Cordarone (Amiodarone HCl Tablets) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions

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May 26, 2012

Cordarone

Abnormal Heart Rhythms (Heart Rhythm Disorders) »

How does the heart work?

The heart is a two stage electric pump whose job it is to circulate blood through the body. There is a group of cells that serve as an automatic pacemaker located in the atrium that generates an electrical current that spreads to the heart muscle cells to generate a coordinated squeeze, so that the pump can function.

The heart has four chambers, the right and left atria (singular= atrium) and the right and left ventricles. The right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs while the left side pumps it to the rest of the body.

Blood from the body is collected in the right atrium and is pushed into the right ventricle with a small beat of the upper chamber of the heart. The right ventricle then pumps the blood to the lungs to pick up oxygen. They oxygen-rich blood returns to the left atrium where the small atrial beat pushes it to the left ventricle. The left ventricle is much thicker than the right because it needs t...

Read the Abnormal Heart Rhythms (Heart Rhythm Disorders) article »

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Cordarone

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Cordarone®
(amiodarone HCl) Tablets

DRUG DESCRIPTION

Cordarone (amiodarone HCl) is a member of a class of antiarrhythmic drugs with predominantly Class III (Vaughan Williams' classification) effects, available for oral administration as pink, scored tablets containing 200 mg of amiodarone hydrochloride. The inactive ingredients present are colloidal silicon dioxide, lactose, magnesium stearate, povidone, starch, and FD&C Red 40. Cordarone is a benzofuran derivative: 2-butyl-3-benzofuranyl 4-[2-(diethylamino)-ethoxy]-3,5diiodophenyl ketone hydrochloride.

The structural formula is as follows:

Cordarone® (amiodarone HCl) Structural Formula Illustration

Amiodarone HCl is a white to cream-colored crystalline powder. It is slightly soluble in water, soluble in alcohol, and freely soluble in chloroform. It contains 37.3% iodine by weight.

What are the possible side effects of amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects, even if they occur up to several months after you stop using amiodarone:

a new or a worsening irregular heartbeat pattern;
fast, slow, or pounding heartbeats;
feeling like you might pass out;
wheezing, cough, chest pain, trouble breathing, coughing up...

Read All Potential Side Effects and See Pictures of Cordarone »

What are the precautions when taking amiodarone hcl tablets (Cordarone)?

Before taking amiodarone, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to iodine; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver disease, lung disease, thyroid problems.

This drug may make you dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Limit alcoholic beverages.

This medication may make you more sensitive to the sun. Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning booths, and sunlamps. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when...

Read All Potential Precautions of Cordarone »

Last reviewed on RxList: 11/23/2011
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.