Paceron

[Patricia Vajda]

I began taking 200 mg of Pacerone daily on 9/29/06. I was being treated for a second degree AV block and an irregular heart beat. Please note, my condition was NOT life threatening. This dose was doubled in 12/06, due to my weight (236 lbs.), the doctor determined that the 200 mg dose was not sufficient, I was advised to take 200 mg in the moring and 200 mg at night daily.

By February of 2007 I started experiencing side effects. I found it hard to sleep, I had trouble focusing my vision and began to see halos around headlights when driving at night. In March, I experienced what I thought was pink eye. Now, I wonder if it was an allergetic reaction to the medication.

By summer of 2006, I was very uncomfortable and found it hard to tolerate the heat. I had to sleep with the overhead fan running. I took my Grandchildren to an outdoor fair. I did apply sunscreen and wore a hat. I now have horrible large brown spots on my face, and my forearms are completely covered with large brown sections. I experienced a cold feeling and a tingling in my hands (the doctor thought it could be carpel tunnel). I began having headaches. Sometimes, I felt like I had a hangover in the morning, without drinking any alcohol.

I began having stomach pains. I had felt tingling and an itching feeling in my legs and arms. One night, I thought I saw a large beetle type of bug crawling up the wall, there was nothing there. I began seeing visions when I closed my eyes to try to sleep. One time it was worms crawling in a swarm. A couple of times, I heard a voice calling me in the middle of the night. I was losing hair by the handfuls. My nails became brittle and would break just trying to open the car door.

In the past couple of months I began to have a dry cough every morning and evening. I had no other cold symptoms and I have never smoked cigarettes. If I exerted myself, I begin wheezing.

I started reading on the internet about the harmful side effects of Pacerone. I have an appointment this week for an eye exam, and an appointment to see my cardiologist. I am going to also request a chest X-ray. This is a pwerful drug, it stays in your system up to a year or more after you stop taking it. Basically, it is stored in your organs and it doesn't dissepate until those cells die. Had I known a year ago, what I know now, I never would have taken Pacerone. I am requesting that my doctor take me off Pacerone this week. Some of the side effects can be fatal. I can only hope that I haven't suffered damage to my liver, lungs, or eyes. I feel that I was not properly warned of the dangers prior to taking Pacerone and doubt if my condition warranted taking a drug with such serious side effects.

[Tom Boyle]

Doctors often times do not explain what the risks are with some drugs . I was on Amiodarone / Cordarone / pacerone for over 12 years 300 mg per day. The cardiologist who prescribed it didn't know it required a "loading dose" nor did he order the baseline tests i.e. pulmonary function test , chest x-ray ,etc. I suffered with all the side effects. I have been off the drug since 6/16/05 .I had an ablation for A-Fib by Dr. Andrea Natale.

[MINDY M]

Patricia Vajda wrote:

I began taking 200 mg of Pacerone daily on 9/29/06. I was being treated for a second degree AV block and an irregular heart beat. Please note, my condition was NOT life threatening. This dose was doubled in 12/06, due to my weight (236 lbs.), the doctor determined that the 200 mg dose was not sufficient, I was advised to take 200 mg in the moring and 200 mg at night daily.
By February of 2007 I started experiencing side effects. I found it hard to sleep, I had trouble focusing my vision and began to see halos around headlights when driving at night. In March, I experienced what I thought was pink eye. Now, I wonder if it was an allergetic reaction to the medication.
By summer of 2006, I was very uncomfortable and found it hard to tolerate the heat. I had to sleep with the overhead fan running. I took my Grandchildren to an outdoor fair. I did apply sunscreen and wore a hat. I now have horrible large brown spots on my face, and my forearms are completely covered with large brown sections. I experienced a cold feeling and a tingling in my hands (the doctor thought it could be carpel tunnel). I began having headaches. Sometimes, I felt like I had a hangover in the morning, without drinking any alcohol.
I began having stomach pains. I had felt tingling and an itching feeling in my legs and arms. One night, I thought I saw a large beetle type of bug crawling up the wall, there was nothing there. I began seeing visions when I closed my eyes to try to sleep. One time it was worms crawling in a swarm. A couple of times, I heard a voice calling me in the middle of the night. I was losing hair by the handfuls. My nails became brittle and would break just trying to open the car door.
In the past couple of months I began to have a dry cough every morning and evening. I had no other cold symptoms and I have never smoked cigarettes. If I exerted myself, I begin wheezing.
I started reading on the internet about the harmful side effects of Pacerone. I have an appointment this week for an eye exam, and an appointment to see my cardiologist. I am going to also request a chest X-ray. This is a pwerful drug, it stays in your system up to a year or more after you stop taking it. Basically, it is stored in your organs and it doesn't dissepate until those cells die. Had I known a year ago, what I know now, I never would have taken Pacerone. I am requesting that my doctor take me off Pacerone this week. Some of the side effects can be fatal. I can only hope that I haven't suffered damage to my liver, lungs, or eyes. I feel that I was not properly warned of the dangers prior to taking Pacerone and doubt if my condition warranted taking a drug with such serious side effects.

MY DAD HAS BEEN ON PACERON FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND HE IS THROWING UP EVERYDAY, HAS SEVERE HEADACHES, TREMERS, STOMACH PAIN, NIGHT MARES AND ALOT OF OTHER PROBLEMS FROM THIS MEDICATION, BUT HIS HEART PROBLEM IS LIFE THREATENING! I AM SO WORRIED ABOUT MY DAD. HE IS 68 YEARS OLD AND CAN'T TAKE MUCH MORE!