Cordarone/Amiodarone IS USED FOR:

Treating life-threatening recurrent heart rhythm disturbances in patients who cannot tolerate or do not respond well to other medicines. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Amiodarone/Cordarone is an antiarrhythmic. It works by stabilizing the heart rhythm in conditions in which the heart is beating too fast or in an irregular rhythm. It is usually used in situations in which the abnormal heart rhythms, if not treated, could cause death.

BEFORE USING Cordarone/Amiodarone :

Some medical conditions may interact with Amiodarone/Cordarone . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you take medicine for diabetes (eg, glyburide)
• if you will be having surgery
• if you have a history of liver problems, lung disease, heart problems, low blood pressure, thyroid problems, electrolyte problems (eg, low blood potassium or magnesium), eye problems, or sinoatrial heart block

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Amiodarone/Cordarone . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Clopidogrel/Plavix because its effectiveness may be decreased by Amiodarone/Cordarone
• Narcotic pain relievers (eg, fentanyl) because low blood pressure, slow heartbeat, and other heart problems may occur
• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin/Coumadin), beta-blockers (eg, propranolol/Inderal), calcium/Phoslo channel blockers (eg, verapamil/Isoptin sr, diltiazem/Diltiazem cr ), cyclosporine, dextromethorphan, digoxin, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (eg, simvastatin), lidocaine, or methotrexate because their actions and side effects may be increased by Amiodarone/Cordarone
• Antiarrhythmics (eg, flecainide), arsenic, azole antifungals (eg, ketoconazole/Nizoral), cimetidine, cisapride, diuretics (eg, furosemide/Lasix, hydrochlorothiazide/Microzide), dofetilide, droperidol, H antagonists (eg, astemizole, loratadine/Claritin, terfenadine), HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir/Norvir), ketolides (eg, telithromycin), macrolide antibiotics (eg, erythromycin/E-mycin), phenothiazines (eg, thioridazine/Mellaril), phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (eg, vardenafil/Levitra), pimozide, quinolones (eg, ciprofloxacin/Cipro), serotonin receptor antagonists (eg, dolasetron), streptogramins (eg, dalfopristin, quinupristin), trazodone/Desyrel, or ziprasidone/Geodon because side effects, such as heart rhythm problems or seizures, may occur ₁
• Thyroid hormones (eg, levothyroxine/Levothroid) because their effectiveness may be decreased or their risk of side effects may be increased by Amiodarone/Cordarone
• Cholestyramine, hydantoins (eg, phenytoin/Dilantin), rifampin, or St. John's wort because they may decrease Amiodarone/Cordarone 's effectiveness

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Amiodarone/Cordarone may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

HOW TO USE Cordarone/Amiodarone :

Use Amiodarone/Cordarone as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking Amiodarone/Cordarone .
• If you miss a dose of Amiodarone/Cordarone , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
• Amiodarone/Cordarone works best when there is a constant level of the medicine in your body. Take Amiodarone/Cordarone on a regular schedule around the clock, unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Take Amiodarone/Cordarone at the same time each day.
• Amiodarone/Cordarone comes with an additional patient information sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it carefully and reread it each time you get Amiodarone/Cordarone refilled.
• Amiodarone/Cordarone is best taken with food. However, it is more important to take it consistently with regard to meals. If you take it with food, try to always take it with food to improve absorption of this medicine. If you prefer to take it on an empty stomach, then always try to take it on an empty stomach.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Amiodarone/Cordarone .

DO NOT USE Cordarone/Amiodarone IF:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Amiodarone/Cordarone , including iodine
• you are taking cisapride, dofetilide, an H antagonist (eg, astemizole, loratadine/Claritin, terfenadine), an HIV protease inhibitor (eg, ritonavir/Norvir), a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (eg, vardenafil/Levitra), or a streptogramin (eg, dalfopristin, quinupristin) ₁
• you have complete, second degree, third degree, or severe sinoatrial heart block; an abnormally slow heartbeat; or shock due to serious heart problems; or if you have had fainting due to slow heartbeat (except if you have a pacemaker)

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF Cordarone/Amiodarone :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Abnormal skin sensations (loss of sensation; tingling; numbness; prickling); bitter taste in mouth; blue-green discoloring of skin (especially hands or feet); constipation; decreased sexual interest; dizziness; dry eyes; flushing of the face; general body discomfort; headache; involuntary muscle movements; loss of appetite; nausea; poor coordination; tiredness; trouble sleeping; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; chills, coldness; cough; coughing up blood; dark urine; decreased urination; easy bruising or bleeding; enlarged thyroid gland; eye discomfort; fatigue; fever; irregular pulse; loss of coordination; menstrual changes; muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness (especially with fever or unusual tiredness); nervousness; persistent sore throat; severe dizziness; severe stomach pain; shortness of breath; skin reaction similar to serious sunburn; slow heartbeat; sluggishness; sweating; tingling or numbness of hands or feet; uncontrolled shaking or tremor; unexplained weight change; vision changes (seeing halos, blurred vision, loss of vision); wheezing; worsening of irregular heartbeat; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:

• LAB TESTS, including electrocardiogram (ECG), chest x-rays, lung tests, liver tests, thyroid tests, and eye exams, may be performed to monitor your progress. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use Amiodarone/Cordarone with extreme caution in CHILDREN. Safety and effectiveness have not been confirmed.
• Amiodarone/Cordarone may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or blurred vision. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Amiodarone/Cordarone . Using Amiodarone/Cordarone alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
• Amiodarone/Cordarone stays in your body for weeks or months, even after you are no longer taking it. Therefore, caution is advised not only during treatment, but for several months after treatment with Amiodarone/Cordarone has stopped if you are taking any interacting medicines.
• Amiodarone/Cordarone may cause skin reactions similar to serious sunburn or sensitivity to sunlight. Avoid exposure to the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to Amiodarone/Cordarone . Use a sunscreen or wear protective clothing if you must be outside for a prolonged period.
• Limit alcoholic beverages while taking Amiodarone/Cordarone .
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Amiodarone/Cordarone has been shown to cause harm to the fetus. If you think you may be pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Amiodarone/Cordarone during pregnancy. Amiodarone/Cordarone is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Amiodarone/Cordarone .
• It may take several days to weeks for Amiodarone/Cordarone to work. A response may not be seen for up to 3 weeks after the medicine is started.
• Your doctor may want you to check your pulse rate every day while you take Amiodarone/Cordarone . Learn how to monitor your pulse.
• Before you have any medical or dental treatments, emergency care, or surgery (including eye surgery to correct vision problems), tell the doctor or dentist that you are using Amiodarone/Cordarone .
• Long-term exposure to Amiodarone/Cordarone may cause blue-gray discoloration of the skin, particularly of the face and hands. This effect is not harmful and usually reverses, sometimes incompletely, after the medicine is stopped. Avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun may help to prevent this effect.
• Carry an identification card at all times that says you are taking Amiodarone/Cordarone .

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.