DrugLib.com — Drug Information Portal

Rx drug information, pharmaceutical research, clinical trials, news, and more

Pacerone (Amiodarone Hydrochloride) - Side Effects and Adverse Reactions

 
 



ADVERSE REACTIONS

Adverse reactions have been very common in virtually all series of patients treated with amiodarone HCl 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 amiodarone 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 amiodarone 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 amiodarone HCl, the adverse reactions most frequently requiring discontinuation of amiodarone 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, renal impairment, renal insufficiency, acute renal failure, 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, 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, and impotence, also have been reported with amiodarone therapy.



REPORTS OF SUSPECTED PACERONE SIDE EFFECTS / ADVERSE REACTIONS

Below is a sample of reports where side effects / adverse reactions may be related to Pacerone. The information is not vetted and should not be considered as verified clinical evidence.

Possible Pacerone side effects / adverse reactions in 76 year old male

Reported by a individual with unspecified qualification from United States on 2011-10-18

Patient: 76 year old male weighing 118.8 kg (261.5 pounds)

Reactions: Drug Ineffective, Respiratory Distress, Gynaecomastia, Bladder Cancer

Adverse event resulted in: life threatening event, hospitalization, disablity

Suspect drug(s):
Pacerone



Possible Pacerone side effects / adverse reactions in 67 year old male

Reported by a consumer/non-health professional from United States on 2011-10-27

Patient: 67 year old male

Reactions: Dyspnoea, Heart Rate Decreased, Visual Impairment, International Normalised Ratio Decreased, Pulmonary Mass, Thyroid Neoplasm

Suspect drug(s):
Pacerone

Other drugs received by patient: Warfarin Sodium; Metoprolol Tartrate; Three OR Four Unspecified Medications; Omeprazole



Possible Pacerone side effects / adverse reactions in 67 year old male

Reported by a health professional (non-physician/pharmacist) from United States on 2011-11-16

Patient: 67 year old male

Reactions: Dyspnoea, Heart Rate Decreased, Thyroid Cancer, Lung Neoplasm Malignant, International Normalised Ratio Decreased, Visual Acuity Reduced, Hypoaesthesia, Paraesthesia

Suspect drug(s):
Pacerone

Other drugs received by patient: Warfarin Sodium; Three OR Four Unspecified Medications; Metoprolol Tartrate; Omeprazole



See index of all Pacerone side effect reports >>

Drug label data at the top of this Page last updated: 2011-01-19

-- advertisement -- The American Red Cross
 
Home | About Us | Contact Us | Site usage policy | Privacy policy

All Rights reserved - Copyright DrugLib.com, 2006-2017