Amiodarone is used to treat irregular heartbeats, but it can some have side effects.
If you have the following side effects, please contact the practice straight away:
- Yellowing of the skin or the whites of your eyes.
- Feeling very tired or sick
- Persistent cough or breathlessness
Other common side effects, please contact the practice if any of the below are severe or persistent:
- Develop a sensitivity to bright lights, including car headlights. If this happens do not drive or use tools and machines.
- Changes in the way things taste
- Nightmares and difficulties sleeping
Whilst on this medication, you will need to:
- Use a high factor sun cream which protects from both UVA and UVB whenever you go outside on bright days. Do NOT use sunbeds
- Have an eyesight test each year with a community optician, informing them that you take Amiodarone at your check-up
- Blood tests every six months to monitor the treatment and to prevent side effects occurring
- An ECG every year – usually at your birth month annual review (for more information, see the NHS website on ECG (echocardiogram))
If you have any concerns with the above information or to arrange a blood test, please contact us via Anima