Amiodarone



Amiodarone is an investigational antiarrhyth­mic agent initially introduced as an antianginal coronary vasodilator. It has a broad spectrum of antiarrhythmic efficacy against supra ventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. Even though it prolongs the QT interval, it may sup­press arrhythmias in patients with the long QT syndrome. It is effective in AV nodal reentry, re­ciprocating tachycardias associated with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, atrial flutter, and atrial fibrillation, as well as ventricular tachy­arrhythmias. Antiarrhythmic efficacy develops after several days of oral administration but may occur earlier With intravenous administration. Amiodarone prolongs action potential duration and refractdriness in all cardiac tissues, slows sinus discharge, and prolongs AV nodal conduc­tion time. Because of a variety of adverse effects, amiodarone should be administered to patients with highly symptomatic or life-threatening ar­rhythmias and orily if conventional drug therapy has failed.