Amiodarone - Uses, Side Effects, and More

What are the most common side effects of amiodarone?

The most common side effects of amiodarone are listed below. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

• Nausea or vomiting
• Lung problems (see below)
• Heartbeat problems (see below)
• Heart problems 
• Liver damage (see below)
• Low blood pressure 

There may be other side effects of amiodarone that are not listed here. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of amiodarone?

While less common, the most serious side effects of amiodarone are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Severe Allergic Reactions. Amiodorone may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop taking amiodarone and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

• Breathing problems or wheezing
• Racing heart
• Fever or general ill feeling
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
• Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
• Itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
• Stomach cramps
• Joint pain

Lung Problems. Amiodaron can cause inflammation in your lungs, also called interstitial lung disease. Keep all appointments to check your lungs. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of lung problems.

• Shortness of breath, or any other trouble breathing
• Coughing
• Chest pain
• Spitting up of blood
• Fever

Liver Damage. Liver damage, also called hepatotoxicity, can happen when taking amiodarone. Keep all appointments to have your blood checked. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of liver damage.

• Nausea or vomiting
• Stomach or belly pain
• Fever
• Weakness or unusual tiredness
• Itching
• Loss of appetite
• Light-colored poop
• Dark-colored urine (pee)
• Your skin or the whites of your eyes turning yellowish in color (also called jaundice)

Worsening of Heartbeat Problems. Amiodarone can worsen existing arrhythmias or cause new arrhythmias or abnormalities such as arrhythmias called ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following signs of heart rhythm changes.

• Heart pounding
• Feeling of skipped heartbeats
• Fast or slow heartbeat
• Dizziness or fainting

Eye Problems. Amiodarone can cause problems seeing and sometimes permanent blindness at any time during therapy. Keep all appointments to have your eyes checked. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following changes in your vision.

• Blurry vision
• Seeing halos around lights
• Vision loss
• Sensitivity to light

Thyroid Problems. Amiodarone can cause decreased thyroid function (hypothyroidism) or an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), which can be severe. Too much thyroid hormone can cause abnormal heartbeats. Keep all appointments to have your blood checked. Call your healthcare provider if you have abnormal heartbeats or any of the following symptoms of a thyroid problem.

• Weakness
• Weight loss or weight gain
• Heat or cold intolerance
• Hair thinning
• Sweating
• Changes in your menstrual periods
• Swelling of your neck (goiter)
• Nervousness
• Irritability
• Restlessness
• Decreased concentration
• Feeling depressed 
• Tremor

Bradycardia. Amiodarone can cause a slow heart rate known as bradycardia. It is important to have your heart rate monitored while taking amiodarone. 

Nerve Problems. Nerves are the fibers that carry sensations from your body to the brain. Damage to these nerves, called peripheral neuropathy, can happen in people who are taking amiodarone. Call your healthcare provider if you develop any of the following symptoms.

• Pain, burning, tingling, numbness, weakness, or a feeling of "pins and needles" in your arms, hands, legs, or feet
• Muscle weakness
• Uncontrolled movements
• Poor coordination, or trouble walking

Skin Problems. Your skin may be very sensitive to light from the sun and devices that give off similar light, such as sunlamps and tanning beds, while you are taking certain drugs, including amiodarone. This is called photosensitivity. During long-term treatment, a blue-gray coloring of sun-exposed skin may occur, which may fade after the medicine is stopped. The risk of photosensitivity and skin discoloration may be increased in people with a fair complexion or too much sun exposure. Use sunscreen and wear a hat and clothes that cover your skin if you need to be in the sunlight. Exposing your skin to this kind of light, even for a short time, can cause your skin to be severely sunburned, blistered, or swollen. Tell your healthcare provider right away if any of these happen.