Generic Cordarone (Amiodarone)

Cordarone

Generic name: Amiodarone

What are amiodarone tablets?

AMIODARONE (Cordarone®, Pacerone®) is an antiarrhythmic agent and is used to help your heart to beat regularly. Because this drug can have significant side-effects, this is a medicine that is used when irregular heartbeats have not responded to other medicines. It is usually reserved for treating potentially life-threatening heartbeat problems. Generic amiodarone tablets are available.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• other heart problems
• liver disease
• thyroid disease
• lung disease
• an unusual or allergic reaction to amiodarone, iodine, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should I take this medicine?

Take amiodarone tablets by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Swallow the tablets with a drink of water. Amiodarone may be taken with or without food, but you should take it the same way each time. Do not take amiodarone with grapefruit juice, as this affects how amiodarone is absorbed and may increase the risk of side effects. Take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Keep taking your medicine even if you feel better; do not stop taking except on your prescriber's advice.

.For all uses of this medicine:

Before starting this medication, read the paper (MedGuide) on your prescription provided by your pharmacist or health care professional. This paper will tell you about the specific product you are taking. Make certain you understand the instructions. Ask your pharmacist or health care provider if you have questions.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only the next scheduled dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

What drug(s) may interact with amiodarone?

• arsenic trioxide
• astemizole
• beta-blockers or calcium-channel blockers, often used for high blood pressure or heart problems
• bosentan
• certain antibiotics (such as clarithromycin, erythromycin, gatifloxacin, gemifloxacin, grepafloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, sparfloxacin, troleandomycin)
• cevimeline
• cholestyramine
• cimetidine
• cisapride
• cyclosporine
• dextromethorphan
• dolasetron
• doxercalciferol
• fentanyl
• grapefruit juice
• ginger
• halofantrine
• hawthorn
• loratadine
• medicines for angina, high blood pressure, or heart failure
• medicines for colds or breathing difficulties (including asthma)
• medicines for HIV infection
• medicines for mental depression such as tricyclic antidepressants
• medicines for mental problems or psychotic disturbances
• medicines for seizures (convulsions) such as phenytoin
• medicines for thyroid problems
• medicines to control heart rhythm (examples: digoxin, disopyramide, dofetilide, sotalol, procainamide, quinidine)
• medicines to lower cholesterol such as atorvastatin, cerivastatin, lovastatin, or simvastatin
• radiopaque contrast agents
• rifampin, rifabutin, or rifapentine
• pimozide
• probucol
• pyridoxine or vitamin B6
• ramelteon
• red yeast rice
• sevelamer
• sirolimus or tacrolimus
• St. John's Wort
• terfenadine
• tramadol
• voriconazole
• warfarin
• water pills (diuretics)

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What side effects may I notice from taking amiodarone?

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:

• appetite increase or decrease
• blue-gray coloring of the skin
• blurred vision, seeing blue-green halos, increased sensitivity of the eyes to light, loss of vision
• chest pain
• cough, or difficulty breathing
• difficulty walking
• dry or puffy skin or eyes
• feeling faint or light-headed
• heart pounding or skipping a beat
• heart beating very fast or very slow
• intolerance to heat or cold
• nervousness
• numbness or tingling in hands or feet
• pain and swelling of the scrotum
• passing brown or dark-colored urine
• skin rash
• sleep difficulties
• spitting up blood
• sweating
• trembling or shaking hands
• unusual or uncontrolled movements of body
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• vomiting
• weight gain or loss
• yellowing of the eyes or skin

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• bitter or metallic taste in the mouth
• constipation
• decreased sexual ability or desire in men
• dizziness
• flushing of the face
• headache
• nausea

What should I watch for while taking amiodarone?

Your condition will be monitored closely when you first begin amiodarone therapy. Often, this drug is first started in a hospital or other monitored health care setting.

Amiodarone can cause serious side effects including significant lung damage, liver damage, vision changes, thyroid dysfunction, skin problems, and potentially heartbeat problems. It is very important to have regular checks with your health care professional. Notify your prescriber immediately if you notice symptoms that are listed in the side effects section, or any other persistent problems or unusual reactions. Amiodarone can be present in the body for a long time (months); some side effects may persist for a time after treatment is stopped.

Once you are on maintenance therapy, visit your prescriber or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. Check with your prescriber or health care professional if you develop a cough or have any difficulty breathing. Because your condition and use of this medicine carry some risk, it is a good idea to carry an identification card, necklace or bracelet with details of your condition, medications, and prescriber or health care professional.

You may get dizzy; to avoid a sudden drop in blood pressure and fainting spells, do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older person, until you know how amiodarone affects you.

Amiodarone can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Keep out of the sun, or wear protective clothing outdoors and use a sunscreen. Do not use sun lamps or sun tanning beds or booths.

You should have regular eye exams before and during treatment with amiodarone. Call your doctor if you have blurred vision, see halos, or your eyes become sensitive to light, or experience other changes in vision. Your eyes may get dry while you are using amiodarone. It may be helpful to use a lubricating eye solution or artificial tears solution.

If you are going to have surgery tell your prescriber or health care professional that you are taking amiodarone.

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.

Store at room temperature, approximately 20 to 25 degrees C (68 to 77 degrees F). Protect from light. Keep container tightly closed. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

What is a generic medication?

Wikipedia gives the following definition:
“Generic drug (pl. generic drugs, short: generics) is a drug which is produced and distributed without a brand name. A generic must contain the same active ingredients as the original formulation. In most cases, it is considered bioequivalent to the brand name counterpart with respect to pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. By extension, therefore, generics are assumed to be identical in dose, strength, route of administration, safety, efficacy, and intended use.”

Does a generic medication differ from a brand name drug?

Not much, actually. But there is a difference, of course. To see the difference more clearly we have made a table: click here

Why are generic pills cheaper than the brand name ones?

The principal reason for the reduced price of generic medicines is that the creation of the generic drug runs up less cost and therefore a lower price can be offered and still maintain profitability.
Manufacturers of generic drugs are mainly able to avoid the following three costs that brand name pharmaceutical companies incur: (1) costs associated with the research and development of the drug; (2) costs associated obtaining regulatory approval (i.e. proving safety and efficacy of a drug); and (3) marketing costs.
First, Generic manufacturers do not incur the cost of drug discovery and instead reverse-engineer existing brand name drugs to allow them to manufacture bioequivalent versions.
Second, generic manufacturers do not bear the burden of proving the safety and efficacy of the drugs through clinical trials - rather, generic manufacturers must prove the generic drug’s bioequivalancy to the existing drug.
Third, these companies receive the large benefit of the marketing and advertising that goes into pushing the innovator drug. The brand name drug has to prove itself in the eyes of the consumer, generic ones do not. The drugs that generic manufacturers are selling have been on the market for usually a decade or more and do not need additional advertising. For the same reason, generic manufacturers also do not give away sample doses to promote their products. The significant research, development and marketing costs incurred by the large pharmaceutical companies in introducing a new drug to the market is often cited as the reason for the high cost of new agents - they wish to recover these costs before the patent expires. Generic manufacturers do not incur these costs, with bioequivalence testing and manufacturing costing relatively little, and are able to charge significantly less than the brand.

Where are the pills you offer shipped from?

The pills we offer are produced by Indian manufacturers. To make sure our entire product list is in stock, the orders are sent out directly by our manufacturer. Usually it takes approximately two weeks for an order to be delivered to your location but in some cases may take up to three weeks.

Are your pills FDA approved?