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Home » Cordarone
Cordarone
Cordarone (amiodarone) is a heart drug used to treat a certain type of arrhythmia. Because of its association with pulmonary toxicity, pulmonary fibrosis and other dangerous side effects, Cordarone is considered a “last resort” that should be used after other medications have been tried.
What is Cordarone?
Cordarone is an antiarrhythmic marketed by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Pfizer, Inc. It is indicated only for the treatment of certain types of life-threatening recurrent ventricular arrhythmias that have not resonded to other medications or when alternative agents could not be tolerated.
Cordarone should not be taken by patients who:
- Are allergic to any of its ingredients, including iodine;
- Have moderate to severe heart block, or fainting or severe dizziness or light-headedness due to slow heartbeat (unless they have a pacemaker);
- Have a very slow heartbeat;
- Have experienced shock due to serious heart problems.
Cordarone Side Effects
Common side effects associated with Cordarone include:
- Abnormal taste or smell
- Constipation
- Decreased sexual interest
- Dizziness
- Dry eyes
- Flushing of the face
- General body discomfort
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Tiredness
- Trouble sleeping; vomiting
The following severe side effects require medical attention:
- Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing or swallowing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, throat, or tongue; unusual hoarseness)
- Blue-gray discoloring of the skin, especially in the hands or feet
- Burning, numbness, or tingling
- Chest, jaw, or arm pain
- Confusion
- Cough or coughing up blood
- Decreased coordination
- Decreased urination
- Eye discomfort
- Fainting
- Fast or slow heartbeat
- Fever, chills, or persistent sore throat
- Involuntary muscle movements
- Joint pain; muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness (especially with fever or unusual tiredness)
- Nervousness
- New or worsening irregular heartbeat
- Severe or persistent dizziness; shortness of breath
- Sunburn-like skin reaction
- Sluggishness
- Sudden, severe nausea or vomiting
- Swelling of the hands, ankles, legs, or feet
- Liver problems ( dark urine, loss of appetite, pale stools, persistent loss of appetite, stomach pain, yellowing of the eyes or skin)
- Thyroid problems (eg, feeling of being unusually hot or cold, increased sweating, mental or mood changes, numbness or tingling of the hands or feet, menstrual changes, neck swelling)
- Trouble walking
- Uncontrolled shaking or tremor
- Unexplained or unusual bruising or bleeding
- Unusual tiredness or weakness
- Unexplained weight changes
- Changes in vision
- Wheezing
Cordarone Black Box Warning
The Cordarone label includes a Black Box Warning regarding:
- Potentially fatal toxicities, including pulmonary toxicity
- Liver injuries
- Worsening arrhythmias
- Sudden death
Because of these risks, Cordarone is only to be used as a last resort in patients whose condition could prove deadly.
Last Modified: May 6, 2016