Amiodarone: an emergency medicine perspective.
Amiodarone is a highly efficacious antiarrhythmic agent for many cardiac arrhythmias, ranging from atrial fibrillation to malignant ventricular rhythm disturbances. Significant interest has developed in recent years with the publication of randomized controlled trials supporting the efficacy of amiodarone over placebo and lignocaine for improving survival to hospital in patients with shock-resistant ventricular fibrillation. Amiodarone has complex pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties. It has significant long-term adverse effects, but short-term administration of intravenous amiodarone is generally well tolerated. This article will explore issues related to the clinical use of amiodarone from an emergency medicine perspective.
Taylor
Simone E
SE
Pharmacy Department, Austin Campus, Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre, Locked Bag 25, Heidelberg, 3084, Victoria, Australia. simone.taylor@armc.org.au
D000638:Amiodarone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000188:drug therapy; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000638:Amiodarone