Many people in the San Antonio area take Amiodarone to prevent irregular heart activity, such as arrhythmias. Arrhythmias prevent proper blood flow to the heart and can lead to cardiac arrest. At-risk patients also receive the medication before surgeries to minimize the risk of complications. The Food and Drug Administration approved Amiodarone in 1985 as a treatment for serious arrhythmias. Since its approval, there have been links to the medication to many complaints of life-threatening symptoms and death.
Many physicians prescribe Amiodarone to patients suffering from atrial fibrillation. Despite receiving numerous complaints about serious and life-threatening side effects, companies still market and prescribe Amiodarone as Cordarone and Pacerone to the public for off-label use.
How it works
Amiodarone is available in pill and injection form. It regulates the electrical signals in the heart to prevent abnormal cardiac activity. The drug’s effects are often gradual and long-lasting. It is not uncommon for patients to notice the full effects of the substance several weeks after they began treatment and long after their treatments have ended. Adverse reactions are common when patients use other medications and risk factors are present.
The dangers of using Amiodarone
Many patients who have taken the medication were not aware of the serious risks associated with it. Allegedly, doctors failed to inform them of the serious side effects associated with the drug. Amiodarone use reportedly leads several life-threatening complications, including gradual and acute vision loss stemming from optic neuropathy and corneal deposits. Other serious side effects associated with this drug include the following:
- Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS)
- Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN)
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Worsening arrhythmias
- Death
Patients who currently use and have used Amiodarone for atrial fibrillation and other off-label uses may have prescription drug injury claims and qualify for compensation.
If you or a loved one received Amiodarone and suffered serious complications, including vision changes and blindness, feel free to contact Janicek Law. Our attorneys have extensive experience with drug lawsuits and are reviewing claims from affected patients and their loved ones. We can determine if you have a case, go over options and work hard to get you the compensation you deserve.
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