Generic Pacerone ®: Amiodarone
Amiodarone is the chemical name of the active ingredient in Pacerone ®

Tablets
Chemical Name: AMIODARONE (a-MEE-oh-da-rone)

Common uses : This medicine is an antiarrhythmic used to treat an irregular heartbeat and to maintain a normal heart rate. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Before using : WARNING: Amiodarone therapy should only be started in a hospital under close medical supervision in patients with certain types of life-threatening irregular heartbeat. Serious side effects, including severe lung problems (sometimes fatal) and liver problems (rarely fatal), have occurred in patients taking this medicine. This medicine may infrequently make an irregular heartbeat worse. Amiodarone should be used only when other medicines have not worked. It may take 2 weeks or longer for this medicine to work. Your doctor should monitor your condition closely and may adjust your dose of this medicine periodically. Amiodarone may stay in your body for a period of time after you stop taking it. If you need to take other medicines which may interact with this medicine, caution is advised both while you are taking the medicines together and for several months after you stop taking amiodarone. It is possible that an irregular heartbeat corrected by this medicine could return within weeks to months after you stop taking it. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with this medicine. INFORM YOUR DOCTOR/PHARMACIST of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking. DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICINE if you are also taking cisapride, astemizole, terfenadine, agalsidase beta, dofetilide, ibutilide, HIV protease inhibitors (such as nelfinavir or ritonavir), certain medicine for erectile problems (such as vardenafil), quinupristin, or dalfopristin. Radioactive iodine therapy should not be used while you are taking this medicine. ADDITIONAL MONITORING OF YOUR DOSE OR CONDITION may be needed if you are taking "blood thinners" (such as warfarin), arsenic, beta-blockers (such as propranolol or metoprolol), cimetidine, cyclosporine, digoxin, calcium channel blockers (such as diltiazem or verapamil), droperidol, certain "statin" cholesterol medicines (such as simvastatin or atorvastatin), certain seizure medicines (such as phenytoin), other medicine for irregular heartbeat (such as disopyramide, encainide, flecainide, procainamide, propafenone, quinidine, lidocaine, or sotalol), certain narcotic medicines (such as fentanyl), phenothiazines (such as thioridazine), pimozide, rifampin, ziprasidone, quinolone antibiotics (such as sparfloxacin and levofloxacin), macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin and clarithromycin), telithromycin, certain antifungal medicines (such as ketoconazole or itraconazole), dextromethorphan, cholestyramine, methotrexate, St. John's wort, medicine for depression, medicine for diabetes, or any medicine that may decrease the level of potassium or magnesium in your blood (such as furosemide or hydrochlorothiazide). If you have questions about whether any of your medicines may decrease potassium or magnesium levels, check with your doctor or pharmacist. DO NOT START OR STOP any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval. Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions including liver problems, lung or breathing problems, other heart problems (such as congestive heart failure, blood pressure problems, or severe left ventricle problems), thyroid problems, electrolyte problems such as low potassium or magnesium levels, allergies, pregnancy, or breast-feeding. USE OF THIS MEDICINE IS NOT RECOMMENDED if you have a history of certain types of irregular heartbeat or heart rhythm (such as severe sinus node dysfunction resulting in unusually slow heart rate, severe sinus block, second or third degree atrioventricular block, or slow heart rate that has caused dizziness or fainting), or untreated low blood levels of potassium or magnesium. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about taking this medicine.

