What Are The Various Amiodarone Side Effects?
There are many different kinds of amiodarone side effects. I’ll list them below:
- Irregular heartbeat (quicker, slower, or pounding heartbeats)
- Dizziness, fainting like states
- Wheezing (trouble breathing, coughing, chest pains, spitting blood)
- Nausea (vomiting, stomach pain, dark coloured urine, yellowing of skin or eyes, tiredness)
- Weakness, weight loss or gain, sweating, heat or cold intolerance, swelling of neck area, irritability, restlessness, tremors, decreased concentration, hair thinning, irregular menstrual cycles.
- Sleeping issues
- Weakness and lack of bodily coordination
As you can see, there are many different kinds of amiodarone side effects. Some of them are more severe than others. I recommend contacting your doctor if you experience any of the above amiodarone side effects. If you are experiencing amiodarone side effects severely, get immediately medical attention. Treatment for amiodarone side effects will vary widely. Your doctor will determine the proper remedy. He/She may change your amiodarone dosage, stop taking amiodarone all together, or recommend treatment. Keep in mind that you can experience other amiodarone side effects not listed above. If you are experiencing anything out of the ordinary it would be a good idea to contact your doctor and discuss it.
It is possible to experience amiodarone side effects after you are finished taking amiodarone hcl tablets. This is because the medicine stays in your body for months after you are finished with your treatment. Again, if you experience any side effects of amiodarone, check with your doctor for the best advice.
Amiodarone Toxicity
Taking amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone, or amiodarone hcl tablets) can produce damaging complications in the following areas:
- Lungs
- Liver
- Thyroid
The lungs liver and thyroid play very important roles in our survival. Unfortunately, amiodarone side effects could severely damage these areas and the result could be fatal.
The most problematic amiodarone side effect is pulmonary toxicity (lung toxicity). While taking amiodarone, if you have symptoms of chest pains in the lungs area, feelings of illness, shortness of breath, or fever and coughs, then you may be suffering from pulmonary toxicity.
How does amiodarone side effects occur in the liver? Excess amiodarone add up in the lungs and liver and damage your organ walls. Therefore your lungs may cease to operate properly. To prevent such side effects, get x-rays of your chest and have your lungs checked out for proper functioning before you begin taking amiodarone. You’ll also want to have testing done every few months to check up on these organs to see if any amiodarone side effects come up.
Thyroid complications can occur because of the high dosage of iodine in amiodarone. Possible amiodarone side effects include hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism (under reactive or over reactive thyroid). Thyroid complications are typically very treatable.
Liver complications can lead to liver failure depending on the toxicity level found in the liver. Possible amiodarone side effects include jaundice and cirrhosis. Your doctor may likely perform liver tests on you to test the level of toxicity.
Lastly, amiodarone side effects can occur when you use it with other drugs. Keep in mind that amiodarone stays in your body for several months after you have finished treatment. Therefore if you are taking other medication in the future, let your doctor know you have taken amiodarone.
Overall, most patients do not suffer from amiodarone side effects. Only a low percentage experience complications. Amiodarone is only used in life threatening situations and will only be prescribed to you if there isn’t any other alternative.