- The most common side effects of amiodarone are nausea and vomiting, which occur in around 25 percent of patients. These gastrointestinal side effects occur more frequently with higher dosages of the drug and typically do not require discontinuation of treatment. Side effects of the skin are also common, occurring in approximately 15 percent of patients. Patients frequently experience sensitivity to the sun, making it necessary to wear sunscreen to avoid serious sunburn. Other dermatological side effects of amiodarone include blue discoloration of the skin, rashes and hair loss.
- Amiodarone also has the potential to cause a number of other troublesome or annoying, but not dangerous, side effects. Some patients experience neurological or psychological side effects, including fatigue, loss of coordination, dizziness, tingling in your extremities, insomnia, trembling, headaches and loss of libido. Muscle cramps and twitching, pain in your back or legs, shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing are possible musculoskeletal and respiratory side effects.
- There are some medications and substances which produce unwanted side effects when used in conjunction with Amiodarone. Protease inhibitors, Loratadine, Trazodone and ordinary grapefruit juice all cause an increased level of Amiodarone to be present in your body, increasing side effects. Combining Amiodarone with other medications for arrhythmia or the pain medication Fetanyl has the potential to cause dangerous changes in heart rate or blood pressure. Additionally, when combined with blood thinners like warfarin, Amiodarone increases your risk of experiencing uncontrollable bleeding during surgery or following an injury.
- In addition to minor side effects and the risk of interactions, Amiodarone has the potential to cause serious medical complications. One of the most serious of these is the drug's toxic affect on the lungs, which causes inflammation or pneumonitis in 10-17 percent of users. This condition is fatal in approximately 10 percent of those who develop pneumonitis after taking Amiodarone. Approximately 2-5 percent of people who take Amiodarone experience an initial worsening of arrhythmia. Additionally, some patients who take the drug develop thyroid overactivity or hyperthyroidism or blindness. In rare cases, use of Amiodarone affects the liver, causing scarring or inflammation and even death in some cases.
- Amiodarone can cause toxic effects to the fetus and is typically avoided during pregnancy. Because its potential long term side effects are unknown, doctors do not prescribe the drug for children under the age of 18. Because of its risks, your doctor will likely not recommend Amiodarone if you have a history of thyroid disease, alcoholism, hepatitis, liver or lung disease. Due to its effects upon the eyes and skin, you should obtain regular eye exams and take protect your skin from the sun while you are taking Amiodarone.
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