Proper Use of This Medicine

Take amiodarone exactly as directed by your doctor even though you may feel well . Do not take more medicine than ordered and do not miss any doses.

Dosing—The dose of amiodarone will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of amiodarone. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so:

• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For treatment of ventricular arrhythmias :
    • Adults—At first, 800 to 1600 milligrams (mg) per day taken in divided doses. Then, 600 to 800 mg per day for one month. Then, 400 mg per day.
    • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose for the first ten days is usually 10 mg per kilogram (4.55 mg per pound) of body weight per day. Then, the dose is decreased to 5 mg per kilogram (2.27 mg per pound) of body weight per day. After several weeks, the dose is then decreased to 2.5 mg per kilogram (1.14 mg per pound) of body weight per day.
• For injection dosage form:
  • For treatment of ventricular arrhythmias
    • Adults—At first, the dose is 150 mg injected into a vein for ten minutes, followed by a dose of 360 mg injected into a vein for six hours, followed by a dose of 540 mg injected into a vein for eighteen hours. After the first twenty-four hours of therapy, the dose is 720 mg injected into a vein every twenty-four hours; this dose may be continued for as long as three weeks.
    • Children—Use is not recommended.

Missed dose—If you miss a dose of this medicine, do not take the missed dose at all and do not double the next one. Instead, go back to your regular dosing schedule. If you miss two or more doses in a row, check with your doctor.

Storage—To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.