malpratice

What is the name of your state? DE
My father was prescribed pacerone (amiodarone) to regulate his heartbeat, among other meds. From the last week in June 2002 through and including the week of July 8th I called the prescribing dr's office telling them that my dad was having shortness of breath, exteme fatigue, unsteady gait, a persistent cough and they would return the calls telling us they were changing his blodd pressure medication. The first time they changed it from avapro to avalide then to norvasc. My cousin who is a vascular surgeon in FL stated that the dr should have known that amiodarone causes pulmonary fibrosis and the patient needs to be monitored and obviously my father wasn't monitored even after 3 weeks of calls. My father asked for 911 on 7-15 and on 8-7 died from pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonia and any thing else they could write on the death certificate. Please help us with this matter My father was a young 79 yr old man who rode a stationery bike twice a day for 1 hr each time, climbed 12 steps 3 or 4 times a days to get to his office, was a picture of health. thank you

Before I begin, I want you to know that I am not a medical professional. I am only passing on information that I did research on for you.

Pacerone, amiodarone- should only be used under close medical supervision. A response may not be seen for 1 or 2 weeks or months and could interfere with other treatments. Amiodarone should only be prescribed when other medications in this classification have failed. Severe, but rarely fatal lung or liver problems have occured in patients using this drug.Contact your dr. immediately if you experience any of these serious side effects. Cough,fever, chills, chest pain, difficulty breathing, nausea, dark urine,muscle pain, stomach pain, yellowing eyes/skin, unusually slow, irregular pulse, or blue-grey skin color. Like other medications that are used to treat irregular heartbeats, this medication could make the heartbeat worse.
So basically, you said that your dad was put on this medication first, then, avapro, then avalide, then finally norvasc. Norvasc is a calcium channel blocker. It is used to treat high blood pressure, not irregular heartbeat! avapro is an angiotensin blocker, it is also used to treat high blood pressure. Avalide is also an angiotensin blocker with hydrochlorothiazide added. It is also for high blood pressure. You said that he was put on pacerone first, then when you called the doctor and told them of the side effects that he was having, the medication was changed to these other meds that I just mentioned. If that is true, it doesn't make sense. Pacerone is used to treat irregular heartbeat, and should only be given after all other meds. of that kind haven't worked. the other meds are used to treat high blood pressure. I am curious to know if he was given the other medications because the pacerone was giving him side effects. As soon as that dr. heard that your father was having those side effects, he should have been admitted into the hospital immediately. Also, when taking pacerone, amiodarone, the Dr. should check the pulse EVERY DAY! Eye exams are REQUIRED with this drug. Your dr. may periodically take a blood sample to measure the amount of the drug in your body. Chest x-rays and EKG's are also done.
I hope this information helps.
TeeK58