Cordarone (Amiodarone Hydrochloride) - Side Effects and Adverse Reactions

ADVERSE REACTIONS

Adverse reactions have been very common in virtually all series of patients treated with Cordarone for ventricular arrhythmias with relatively large doses of drug (400 mg/day and above), occurring in about three-fourths of all patients and causing discontinuation in 7 to 18%. The most serious reactions are pulmonary toxicity, exacerbation of arrhythmia, and rare serious liver injury (see "WARNINGS"), but other adverse effects constitute important problems. They are often reversible with dose reduction or cessation of Cordarone treatment. Most of the adverse effects appear to become more frequent with continued treatment beyond six months, although rates appear to remain relatively constant beyond one year. The time and dose relationships of adverse effects are under continued study.

Neurologic problems are extremely common, occurring in 20 to 40% of patients and including malaise and fatigue, tremor and involuntary movements, poor coordination and gait, and peripheral neuropathy; they are rarely a reason to stop therapy and may respond to dose reductions or discontinuation (see "PRECAUTIONS"). There have been spontaneous reports of demyelinating polyneuropathy.

Gastrointestinal complaints, most commonly nausea, vomiting, constipation, and anorexia, occur in about 25% of patients but rarely require discontinuation of drug. These commonly occur during high-dose administration (i.e., loading dose) and usually respond to dose reduction or divided doses.

Ophthalmic abnormalities including optic neuropathy and/or optic neuritis, in some cases progressing to permanent blindness, papilledema, corneal degeneration, photosensitivity, eye discomfort, scotoma, lens opacities, and macular degeneration have been reported. (See "WARNINGS".)

Asymptomatic corneal microdeposits are present in virtually all adult patients who have been on drug for more than 6 months. Some patients develop eye symptoms of halos, photophobia, and dry eyes. Vision is rarely affected and drug discontinuation is rarely needed.

Dermatological adverse reactions occur in about 15% of patients, with photosensitivity being most common (about 10%). Sunscreen and protection from sun exposure may be helpful, and drug discontinuation is not usually necessary. Prolonged exposure to Cordarone occasionally results in a blue-gray pigmentation. This is slowly and occasionally incompletely reversible on discontinuation of drug but is of cosmetic importance only.

Cardiovascular adverse reactions, other than exacerbation of the arrhythmias, include the uncommon occurrence of congestive heart failure (3%) and bradycardia. Bradycardia usually responds to dosage reduction but may require a pacemaker for control. CHF rarely requires drug discontinuation. Cardiac conduction abnormalities occur infrequently and are reversible on discontinuation of drug.

The following side-effect rates are based on a retrospective study of 241 patients treated for 2 to 1,515 days (mean 441.3 days).

The following side effects were each reported in 10 to 33% of patients:

Gastrointestinal: Nausea and vomiting.

The following side effects were each reported in 4 to 9% of patients:

Dermatologic: Solar dermatitis/photosensitivity.

Neurologic: Malaise and fatigue, tremor/abnormal involuntary movements, lack of coordination, abnormal gait/ataxia, dizziness, paresthesias.

Gastrointestinal: Constipation, anorexia.

Ophthalmologic: Visual disturbances.

Hepatic: Abnormal liver-function tests.

Respiratory: Pulmonary inflammation or fibrosis.

The following side effects were each reported in 1 to 3% of patients:

Thyroid: Hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism.

Neurologic: Decreased libido, insomnia, headache, sleep disturbances.

Cardiovascular: Congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, SA node dysfunction.

Gastrointestinal: Abdominal pain.

Hepatic: Nonspecific hepatic disorders.

Other: Flushing, abnormal taste and smell, edema, abnormal salivation, coagulation abnormalities.

The following side effects were each reported in less than 1% of patients:

Blue skin discoloration, rash, spontaneous ecchymosis, alopecia, hypotension, and cardiac conduction abnormalities.

In surveys of almost 5,000 patients treated in open U.S. studies and in published reports of treatment with Cordarone, the adverse reactions most frequently requiring discontinuation of Cordarone included pulmonary infiltrates or fibrosis, paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia, congestive heart failure, and elevation of liver enzymes. Other symptoms causing discontinuations less often included visual disturbances, solar dermatitis, blue skin discoloration, hyperthyroidism, and hypothyroidism.

