also seek medical advice if:

• You experience symptoms that can be potentially life-threatening, such as rapid or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, or fainting

• You have not responded well to other cardiac arrhythmia treatment options

• You have a history of heart disease, thyroid problems, or liver and lung conditions that may affect the suitability and safety of using amiodarone.

• You are currently taking other medications, and you are unsure of how these may interact with amiodarone

Discussing your concerns with an expert can help you make sure you get the best possible advice for your condition.

It also helps your doctor make an informed decision about your treatment plan, which is essential for keeping you safe and healthy.

Where Can You Learn More About Amiodarone and Similar Medications?

If you’re concerned about your heart condition or want to know more about medications like amiodarone, LifeMD can help.

A team of doctors will assist you with information and provide guidance on how to keep your heart healthy and use amiodarone safely — all from the comfort of your home.

Make an appointment today to learn more about how LifeMD can help you manage your heart health.

Gidget Black MSN, APRN, FNP-BC

Gidget is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. She received her Master of Science degree in Nursing degree from the University of Cincinnati in 2014. Gidget began as a nurse practitioner in an orthopedic surgery practice where she managed clinical patients and assisted in the operating room. She established a weight management and integrative wellness program to improve outcomes for overweight orthopedic patients. Patients who participated in this program demonstrated improved post-op healing and pain scores. More importantly, the patients were empowered with health literacy for long term-health maintenance. Gidget approaches patient care from a root cause perspective, understanding that we treat the person and not the disease — and that vitality creates longevity. She has also served as an adjunct clinical professor and guest lecturer at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia.

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