title: Amiodarone: pharmacology and antiarrhythmic and adverse effects.
abstract: Amiodarone is a benzofuran derivative that has been effective for the treatment of both supraventricular and ventricular tachyarrhythmias. It has a large volume of distribution, moderate bioavailability and a long half-life. Its pharmacokinetics are not well understood and its tissue distribution is not typical of a 2-compartment model. Due to ocular, dermatologic, gastrointestinal, neurologic, cardiovascular, thyroid and pulmonary toxicity, amiodarone should be reserved for use in patients with refractory and/or life-threatening arrhythmias.
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001682:Biological Availability; D002312:Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / Q000188:drug therapy; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000209:etiology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000139:chemically induced; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D013614:Tachycardia, Paroxysmal / Q000188:drug therapy; D013723:Teratogens
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D013723:Teratogens; D000638:Amiodarone