PACEBEAT-100

Description

PACEBEAT-100 contains amiodarone hydrochloride, a potent antiarrhythmic medication for life-threatening and serious heart rhythm disorders. It is supplied as a tablet in strip packaging for convenient dosing in chronic therapy or acute management.

Clinical Uses

• FDA-approved: Recurrent ventricular fibrillation, recurrent hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia.

• Off-label (frequent hospital practice): Atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) in select patients when other agents are not tolerated/ineffective.

Mechanism of Action

Amiodarone blocks abnormal electrical signals in the heart by affecting multiple ion channels (potassium, sodium, calcium) and modulating beta- and alpha-adrenergic activity. This stabilizes heart rhythm and prevents recurrence of both atrial and ventricular arrhythmias.

Dosage & Administration

• Oral maintenance: Usually 100–400 mg daily (individualized, as prescribed by cardiologist; initial higher loading doses may be used).

• Take at the same time each day, with meals to reduce stomach upset; do not stop abruptly.

• Plasma levels build up over days to weeks—periodic ECG and blood tests are required.

Common Side Effects

• Nausea, vomiting, skin color changes, sun sensitivity, tremor, dizziness, fatigue, thyroid problems, visual disturbances.

• Rare but serious: lung/liver/thyroid toxicity, heart rhythm slowing/block, vision loss, neuropathy.

Precautions & Safety Advice

• Not for use in severe sinus node dysfunction, heart block (unless pacemaker fitted), allergy to iodine/amiodarone, pregnancy, or severe lung/liver impairment.

• Avoid grapefruit or grapefruit juice during therapy.

• Routine monitoring: ECG, liver, lung, thyroid, and eye function required for chronic use.

PACEBEAT-100 is a critical antiarrhythmic tablet for treating severe cardiac arrhythmias and preventing life-threatening rhythm disturbances.