Meta Information
ID:amiodarone
Name:Amiodarone
Schema Version:1.5
Alternate Names
- Cordarone
- Pacerone
- Nexterone
Active Compound
amiodarone
Intervention Type
therapeutic_agent
Delivery
Route:
oral
Scope:
- systemic
Regulatory Status
- us:rx_drug
- eu:rx_drug
Indication
Focus:
disease_treatment
Description:
Treatment of life-threatening recurrent ventricular arrhythmias, such as ventricular fibrillation or hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia, when other therapies are ineffective or not tolerated.
Typical Protocol
- Oral loading doses of 800-1600 mg/day are given in a hospital setting for 1-3 weeks.
- Maintenance doses are typically reduced to the lowest effective dose, usually 200-400 mg/day.
- Intravenous administration is used for acute, life-threatening arrhythmias in a hospital setting.
Expected Cost Mean
Low Cost:
10
High Cost:
30
Cost Type:
monthly
Description:
Cost for generic oral tablets; typically covered by prescription drug insurance.
Summary
Amiodarone is a potent antiarrhythmic drug used to treat life-threatening heart rhythm disorders. It works by blocking several types of electrical channels in heart muscle cells, which slows down nerve impulses and stabilizes the heart's rhythm. Due to its significant and potentially fatal toxicity, its use is reserved for situations where other treatments have failed or are not tolerated.
Purpose
A potent drug to treat life-threatening irregular heart rhythms.
Card Summary
A potent Class III antiarrhythmic drug used to treat life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias by stabilizing the heart's electrical activity.
Drug Class
class_iii_antiarrhythmic
Drugs In Class
Empty Array
Impact
Score:
8.5
Justification:
Highly effective, life-saving intervention for specific life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.
Evidence
Grade:
A
Score:
9.5
Justification:
Extensive evidence from multiple large randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses.
Safety
Score:
9
Justification:
High risk of severe, potentially fatal toxicities affecting lungs, liver, and thyroid.
Flags
- US FDA Black Box Warning for life-threatening arrhythmias, hepatotoxicity, and pulmonary toxicity.
- Can cause irreversible, potentially fatal pulmonary fibrosis.
- May cause severe liver injury requiring regular monitoring of liver function.
- Frequently causes thyroid dysfunction (both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism).
- Can cause corneal microdeposits and optic neuropathy, potentially leading to blindness.
- Has a very long half-life (weeks to months), so side effects can persist long after discontinuation.
- Numerous significant drug interactions, including with warfarin, digoxin, and certain statins.
- Causes photosensitivity, increasing the risk of severe sunburn.
Verdict
A last-resort, life-saving drug for severe arrhythmias with major toxicity risks.
Qualifier
scope: systemic, focused on disease treatment
Created
2026-05-02T01:51:27.929219Z
Ai Model
Gemini 2.5 Pro (High)
Non Healthspan
True