Dronedarone is used to treat abnormal heart rhythm.
Take Dronedarone exactly as directed by your doctor or according to the instructions on the label. Do not take more or less than instructed by your doctor.
This medicine should be taken together with food. Swallow it whole with a glass of water. Do not divide, chew or crush the tablet. Try to take it at the same time each day.
This medicine must be taken regularly for it to be effective. Continue taking this medicine even when you feel better. Do not stop taking it unless instructed by the doctor.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your normal dosing schedule.
DO NOT double a dose under any circumstances.
If you often forget to take your medicine, let your doctor and pharmacist know.
Alert your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- history of or current heart failure (weakness and inability of the heart to pump blood)
- heart block or sinus node (heart’s natural pacemaker) disorder, unless an artificial device for regulating heartbeat is present
- very slow heartbeat
- prolonged QT interval (disorder of the heart’s electrical activity)
- liver or lung related problems due to previous use of amiodarone (medicine for irregular or abnormal heartbeat)
- severe liver disease
- severe kidney disease
as this medicine may not be suitable for you.
Do not take Dronedarone if you are pregnant or planning to have a baby soon. If you become pregnant while being treated with this medicine, alert your doctor immediately. This medicine may cause harm to your unborn child. You must use proven birth control methods while taking this medicine.
Do not take this medicine if you are breastfeeding.
Do not take Dronedarone with certain antibiotics, medicines after a transplant, and medicines to treat fungal infection, HIV infection, depression, mental illness and other heart beat disorders. Please see the section “Can I take this with other medicines?” below for more information.
Inform your doctor if you have:
- implanted devices in your heart
- low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood
- narrowed and hardened blood vessels
Keep your appointments with your doctor. Your doctor needs to monitor your condition (e.g. blood pressure, heart rate and rhythm) and check your response to the medication regularly. Your doctor may also need to do routine tests (e.g. ECG, potassium and magnesium blood levels and tests for kidney, liver and lung function) while you are being treated with this medicine.
Dronedarone may cause any of the following side effects: diarrhoea, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, tiredness, weakness, back pain, and rash
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:
- signs or symptoms of heart failure: weight gain, swelling of the feet or legs, increasing shortness of breath
- signs or symptoms of liver problems: yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes, stomach discomfort, unusual darkening of the urine, fever
- non-productive cough
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Do not take Dronedarone with the following medicines:
- certain antibiotics e.g. clarithromycin, erythromycin, telithromycin
- medicines used to treat fungal infections e.g. itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole
- medicines for HIV infection e.g. ritonavir
- medicines for depression e.g. nefazodone
- medicines used in organ transplant or certain immune disorders e.g. ciclosporin
- medicines for mental illness e.g. chlorpromazine, fluphenazine
- other medicines for heart beat disorders e.g. amiodarone, sotalol, disopyramide, dofetilide, procainamide, quinidine, flecainide, propafenone
- cisapride (stomach medicine)
- dabigatran (blood-thinning medicine)
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- medicines for high blood pressure or heart disease e.g. digoxin, metoprolol, propanolol, diltiazem, verapamil, nifedipine
- cholesterol-lowering medicines e.g. simvastatin, lovastatin, atorvastatin, rosuvastatin
- medicines for epilepsy (fits or seizures) e.g. phenobarbital, carbamazepine, phenytoin
- rifampicin (medicine for tuberculosis or TB)
- St. John’s Wort (herbal medicine)
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Dronedarone.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol and grapefruit juice.
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
Sign Out
