title: Amiodarone and dronedarone: An update.
abstract: This article provides a contemporary review of the current role of amiodarone and dronedarone in patients with atrial fibrillation who need to undergo rhythm control therapy for relief of symptoms. Amiodarone is the most widely prescribed antiarrhythmic drug for this indication. Recent findings show that its use is not associated with increased mortality even in patients with advanced structural heart disease. However, its extracardiac side effect profile may limit its widespread use. Dronedarone appears to be a useful drug in patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation. However, the compound cannot be used in patients with heart failure. In permanent atrial fibrillation, dronedarone is likewise contraindicated based on findings from the PALLAS trial.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Electrophysiology, Department of Cardiology, J.W. Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Mate
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vamos
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Electrophysiology, Department of Cardiology, J.W. Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany. Electronic address: hohnloser@em.uni-frankfurt.de.
authors.forename: Stefan H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hohnloser
mesh_terms: D000638:Amiodarone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D000077764:Dronedarone; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants; D000077764:Dronedarone; D000638:Amiodarone
keywords: Amiodarone; Antiarrhythmic drugs; Atrial fibrillation; Dronedarone