Directions : Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your doctor. This medicine comes with a MEDICATION GUIDE. Read it carefully each time you refill this medicine. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist any questions that you may have about this medicine. DISCUSS WITH YOUR DOCTOR whether to take your dose with or without food. It is very important to take this medicine consistently with regard to food. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. AVOID EATING GRAPEFRUIT OR DRINKING GRAPEFRUIT JUICE while you are taking this medicine. STORE THIS MEDICINE at room temperature at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) in a tightly-closed container, away from heat and light. Take this medicine regularly to receive the most benefit from it. Taking this medicine at the same time each day will help you to remember. IF YOU MISS A DOSE OF THIS MEDICINE, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Cautions : DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICINE if you have had an allergic reaction to it or are allergic to any ingredient in this product, including iodine. IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS for this medicine to work. DO NOT STOP TAKING this medicine or change your dose without checking with your doctor. Some conditions may become worse when the medicine is suddenly stopped or when more medicine is taken than prescribed. Laboratory and/or medical tests, including physical exam, EKG, chest x-rays, blood tests, lung function tests, liver function tests, thyroid function tests, and eye exams may be performed to monitor your progress or check for side effects. KEEP ALL DOCTOR AND LABORATORY APPOINTMENTS while you are taking this medicine. BEFORE YOU HAVE ANY MEDICAL OR DENTAL TREATMENTS, EMERGENCY CARE, OR SURGERY, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using this medicine. This medicine may cause dizziness. DO NOT DRIVE, OPERATE MACHINERY, OR DO ANYTHING ELSE THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS until you know how you react to this medicine. Using this medicine alone, with other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks. VERY RARELY, CASES OF PERMANENT BLINDNESS have been reported with use of this medicine. Tell your doctor immediately if you experience any vision changes. THIS MEDICINE MAY CAUSE increased sensitivity to the sun. Avoid exposure to the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to this medicine. Use a sunscreen or protective clothing if you must be outside for a prolonged period of time. Long-term therapy with this medicine may infrequently cause a blue-gray discoloring of the skin. Fair skin or excessive sun exposure may increase your risk. Risk may also be related to your total dose or length of therapy. This effect is not harmful and usually reverses, sometimes incompletely, after you stop taking this medicine. Discuss any concerns with your doctor. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING ANY NEW MEDICINE, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. This includes cough medicines or any medicine that contains cimetidine. CAUTION IS ADVISED WHEN USING THIS MEDICINE IN THE ELDERLY because they may be more sensitive to the effects of this medicine. FOR WOMEN: THIS MEDICINE HAS BEEN SHOWN TO CAUSE HARM to the human fetus. IF YOU PLAN ON BECOMING PREGNANT, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using this medicine during pregnancy. THIS MEDICINE IS EXCRETED IN BREAST MILK. DO NOT BREAST-FEED while taking this medicine.

Possible side effects : SIDE EFFECTS that may occur while taking this medicine include tiredness, constipation, loss of appetite, taste or smell changes, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, trouble sleeping, headache, flushing, stomach pain, decreased sexual interest, or changes in the amount of saliva you produce. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if you experience tremor or uncontrolled muscle movements; loss of coordination; tingling or numbness of hands, legs, or feet; muscle weakness; burning or tingling of the skin; unusually dry eyes; swollen neck; unusual sweating; restlessness, nervousness, or anxiety; intolerance to heat or cold; unexplained weight change; hair loss; or menstrual changes. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY if you experience fever; wheezing; unexplained cough; coughing up blood; difficult or painful breathing; chest pain; severe nausea or vomiting; severe stomach pain; yellowing of the eyes or skin; dark urine; severe or persistent tiredness; swelling of the hands or feet; slow, fast, or irregular heartbeat; severe dizziness or lightheadedness; fainting; vision changes (such as seeing halos, blurred vision, light sensitivity, or loss of vision); unusual bruising or bleeding; persistent sore throat; or reddened, swollen, or blistered skin. AN ALLERGIC REACTION to this medicine is unlikely but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, or trouble breathing. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.

Drug interactions : Drug interactions can result in unwanted side effects or prevent a medicine from doing its job. Use our drug interaction checker to find out if your medicines interact with each other. Check drug interactions

If you take too much : If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include severe dizziness, unusually slow pulse, or fainting.

Additional information : Your doctor may want you to check your pulse rate every day while you take this medicine. Learn how to monitor your pulse. Carry an identification card at all times that says you are taking this medicine. DO NOT SHARE THIS MEDICINE with others for whom it was not prescribed. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE for other health conditions. KEEP THIS MEDICINE out of the reach of children and pets. IF USING THIS MEDICINE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, obtain refills before your supply runs out.