The medication Pacerone is commonly used to treat irregular heartbeat. Unfortunately, there are some serious potential side effects of Pacerone that patients may not know about.

What is Pacerone?

Pacerone (also known by its generic name, amiodarone hydrochloride) is a type of anti-arrhythmia drug used to treat irregular heartbeat, including ventricular fibrillation. Pacerone is used to restore the heartbeat to a normal rhythm by blocking the electrical signals to the heart that cause the irregularity in the first place. This medication is oral, and typically taken once or twice a day.

Pacerone was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) back in 1998. Amiodarone hydrochloride is also marketed as Cordarone.

What are the Side Effects of Pacerone?

As with any medication, Pacerone comes with a variety of minor side effects. These include nausea, vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite, shaking, and/or tiredness. These issues generally go away on their own, but if they persist or get worse, tell your doctor.

Unfortunately, along with these more mild complications, a number of major side effects of Pacerone have been associated with its usage, including the following:

• Lung disease/pulmonary toxicity
• Liver failure
• Blindness
• Death

Indeed, amiodarone drugs like Pacerone have been linked with serious or even life-threatening lung damage side effects. Symptoms that may indicate lung damage problems include fever, shortness of breath, wheezing, breathing problems, cough, or coughing up blood.

Liver damage associated with amiodarone use may cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, dark urine, excessive fatigue, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), itching, or pain in the upper right of the stomach.

These serious side effects have led the FDA to approve the drug only as a last resort, if no other options are available.

Have any Pacerone Lawsuits Been Filed?

A growing number of patients are turning to litigation over amiodarone side effects. In 2015, a lawsuit was filed over the death of a woman, Shirley J., who allegedly suffered from amiodarone pulmonary toxicity, leading to her death.

The lawsuit, filed by Shirley’s family, alleges that she was not adequately warned about the risks associated with the medication. Had she been warned, the lawsuit claims, she would have chosen another option rather than take amiodarone and face these risks.

Can I File a Pacerone Lawsuit?

If you or someone you love has suffered from lung disease, liver failure, or other side effects of Pacerone, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Of course, filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by these complications, but it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expense, lost wages, and more.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.