Overview
Cordarone is used to restore normal heart rhythms in patients with serious irregular heartbeats such as persistent ventricular fibrillation and tachycardia. The drug works by blocking certain electrical signals in the heart that can cause an irregular heartbeat. Cordarone is made by Pfizer & Co., and was approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in December 1985.
What’s the Problem?
In May 2005, the FDA issued a warning about lung disease (pulmonary toxicity), liver damage, and worsening heart problems with Cordarone. In some patients, irregular heart rhythms may get worse and can be difficult to treat. Cordarone has also been linked to permanent vision loss and blindness, according to the agency.
Cordarone Side Effects
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Thyroid damage
- Liver damage
- Vision damage
- Blindness
- Allergic reactions
- Nervous system complications
- Toxic Epidermal Necrosis (TEN)
- Respiratory failure
- Kidney failure
- Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
- Heart arrhythmias
- Sinus arrest
- Ventricular tachycardia
- Cardiogenic shock
- Torsades de pointes
- Stroke
- Bone marrow depression
- Death
Cordarone + Simvastatin
Combining Cordarone with simvastatin (Zocor) may increase the risk of a degenerative muscle disease called rhabdomyolysis. FDA issued a warning about this side effect in 2008, after receiving 52 reports of the injury associated with the Cordarone simvastatin combo since 2002.
Rhabdomyolysis Symptoms
- Muscle pain, especially in the shoulders, thighs or lower back
- Muscle weakness or trouble moving arms or legs
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea / vomiting
- Fever
- Rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
- Confusion
- Dehydration
- Fever
- Lack of consciousness
- Dark red or brown urine
- Reduced or no urine output
Do I Have a Cordarone Lawsuit?
The Class Action Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Cordarone lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new injury and death cases in all 50 states.
Free Confidential Case Evaluation: Again, if you were injured by Cordarone, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing a lawsuit and our lawyers can help.