Cordarone

Cordarone 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.

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.

Do NOT use Cordarone if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Cordarone , including iodine
• 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)
• you are taking cisapride, dofetilide, an H₁ antagonist (eg, astemizole, loratadine, terfenadine), an HIV protease inhibitor (eg, ritonavir), a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (eg, vardenafil), or a streptogramin (eg, dalfopristin, quinupristin)

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

Before using Cordarone :

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

• 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 have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• 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
• if you will be having surgery, or if you have an implanted pacemaker or defibrillator
• if you take medicine for diabetes (eg, glyburide)

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

• Antiarrhythmics (eg, flecainide), arsenic, azole antifungals (eg, ketoconazole), cimetidine, cisapride, diuretics (eg, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide), dofetilide, droperidol, H₁ antagonists (eg, astemizole, loratadine, terfenadine), HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir), ketolides (eg, telithromycin), macrolide antibiotics (eg, erythromycin), phenothiazines (eg, thioridazine), phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (eg, vardenafil ), pimozide, quinolones (eg, ciprofloxacin), serotonin receptor antagonists (eg, dolasetron), streptogramins (eg, dalfopristin, quinupristin), trazodone, or ziprasidone because side effects, such as heart rhythm problems or seizures, may occur
• Narcotic pain relievers (eg, fentanyl) because low blood pressure, slow heartbeat, and other heart problems may occur
• Cholestyramine, hydantoins (eg, phenytoin), rifampin, or St. John's wort because they may decrease Cordarone 's effect iveness
• Thyroid hormones (eg, levothyroxine) because their effectiveness may be decreased or the risk of their side effects may be increased by Cordarone
• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), beta-blockers (eg, propranolol), calcium channel blockers (eg, verapamil, diltiazem), cyclosporine, dextromethorphan, digoxin, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (eg, simvastatin), lidocaine, or methotrexate because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Cordarone
• Clopidogrel because its effectiveness may be decreased by Cordarone

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if 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.