Corvert

Corvert is a medication that helps correct irregular heart rhythms.

Corvert is used to help maintain a normal heartbeat in people with specific heart rhythm disorders in the atrium (the upper chambers of the heart that allow blood to flow into it). This medicine is used for individuals with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter.

Corvert may also be used for reasons not mentioned in this medication guide.

Corvert can cause serious irregular heart rhythms that can be life-threatening. Your heart rate will be monitored all the time with an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG) so that any additional issues can be addressed promptly.

You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to Corvert.

If possible, inform your doctor if you have taken a heart rhythm medication within the last 4 hours before receiving Corvert.

To ensure Corvert is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have congestive heart failure.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Corvert will harm an unborn baby. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant.

It is not known whether ibutilide passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

In an emergency situation, it may not be possible to inform your caregivers about your health conditions, or if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Make sure any doctor caring for you afterward knows you have received Corvert.

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.

Tell your caregivers right away if you have:

• headache with chest pain and severe dizziness;
• shortness of breath; or
• a light-headed feeling, like you might faint.

Common side effects of Corvert may include:

• mild headache; or
• nausea.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Corvert is injected into a vein through an IV. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

Corvert can cause life-threatening irregular heart rhythms. Your heart rate will be constantly monitored using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG) so that any further problems can be treated quickly. Cardiac emergency equipment will also be kept nearby in case it is needed to treat you.

Heart monitoring may continue for several hours after you have stopped receiving Corvert.

Because you will receive Corvert in a clinical setting, it is unlikely that you will miss a dose.

Since this medication is given by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, an overdose is unlikely to happen.

Follow your doctor's instructions regarding any limits on food, drinks, or activities.

Tell your doctor if you have taken a heart rhythm medication within the past 4 hours. This includes:

• amiodarone;
• disopyramide;
• dofetilide;
• dronedarone;
• procainamide;
• quinidine; or
• sotalol.

Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with Corvert, especially:

• citalopram, fingolimod, lumefantrine, mifepristone, saquinavir; or
• an antibiotic--azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin; cancer medicine--arsenic trioxide, degarelix, nilotinib, toremifene, vandetanib, vemurafenib; medicine to treat mental illness--iloperidone, pimozide, thioridazine, ziprasidone.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with ibutilide, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.