Ibutilide
Generic name: ibutilide [ eye-BUE-til-ide ]
Brand name: Corvert
Dosage form: intravenous solution (0.1 mg/mL)
Drug class:Group III antiarrhythmics
What is ibutilide?
Ibutilide is an anti-arrhythmic heart medication that corrects certain conditions of irregular heart rhythm.
Ibutilide is used to help keep the heart beating normally in people with certain heart rhythm disorders of the atrium (the upper chambers of the heart that allow blood to flow into the heart). Ibutilide is used in people with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter.
Ibutilide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Warnings
Ibutilide can cause life-threatening irregular heart rhythms. Your heart rate will be constantly monitored using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG) so that any further problems can be treated quickly.
Before taking this medicine
You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to ibutilide.
If possible, tell your doctor if you have taken a heart rhythm medication within the past 4 hours before receiving ibutilide.
To make sure ibutilide is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have congestive heart failure.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether ibutilide will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.
It is not known whether ibutilide passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
In an emergency situation it may not be possible to tell your caregivers about your health conditions, or if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Make sure any doctor caring for you afterward knows you have received ibutilide.
How is ibutilide given?
Ibutilide is injected into a vein through an IV. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.
Ibutilide can cause life-threatening irregular heart rhythms. Your heart rate will be constantly monitored using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG) so that any further problems can be treated quickly. Cardiac emergency equipment will also be kept nearby in case it is needed to treat you.
Heart monitoring may continue for several hours after you have stopped receiving ibutilide.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Because you will receive ibutilide in a clinical setting, you are not likely to miss a dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Since this medication is given by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, an overdose is unlikely to occur.
