Our Services
Amiodarone
If you recently started amiodarone (also called Pacerone or Cordorone) and have not received formal instructions regarding its use, precautions, and follow-up testing requirements, please call the office. You might receive these instructions upon being discharged from the hospital, or through our office directly.
Click here for a printable version of this page
- Amiodarone is a very important medication that is prescribed to control irregular heart rhythms. It can be very effective, but, in extremely rare instances can cause dangerous side effects. These involve the liver, lungs, eyes, and thyroid gland. We do routine testing to make sure you are not having any adverse reactions. It is your responsibility to get this testing done in a timely manner when we ask you to do so.
- Take amiodarone exactly as prescribed. Do not stop it on or change the dose without contacting our office.
- As mentioned above, we will contact you every six months to have various testing done to ensure you are not having any problems with the medication. We will send you a letter one month before you are actually due to have the tests done. You can get the testing done anywhere you wish, but know that it is your responsibility to go where your insurance is accepted.
- We will make 2-3 phone calls after this letter if we have not received any response, to remind you to complete testing.
- If you do not complete testing within 2 months of being due, we will discuss this with your doctor, and possibly will have to stop the medication. We cannot prescribe this medication to you if you do not do this required testing.
