title: Side effects and complications of amiodarone therapy.
abstract: To assess the incidence of adverse effects associated with long-term amiodarone therapy, we reviewed the records of 217 consecutive patients who were treated for refractory arrhythmia. After an average of 11.8 months of therapy, one or more side effects occurred in 113 patients (52%). These were considered clinically significant in 42 patients (19.3%), mandating discontinuation of amiodarone in 18 (8.3%). The untoward reactions requiring discontinuation of amiodarone included thyroid dysfunction, visual disturbances, pulmonary infiltrates, ataxia, cardiac conduction abnormalities, and drug interactions. The mild side effects included corneal microdeposits, skin rashes, and gastrointestinal symptoms. There was a weak correlation between blood levels of amiodarone, the daily dose, and the cumulative dose (r = 0.23, p = 0.015). Drug levels were higher in symptomatic patients (p less than 0.03), although they received lower doses of amiodarone. While amiodarone is associated with frequent side effects, they are generally mild and do not necessitate drug discontinuation. Careful monitoring of therapy is essential to detect the potentially serious adverse reactions which are encountered in nearly 20% of patients.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Raeder
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Podrid
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lown
mesh_terms: D000638:Amiodarone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001259:Ataxia / Q000139:chemically induced; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000209:etiology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D013997:Time Factors; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D014859:Warfarin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D014859:Warfarin; D000638:Amiodarone