Amiodarone Hydrochloride

Presented By :

Hamna Mubashir - 4530

Sumaiqa Bibi - 4559
Amiodarone Hydrochloride
This medication is used to treat certain types of
serious (possibly fatal) irregular heartbeat (such as
recurrent ventricular fibrillation/tachycardia). It is
used to restore normal heart rhythm and maintain
a regular, steady heartbeat
Mechanism of Action :
Indications :
Intravenous injection of amiodarone is used in cardiopulmonary resuscitation for
ventricular fibrillation or pulseless trachycardia unresponsive to other
.
interventions

Oral and IV amiodarone is used in the treatment of arrhythmias particularly

when the other drugs are ineffective or contraindicated

In the non-emergency settings it should only be initiated under

specialist supervisuon
 Side Effects :
1 Amiodarone therapy can be proarrhythmogenic in
patients with significant structural heart disease

2 Amiodarone contains iodine and can cause both

hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism

3 Liver toxicity can also occur , so liver biochemistry

should be measured before and then every 6 months of
treatment

4 Other side effects are reversible corneal microdeposits ,

phototoxic skin reactions , slate - grey skin pigmentation
and peripheral neuropathy
Preparation and Dosage
Tablets : 100 mg , 200 mg Injection : 30 mg/ml or
Concentrated 50 mg/ml

Oral :

Oral administration is 200 mg three times daily for 1 week reduced to 200 mg
twice daily for further week . The maintenance dose os usually 200 mg daily to
control arrhythmia.

Intravenous :

Intravenous administration is via central line catheter, initially 5 mg/kg in

250 ml glucose 5 % over 20-120 minutes with ECG monitoring . This may
be repeated if necessary to a maximum of 1.2 g in 23 hours in 500 ml . As
soon as an adequate response has been achieved , oral therapy should be
initiated.
 Contraindications :

It is contraindicated in sinus bradycardia, unless pacemaker is

fitted , iodine sensitivity and thyroid dysfunction

Many drugs interact with amiodarone, including warfarin and

digoxin

It has a very long half-life and many months be

required to achieve steady state concentrations
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