Interesting things about amiodorone

1. Hi every one.
   
   I thought it might fun to list things we've observed or learned the hard way about different drugs. I thought we could start with amiodorone (sp). Then go on to something else.
   
   1. Be careful if the patient is also on digoxin because Amio. Can increase a dig level by 100% in a few days.
   
   2. When Amio infiltrates it isn't pretty
   
   
   Everyone add something they experienced

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2. 

   About Noney

   Joined: Jun '03; Posts: 895; Likes: 26
   from US
   Specialty: Critical Care

   24 Comments

   Topic Closed

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3. 
   Jul 30, '03

   Good idea for a thread ! I like this...good way to learn and refresh.
   
   Keep it coming.
4. 
   Jul 30, '03

   Gave Demerol/Phenergan IV once to adolescent female who then had psychotic episode lasting only a few minutes. Had been on Demerol PCA day before, so I blamed it on the Phenergan. Nurses in post-partum (where young females are pt) say this occurs with Phenergan rarely, but nurse needs to observe pt for safety reasons after IV push.
5. 
   Jul 30, '03

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   Last edit by dprayvd on Aug 24, '07 : Reason: aaaaa
6. 
   Jul 30, '03

   aaaaa.

   Last edit by dprayvd on Aug 24, '07 : Reason: aaaaa
7. 
   Jul 30, '03

   Interesting about the phenergan.
   
   I took an order for quininine once but wrote it for quindine. thought it was the same med. Scary huh?
   Maybe someone else can learn from my mistake.
8. 
   Jul 30, '03

   Going back to Amiodarone for a second...
   
   Had a guy in the ER once who had been on it, and had exposure to a lot of sunlight while on it. Turned the skin on his face blue - permanently.
   
   So he looks cyanotic...freaks people out if they haven't seen him before.
9. 
   Jul 30, '03

   I've heard about the blue skin and blue nose side effect from amiodarone. Can also cause pulmonary fibrosis, so patients SHOULD have a lung function test before going on it. Can cause bradycardia and hypotension. As you are well aware, amiodarone is now part of ACLS, having replaced lidocaine. In cardiac/ACLS circles, it's treated as if it's a new wonder drug (will treat both a-fib and v-tach), but it's been around for a long time and can have very serious side effects, much worse than lidocaine or cardizem.
10. 
    Jul 30, '03

    Anybody want to mention Ambien and little old ladies
11. 
    Jul 30, '03

    Originally posted by VickyRN
    Anybody want to mention Ambien and little old ladies

    I could use an Ambien sometimes myself. :chuckle My husband was on it for a time when he was in a lot of backpain before his back surgery. He said he had the best sleep ever! He did say it knocked him out QUICK which he didn't like being put to sleep that fast from a pill.
    
    The "little old ladies" I take care of at work who are on Ambien (and what patient isn't these days )...anyway, they always ask for their "Ambien to help them sleep".
12. 
    Jul 30, '03

    I had a client who developed heparin antibodies from heparin. She died.
    
    renerian
13. 
    Jul 30, '03

    This is great. I never heard of the bluish skin from amiodarone.
    
    Renerian, tell me more about the heparin antibdies.
    
    I 'v seen aricept set older females off at night.
14. 
    Jul 30, '03

    Are you alluding to Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia?

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