The FDA recently announced changes in the labeling of the hepatitis C drugs Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) and Harvoni (sofosbuvir/ledipasvir) to warn about a risk of serious and potentially fatal bradycardia when either drug is taken with the antiarrhythmic drug amiodarone (Cordarone, and others).1 Symptomatic bradycardia was reported following initiation of treatment with Harvoni or with Sovaldi plus simeprevir (Olysio) or the investigational antiviral drug daclatasvir in 9 patients already taking amiodarone; it occurred within 24 hours of starting hepatitis C therapy in 6 patients and within 2-12 days in 3 others. One patient died of cardiac arrest and 3 required pacemaker implantation. In 3 patients who continued taking amiodarone, rechallenge with Harvoni or Sovaldi resulted in recurrence of symptomatic bradycardia. In another patient, rechallenge 8 weeks after stopping amiodarone did not result in bradycardia.

1. FDA. FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns of serious slowing of the heart rate when antiarrhythmic drug amiodarone is used with hepatitis C treatments containing sofosbuvir Harvoni or Sovaldi in combination with another direct acting antiviral drug. Available at http://www.fda.gov. Accessed April 2, 2015.
2. U Klotz. Antiarrhythmics: elimination and dosage considerations in hepatic impairment. Clin Pharmacokinet 2007; 46:985.