Postmarketing Reports

In postmarketing surveillance, hypotension (sometimes fatal), sinus arrest, anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reaction (including shock), angioedema, urticaria, eosinophilic pneumonia, hepatitis, cholestatic hepatitis, cirrhosis, pancreatitis, acute pancreatitis, renal impairment, renal insufficiency, acute renal failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome in the post-operative setting, bronchospasm, possibly fatal respiratory disorders (including distress, failure, arrest, and ARDS), bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (possibly fatal), fever, dyspnea, cough, hemoptysis, wheezing, hypoxia, pulmonary infiltrates and/or mass, pulmonary alveolar hemorrhage, pleural effusion, pleuritis, pseudotumor cerebri, parkinsonian symptoms such as akinesia and bradykinesia (sometimes reversible with discontinuation of therapy), syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH), thyroid nodules/thyroid cancer, toxic epidermal necrolysis (sometimes fatal), erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, exfoliative dermatitis, bullous dermatitis, drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), eczema, skin cancer, vasculitis, pruritus, hemolytic anemia, aplastic anemia, pancytopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis, granuloma, myopathy, muscle weakness, rhabdomyolysis, demyelinating polyneuropathy, hallucination, confusional state, disorientation, delirium, epididymitis, impotence and dry mouth, also have been reported with amiodarone therapy.

REPORTS OF SUSPECTED CORDARONE SIDE EFFECTS / ADVERSE REACTIONS

Possible Cordarone side effects / adverse reactions in 54 year old male

Reported by a physician from France on 2011-10-03

Patient: 54 year old male

Reactions: Hyperthyroidism

Suspect drug(s):
Multaq
    Administration route: Oral
    Start date: 2011-07-01

Cordarone
    Administration route: Oral
    Start date: 2009-01-01
    End date: 2011-01-01

Possible Cordarone side effects / adverse reactions in 85 year old female

Reported by a health professional (non-physician/pharmacist) from France on 2011-10-10

Patient: 85 year old female

Reactions: Leukocytosis, Thrombocytopenia, Prothrombin Level Decreased, Hypochromic Anaemia, Hepatic Enzyme Increased

Adverse event resulted in: hospitalization

Suspect drug(s):
Digoxin
    Dosage: .01 mg, 1x/day
    Administration route: Oral
    Start date: 1999-10-04
    End date: 1999-11-29

Vitamin D
    Dosage: 0.5 mg, 1x/day
    Administration route: Oral
    End date: 1999-11-29

Diltiazem HCL
    Dosage: dose unknown
    Administration route: Oral
    Indication: Arrhythmia
    Start date: 1999-10-04
    End date: 1999-11-29

Benazepril HCL and Hydrochlorothiazide
    Dosage: 1.0 iu, 1x/day
    Administration route: Oral
    End date: 1999-11-29

Calcium Glubionate
    Dosage: 500.0 mg, 1x/day
    Administration route: Oral
    End date: 1999-11-29

Cordarone
    Dosage: 600.0 mg, 1x/day
    Administration route: Oral
    Indication: Cardiac Disorder
    Start date: 1999-10-04
    End date: 1999-11-29

Possible Cordarone side effects / adverse reactions in 71 year old female

Reported by a health professional (non-physician/pharmacist) from Italy on 2011-10-10

Patient: 71 year old female

Reactions: Anaemia

Adverse event resulted in: hospitalization

Suspect drug(s):
Ticlopidine HCL
    Dosage: 250 mg daily
    Administration route: Oral
    Indication: Prophylaxis
    Start date: 2010-03-01
    End date: 2011-04-05

Cordarone
    Dosage: 200 mg daily
    Administration route: Oral
    Indication: Atrial Fibrillation
    Start date: 2008-01-01
    End date: 2011-04-05

Citalopram
    Dosage: 20 mg daily
    Administration route: Oral
    Indication: Depression
    Start date: 2008-01-01
    End date: 2011-04-05

Other drugs received by patient: Trazodone HCL; Bisoprolol Fumarate; Lasix; Xanax; Madopar; Simvastatin