Amiodarone is a drug used to treat irregular heartbeats.

Also sold under the brands Nexterone and Pacerone, amiodarone slows nerve activity in the heart in order to stop the irregular or extra beats. It works inside the cells to control atrial fibrillation and regulate the heart.

How Long Should You Take Amiodarone?

Due to the way the medicine works, it takes time for it to become effective. Amiodarone needs to build up in the body and it generally takes between one and three weeks to do so.

It may be several months before the drug’s full effects are felt. It’s recommended that patients not stop or increase amiodarone without first consulting their doctor.

Due to amiodarone’s half-life, it may remain in your system for about two months following the final dose.

It may be medically necessary for you to take amiodarone to control your arrhythmia, but patients should be aware that the longer you take the drug, the more likely the chances of severe side effects.

According to one study on amiodarone side effects, 15 percent of patients had to discontinue the medication after 2.7 years due to extreme side effects, and between 18 and 37 percent of patients taking it for more than five years had to stop taking it because of side effects, with some 70 percent of those patients reporting adverse events.

What are the Side Effects of Amiodarone?

Amiodarone is only to be prescribed as a last resort for controlling life-threatening heart arrhythmia. It is generally only prescribed to patients for whom other treatment options have not been successful. This is because of the severe and dangerous side effects associated with it.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an amiodarone black box warning due to potentially fatal side effects including pulmonary toxicity, liver injury, and increased heart arrhythmia. Patients taking amiodarone to regulate their heart may experience side effects including:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Abdominal pain
• Dizziness
• Constipation and digestive issues
• Tremors
• Loss of coordination
• Difficulty walking
• Weakness and fatigue
• Sleeping issues
• Headache or migraines
• Vision problems and vision loss
• Light sensitivity
• Swelling of extremities
• Skin discoloration
• Sensitivity to the sun
• Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing
• Rapid and irregular heartbeat
• Pulmonary toxicity

Could Amiodarone Cause Injuries?

Even though amiodarone is a drug that is FDA-approved to treat atrial fibrillation and irregular heart rhythms, it comes with serious side effects and warnings that may compromise your overall health.

According to Healthline, some research has shown that amiodarone may worsen a patient’s irregular heart rhythm or even damage the liver. Additionally, some patients develop pulmonary toxicity, which is a form of lung damage that can lead to fatal injuries.

Given the possibility for lethal side effects, it’s important for a patient taking amiodarone to talk with their doctor about whether or not this is the best fit for their treatment plan and to discuss possible alternatives. Patients taking a medication such as amiodarone expect that it will assist them in managing their medical concerns.

It can be shocking to start experiencing side effects that are associated with liver toxicity or lung damage, but it is very important for a patient to report these to their doctor immediately. The doctor might recommend discontinuing the medication and deciding another course of treatment.

In any of these cases, if you are not appropriately warned about the possible side effects of taking amiodarone and believe that the manufacturer should have told you about these dangerous possibilities, you might have rights under the law.

Consumers have filed lawsuits against drug manufacturers claiming they were not told about risky side effects before starting the medication.

If you’ve suffered adverse side effects after taking amiodarone you may be eligible to hire an attorney and pursue litigation against the drug’s manufacturer. Those who file amiodarone lawsuits may be able to collect compensation for medical expenses, injuries, pain and suffering, and other damages.