Male Speaker: The heart may be the most important organ in the body. When all its parts are working normally it beats an average one hundred thousand times a day, however, should the heart start skipping beats, an occurrence called arrhythmia, it may need the help of anti-arrhythmic medications to get it back in sync.

Dr. Michele Weizer: When you have an arrhythmia in some cases those arrhythmias can lead to a heart attack and sometimes death. So these medications are nice because they restore your rhythm.

Male Speaker: Once someone begins taking an anti-arrhythmic medication, it generally means they need to continue taking it for the rest of his or her life. Stopping without talking to your doctor first can be dangerous.

Dr. Michele Weizer: Patients who need anti-arrhythmic medication usually need it because there's a defect or an abnormality or an anomaly in the heart that can't be cured any other way. And a lot of patients who have atrial fibrillation will try a medication called Amiodarone. And with Amiodarone it does have quite a number of side-effects that we monitor for generally early on we don't see those side-effects but some of them can develop at a month or two or three years down the road. So when you take that medication you will find that you have to see your doctor frequently.

Male Speaker: Side-effects that are serious and can occur early on in treatment are shortness of breath and wheezing. You should call your doctor right away and seek medical treatment if this occurs. Changes in vision, is a side-effect that can occur overtime.

Dr. Michele Weizer: When you get a prescription for any of the anti-arrhythmic medications you will have an FDA medication guide that will be given to you that will give you all kinds of information about that but you also have your pharmacist that you can ask questions to and as well the physician who gives you prescription.

Male Speaker: Understanding what to expect and watch for is key.