Details

Dronedarone is an antiarrhythmic medication that affects the rhythm of heartbeats. Dronedarone helps keep the heart beating normally in people with life-threatening heart rhythm disorders of the atrium (the upper chambers of the heart that allow blood to flow into the heart) and risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, a history of stroke, or being over 70 years old. Dronedarone is used to treat certain heart rhythm disorders called atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. Dronedarone is given to reduce the need for hospitalization due to these heart conditions. Dronedarone can double your risk of death if you were recently hospitalized for heart failure if you have symptoms of heart failure (shortness of breath, swelling, rapid weight gain) or you have a "permanent" atrial fibrillation that cannot be changed back to a normal rhythm. To make sure dronedarone is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease liver disease a history of heart failure an electrolyte imbalance or if you have a pacemaker or defibrillator implanted in your chest.

Typical Uses

Dronedarone is used if you have had certain types of irregular heartbeat (paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation) in the past but now have a normal heart rhythm. It helps you keep a normal heart rhythm and lowers your chance of having to go to the hospital for atrial fibrillation. Dronedarone is known as an antiarrhythmic drug. This medication should not be used if you have permanent atrial fibrillation because of the increased risk of very serious side effects.

Side Effects

Some of the side effects of dronedarone include shortness of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling, rapid weight gain chest pain, wheezing, trouble breathing, dry cough, or coughing up mucus breathing problems while lying down trying to sleep severe dizziness, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeats slow heart rate, feeling like you might pass out a new or a worsening irregular heartbeat pattern signs of a kidney problem-little or no urinating, painful or difficult urination, blood in your urine, swelling in your feet or ankles, feeling tired or liver problems-nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-coloured stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Drug Interactions

• Dronedarone+abarelix- Using dronedarone together with abarelix is not recommended. Combining these medications can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a relatively rare side effect. You may be more susceptible if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances.

• Dronedarone+anagrelide- Using dronedarone together with anagrelide is not recommended. Combining these medications can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a relatively rare side effect. You may be more susceptible if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances.

• Dronedarone+benzthiazide- Using dronedarone together with benzthiazide can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious. If your doctor prescribes these medications together, you may need regular monitoring of your electrolyte (magnesium, potassium) levels as well as other tests to safely use both medications. You should seek immediate medical attention if you develop sudden dizziness, light-headedness, fainting, or fast or pounding heartbeats during treatment with dronedarone.

• Dronedarone+capreomycin- Using dronedarone together with capreomycin can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious. If your doctor prescribes these medications together, you may need regular monitoring of your electrolyte (magnesium,

Mechanism of action

Dronedarone belongs to a class of medications called anti-arrhythmics. It is known to work by blocking multiple ion channels (potassium, calcium and sodium) thereby restoring normal rhythm of heartbeats.

Pregnancy Category : X