Amiodarone (Generic for Pacerone®) Tablets for Heart Rhythm Control

What Amiodarone Is and How It Works

Amiodarone is a prescription antiarrhythmic medicine used to treat serious heart rhythm problems, including atrial fibrillation and ventricular arrhythmias. It is taken as oral tablets, often once or twice daily after an initial loading phase. Amiodarone acts on multiple cardiac ion channels and beta receptors, which helps stabilize electrical activity and maintain a regular rhythm.

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Doctors may use amiodarone short term after cardioversion to help maintain sinus rhythm. It is also used long term for patients with recurrent arrhythmias, including those with structural heart disease or heart failure, when other agents are unsuitable.

Dosage and Usage

Doses vary by indication and patient factors. Follow your prescriber’s directions on loading and maintenance dosing. Typical schedules include an initial loading period followed by a lower daily dose.

• Initiation: Many regimens start at 800–1600 mg per day in divided doses for 1–3 weeks.
• Titration: The dose may then reduce to 600–800 mg per day for about 1 month.
• Maintenance: Most patients continue on 100–400 mg per day, often 200 mg once daily.
• Administration: Take tablets with food or a light snack to reduce stomach upset. Swallow whole with water. Try to take doses at the same time each day.
• Missed dose: If a dose is missed, take it when remembered unless it is close to the next dose. Do not double up.

Common tablet strengths include 100 mg, 200 mg, and 400 mg. You can review available strengths and current stock on the Amiodarone product page.

• Storage: Store at 15–30°C (59–86°F) in a dry place. Protect from light. Keep in the original, light-resistant container.
• Travel: Pack enough tablets for your trip, plus a few extra. Carry medicine in your hand luggage with the pharmacy label. Keep dosing times consistent when crossing time zones.
• Refills: Place your refill request a little early to avoid gaps in therapy.

Benefits and Savings

Amiodarone can reduce arrhythmia recurrence and improve rhythm control compared with several other antiarrhythmics. It has a favorable profile in patients with reduced ejection fraction because it carries a lower risk of worsening heart failure than some alternatives. Many clinicians use it after cardioversion to maintain sinus rhythm in atrial fibrillation, and for ventricular tachycardia prevention in selected patients.

Convenient once-daily maintenance dosing supports adherence. The long half-life allows steady control once a stable dose is reached. When you order through YouDrugstore, you can access typical savings of 60–80% versus common U.S. prices while getting a quality-assured product reviewed by a licensed pharmacist.

Side Effects and Safety

Amiodarone has important benefits and notable risks. Monitoring is standard during therapy. Speak with your prescriber about baseline and periodic tests, which often include thyroid, liver, lung, eye, and ECG assessments. Use the lowest effective maintenance dose when possible.

• Common: Nausea, constipation, loss of appetite, metallic taste, tremor, fatigue, sleep disturbances.
• Skin and eyes: Photosensitivity, blue-gray skin discoloration with long-term use, corneal microdeposits (usually without symptoms), halo vision in bright light.
• Thyroid: Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism due to iodine content.
• Liver: Elevated liver enzymes; rare hepatitis.
• Lungs: Cough or shortness of breath; rare interstitial pneumonitis or pulmonary fibrosis.
• Heart: Slow heart rate, conduction block, QT prolongation, rare torsades de pointes.
• Nerves: Peripheral neuropathy; ataxia.
• Eyes: Rare optic neuritis or optic neuropathy.

Serious reactions need urgent medical attention. Photosensitivity is common, so regular sunscreen and protective clothing are advised. Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice because they can raise amiodarone levels. Many medicines interact with amiodarone, including warfarin, digoxin, certain statins, and other drugs that prolong the QT interval. Your care team will help manage doses and monitoring.

Onset Time

Oral amiodarone has a long half-life and a large volume of distribution. With loading doses, rhythm control effects can begin within several days. Full effect may take 1–3 weeks or longer. After dose changes, it can take time to reach a new steady state. The long half-life also means effects can persist for weeks after stopping.

Compare With Alternatives

Sotalol is a class III antiarrhythmic with beta-blocking effects. It can help maintain sinus rhythm in atrial fibrillation, but it often requires inpatient initiation and close QT monitoring. Sotalol may not be ideal in reduced ejection fraction.

Dofetilide is another class III option used for atrial fibrillation. Initiation is done in hospital with ECG monitoring due to torsades risk. Dosing depends on kidney function. It may be preferred in patients who cannot use other agents but requires strict adherence to monitoring.

Flecainide and propafenone are class IC agents used in atrial fibrillation without significant structural heart disease. They are effective for rhythm control but are generally avoided in coronary disease or reduced ejection fraction.

Compared with these, amiodarone shows strong rhythm maintenance efficacy and can be suitable in heart failure or post-myocardial infarction. It carries unique non-cardiac toxicities, so shared decision-making and routine monitoring are important to balance benefits and risks.

Combination Therapy

Amiodarone is often part of a broader arrhythmia plan. Rate control agents such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers may still be needed. Anticoagulation follows stroke risk guidelines in atrial fibrillation, regardless of rhythm strategy. Important interactions include:

• Warfarin: Amiodarone can increase INR; warfarin dose reductions and closer INR checks are common.
• Digoxin: Levels may rise; dose adjustment and level checks help prevent toxicity.
• Statins: Limit simvastatin dose; consider alternatives with lower interaction risk.
• Other QT-prolonging drugs: Avoid combinations that raise torsades risk when possible.
• CYP3A4/CYP2C9 substrates: Monitor and adjust doses as directed by your prescriber.

Grapefruit should be avoided. Keep an updated medication list and share it with every clinician and pharmacist who supports your care.

Patient Suitability and Cost-Saving Tips

Amiodarone may be considered for patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation needing rhythm control, or for those with recurrent ventricular arrhythmias. It is often used when other medicines are ineffective or not tolerated, and when structural heart disease narrows choices. Ongoing lab and clinical monitoring support safe long-term use.

Choosing the lowest effective maintenance dose can limit side effects and extend supply. Generic amiodarone usually costs less than brand Pacerone®. Multi-month supplies can reduce the per-month price, and reorder reminders help prevent gaps in treatment during travel or busy periods. For current offers and bulk options, see our amiodarone discount page.

If you are comparing strengths such as 100 mg, 200 mg, or 400 mg, review the available pack sizes on the Amiodarone page before you place your order. Our customer-service team can answer account or shipping questions during posted office hours, and our pharmacists are available to address medication questions related to your prescription.

Authoritative Sources

Review official details in these trusted references:

• FDA Prescribing Information for Pacerone
• Health Canada Database: Amiodarone Product Information
• Manufacturer Product Page: Pacerone

YouDrugstore makes it simple to order amiodarone at Canadian prices with discreet packaging and prompt, express shipping. Every prescription is checked by a licensed pharmacist before we ship.

This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always follow your prescriber’s directions and the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine.