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Amiodarone is a prescription antiarrhythmic medicine reserved for selected adults with documented life-threatening recurrent ventricular fibrillation or recurrent hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia. It is used when other antiarrhythmic medicines have not worked adequately or cannot be tolerated. Oral tablets commonly contain 200 mg of amiodarone hydrochloride and require close clinical monitoring.
read more about amiodarone ...Amiodarone has electrophysiologic properties from all four Vaughan Williams antiarrhythmic classes. It blocks potassium channels and also affects sodium channels, calcium channels, and sympathetic activity. These actions prolong the cardiac action potential and refractory period, slow conduction, and reduce automaticity. The broad cardiac effects help control serious ventricular arrhythmias but also contribute to toxicity and drug interactions.
Oral amiodarone is labeled for documented life-threatening recurrent ventricular fibrillation and recurrent hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia in adults who have not responded to adequate doses of other antiarrhythmics or cannot tolerate alternative medicines. Treatment starts in a clinical setting where continuous electrocardiographic monitoring and cardiac resuscitation equipment are available.
Dosing is individualized. Current labeling starts with 800 to 1600 mg daily until an initial response occurs, usually within one to three weeks. The dose is then reduced to 600 to 800 mg daily for one month and later to a maintenance dose that is commonly 400 mg daily. Tablets are taken consistently in relation to meals.
Amiodarone carries a boxed warning for lung, liver, and cardiac toxicity. It can also cause thyroid disorders, slow heart rate, vision changes, nerve injury, photosensitivity, and numerous drug interactions. Baseline and periodic testing includes chest imaging, pulmonary assessment, liver tests, thyroid tests, electrolyte review, and electrocardiographic monitoring according to the clinical situation.
Yes. Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic with properties from several electrophysiologic drug classes.
Its U.S. tablet label covers recurrent ventricular fibrillation and recurrent hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia under specified circumstances.
Yes. Amiodarone can cause either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, so thyroid function is checked before and during treatment.
Amiodarone can cause serious pulmonary toxicity, so baseline and follow-up lung assessment forms part of labeled monitoring.
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DailyMed - PACERONE (amiodarone hydrochloride) Tablet. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=4c4ec9b0-13a5-49a8-b57b-b3f64e4316a7. Date Accessed September 11, 2026.
FDALabel - Amiodarone Hydrochloride. https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/ui/spl-summaries/criteria/391638. Date Accessed September 11, 2026.
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