Wyeth Pharmaceuticals’ drug Cordarone was the first brand name version of amiodaroneapproved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1985. The prescription medication is used to treat irregular heartbeats.

How Does the Drug Cordarone Help the Heart?

Cordarone treats specific irregular heartbeats known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. Such irregular heart rhythms originate in the ventricles, which are the lower chambers of the heart that lets the blood flow out of the heart to the rest of the body.

What’s the Difference Between Ventricular Tachycardia and Ventricular Fibrillation?

Ventricular tachycardia is when the heart continues to beat with a regular rhythm, but pumps so quickly it doesn’t have a chance to completely fill with blood.

With ventricular fibrillation, according to Very Well Health, the heart no longer beats normally, but starts to spasm instead. With the absence of the heart muscle’s normal contractions, no blood goes through.

Are There Side Effects with Cordarone?

Patients taking the drug Cordarone have reported a variety of side effects, including fatigue, nausea that may lead to vomiting, tremors, coordination issues, stomach pain and constipation. Other patients suffer from insomnia, headaches, or a decreased sex drive or sexual performance problems.

Can Cordarone Harm My Liver?

Yes, Cordarone has been known to cause chronic liver failure and cirrhosis, which is advanced scarring of the liver. Even though the liver has a tendency to regenerate itself when damaged, the organ loses that ability once scar tissue takes over.

What Are Symptoms of Liver Disease?

The most obvious sign of liver disease is a yellowish tinge to the skin and eyes, a condition known as jaundice. According to the Mayo Clinic, chronic fatigue, itching, swollen legs and ankles, swollen abdomen and a loss of appetite can also be indicators of liver problems.

Can Cordarone Cause Lung Problems?

Cordarone has been linked to the development of pulmonary fibrosis, which is the buildup of scar tissue in the lungs. This can occur at such a slow rate that severe stiffening of the lungs may develop before a doctor or patient ever knows there is a problem.

A sudden onset of lung toxicity also may cause the patient to become suddenly and severely ill to the point of death.

Wheezing, coughing, chest pain, coughing up bloody mucus or a fever all might indicate serious lung issues.

How Might Cordarone Affect My Eyes?

The medication can cause small deposits to appear on the corneas. These deposits can cause blurry vision, and eventually, blindness.

Is There Any Danger to Thyroid Issues Caused by Cordarone?

According to WebMD, the drug may cause either an underactive thyroid or an overactive thyroid. Indications of thyroid problems include feeling very cold or very hot, unexplained weight changes (gaining or losing), thinning hair, excessive sweating, irritability or a growth in the front area of the neck.

What Does the FDA Say About Cordarone?

The FDA recognizes that Cordarone can cause life-threatening medical conditions and recommends its use only by patients who have not responded well to other medications.