Amiodarone
Also sold as: Cordarone
Usual adult dose
Dose is set by a heart specialist. Typical: 200 mg three times a day for 1 week, then twice a day for 1 week, then 200 mg once a day or less. Regular thyroid, liver, lung and eye checks are needed.
Your doctor may give you a different dose. Children's doses depend on weight.
Side effects
Common
- nausea
- sensitivity to sunlight
- grey-blue skin
- tiredness
- tremor
Serious — get help
Stop taking it and see a doctor straight away if you notice:
- breathlessness or cough (lung damage)
- thyroid problems
- yellow eyes or skin
- slow or irregular heartbeat
- vision changes
Do not take it, or take care, if
- Slow heartbeat or heart block (without a pacemaker)
- Thyroid disease
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Iodine allergy
Interactions
Medicines that can react with this one.
Serious26 medicinesDo not take these together unless your doctor says so.
- Amitriptyline
Both affect heart rhythm; the combination can cause dangerous arrhythmias.
- Artemether + Lumefantrine
Both prolong the QT interval and can cause dangerous heart rhythms.
- Azithromycin
Both can prolong the QT interval and cause dangerous heart rhythms.
- Chloroquine
Both prolong the QT interval and can cause dangerous heart rhythms.
- Chlorpromazine
Both prolong the QT interval and can cause dangerous heart rhythms.
- Citalopram
Both can prolong the QT interval and cause dangerous heart rhythms.
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- Clarithromycin
Both can prolong the QT interval and cause dangerous heart rhythms.
- Daclatasvir
With sofosbuvir-based treatment, amiodarone can cause dangerously slow heartbeat.
- Digoxin
Amiodarone raises digoxin levels; the digoxin dose usually needs halving.
- Dihydroartemisinin + Piperaquine
Both prolong the QT interval and can cause dangerous heart rhythms.
- Domperidone
Both prolong the QT interval; the combination should be avoided.
- Escitalopram
Both can prolong the QT interval and cause dangerous heart rhythms.
- Fluconazole
Both can prolong the QT interval and cause dangerous heart rhythms.
- Haloperidol
Both prolong the QT interval and can cause dangerous heart rhythms.
- Hydroxychloroquine
Both prolong the QT interval; together they raise the risk of dangerous heart rhythms.
- Hydroxyzine
Both prolong the QT interval; the combination should be avoided.
- Imipramine
Both affect heart rhythm; the combination can cause dangerous arrhythmias.
- Levofloxacin
Both prolong the QT interval and can cause dangerous heart rhythms.
- Meglumine antimoniate
Both can prolong the QT interval and cause dangerous heart rhythms.
- Moxifloxacin
Both prolong the QT interval and can cause dangerous heart rhythms.
- Ondansetron
Both prolong the QT interval and together raise the risk of dangerous heart rhythms.
- Quinine
Both prolong the QT interval and can cause dangerous heart rhythms.
- Simvastatin
Amiodarone raises simvastatin levels; do not take more than 20 mg simvastatin a day.
- Sodium stibogluconate
Both can prolong the QT interval and cause dangerous heart rhythms.
- Sofosbuvir
Amiodarone with sofosbuvir can cause dangerously slow heartbeat.
- Warfarin
Amiodarone strongly raises the effect of warfarin; the warfarin dose usually needs lowering and INR checks.
Moderate3 medicinesTake together only with care. Ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- Bisoprolol
Together they can slow the heart too much.
- Lidocaine
Amiodarone can raise lidocaine levels and add to effects on heart rhythm.
- Quetiapine
Both can prolong the QT interval.