Pacerone

Pacerone affects how your heart beats.

Pacerone is used to help maintain a normal heartbeat in people with serious heart rhythm problems in the ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart that help pump blood). This medicine treats ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation.

Pacerone is only for treating serious heart rhythm problems.

Pacerone may also be used for other reasons that are not mentioned in this medication guide.

Follow all instructions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may change your dose from time to time. Use the medicine exactly as instructed.

You will receive your first few doses in a hospital, where your heart rhythm can be monitored.

If you have been taking another heart rhythm medicine, you may need to slowly stop taking it when you begin using Pacerone. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.

You may take Pacerone with or without food, but take it the same way each time.

It may take up to 3 weeks before your heart rhythm improves. Keep using the medicine as directed even if you feel fine.

Pacerone can have lasting effects on your body. You may need regular medical tests while using Pacerone and for several months after your last dose.

If you need surgery (including laser eye surgery), inform the surgeon in advance that you are using Pacerone.

This medicine can impact the results of certain medical tests. Inform any doctor who treats you that you are using Pacerone.

Store at room temperature, away from moisture, heat, and light.

Pacerone is only for treating life-threatening heart rhythm disorders.

Do not take Pacerone if you are allergic to Pacerone or iodine, if you have heart block, a history of slow heartbeats that have caused you to faint, or if your heart cannot pump blood properly.

Pacerone can cause serious side effects that may affect your heart, liver, lungs, or vision.

Call your doctor or seek medical help immediately if you have: chest pain, fast or pounding heartbeats, trouble breathing, vision problems, upper stomach pain, vomiting, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), or if you cough up blood.

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to Pacerone or iodine, or if you have:

• a serious heart condition called "AV block" (2nd or 3rd degree), unless you have a pacemaker;
• a history of slow heartbeats that have caused you to faint; or
• if your heart cannot pump blood properly.

Pacerone can cause dangerous side effects on your heart, liver, lungs, or thyroid.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• asthma or another lung disorder;
• liver disease;
• a thyroid disorder;
• vision problems;
• high or low blood pressure;
• an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood); or
• if you have a pacemaker or defibrillator implanted in your chest.

Taking Pacerone during pregnancy may harm an unborn baby or cause thyroid problems or abnormal heartbeats in the baby after it is born. This medicine may also affect the child's growth or development (speech, movement, academic skills) later in life. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you become pregnant.

You should not breast-feed while taking Pacerone, and for several months after stopping. This medicine takes a long time to clear from your body. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby during this time.

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

Pacerone takes a long time to completely leave your body. You may still experience side effects from this medicine after you stop using it.

Call your doctor right away if you have any of these side effects, even if they happen up to several months after you stop using Pacerone:

• wheezing, cough, chest pain, cough with bloody mucus, fever;
• a new or worsening irregular heartbeat pattern (fast, slow, or pounding heartbeats);
• feeling light-headed, like you might faint;
• blurred vision, seeing halos around lights (your eyes may be more sensitive to light);
• liver problems--nausea, vomiting, pain in the upper right side of your stomach, tiredness, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• nerve problems--loss of coordination, muscle weakness, uncontrolled muscle movements, or a prickly feeling in your hands or lower legs;
• signs of overactive thyroid--weight loss, thinning hair, feeling hot, increased sweating, tremors, feeling nervous or irritable, irregular menstrual periods, swelling in your neck (goiter); or
• signs of underactive thyroid--weight gain, tiredness, depression, trouble concentrating, feeling cold.

Common side effects of Pacerone may include:

• nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite; or
• constipation.

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.

Skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses at the same time.

Seek emergency medical help or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Taking too much Pacerone can be deadly.

Signs of an overdose may include weakness, slow heart rate, feeling dizzy, or passing out.

Do not drive or do anything dangerous until you know how Pacerone affects you. Your ability to react could be affected.

Grapefruit may interact with Pacerone and cause unwanted side effects. Do not use grapefruit products.

Do not take any herbal supplements that contain St. John's wort.

Pacerone could make you more likely to get sunburned. Avoid sunlight or tanning beds. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outside.

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications together. Some drugs can change the levels of other drugs in your blood, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Pacerone takes a long time to completely leave your body. Drug interactions can happen for up to several months after you stop using this medicine. Talk to your doctor before taking any medication during this time. Keep track of how long it has been since your last dose of amiodarone.

Many drugs can affect Pacerone. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.