Amiodarone: What is it and what is it for?

What is amiodarone?

Amiodarone is the name of asynthetic drug classified as an active ingredient, which belongs to the group of drugs known as antiarrhythmic agentswith effect on the heart rate of theheart. (1)

What is amiodarone for?

• The mechanism of amiodaronehas direct action on myocardial cells, blocking potassium channels and prolonging the potential duration of action and the refractory period, in addition to non-competitively inhibiting receptors a and b. It has vagolytic andcalcium-blocking properties, for the benefit of heart rhythm stabilization. (2)
• It is used to treat:
  • Irregular heart rhythms.
  • Ventricular arrhythmias, including recurrent ventricular fibrillation and recurrent ventricular tachycardia.
  • Paroxysmal or permanent supraventricular arrhythmias, atrial tachycardia and supraventricular.
  • Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, atrial and ventricular extrasystoles. (3)
  • Nodal, ventricular, and supraventricular tachyarrhythmias in Wolff Parkinson White syndrome .

Dosage and routes of administration of amiodarone

Amiodarone is available in 200 mg tablets containing amiodarone hydrochloride and in injectable solutiontag. The route of administration according to the presentation is orally and intravenously, respectively, and the dosage as a reference may be as follows:

• Tablets: In the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, initially and if necessary a Loading doseof 10 g divided between one and two weeks. Then 200 mg every 8 hours, for 8 to 10 days, and then a maintenance dose of 200 to 400 mg/day with 2 days off per week, depending on the judgment of the treating physician.
• Injectable solution: The usual dose is 5 mg/kg of weight administered in 250 ml of 5% dextrose, exclusively under medical recommendation.

What products contain amiodarone?

Some of the medicines that contain amiodarone are:

• Atlans®
• Amiowise®
• Cordarone®
• Trangorex®

Atlans®

• Atlansil is a synthetic medicine that uses amiodarone hydrochloride as an active ingredient, which comes in the form of 200 mg tablets.
• It is used in the prevention of recurrence of fibrillation and atrial flutter.

Amiowise®

• Amiowise® is a medicationthat uses amiodarone as its active ingredient, which comes in the form of an injectable solution.
• It is used to treat and prevent certain serious and possibly fatal types of ventricular arrhythmia .

Cordarone®

• Cordarone® is an antiarrhythmic medication, which has amiodarone as an active substance.
• It is used to try to restore and maintain a normal and stable heart rhythm .

Trangorex®

• Trangorex® is a synthetic pharmaceutically manufactured drug that contains amiodarone as its main chemical compound.
• It is used in cases of tachyarrhythmias associated with Wolff Parkinson White syndrome .

Amiodarone Side Effects

Amiodarone treatment may cause, in a certain patient population , some of the following side effects:

• Possible allergic reactions due to patient contact with any component of the formula.
• Rash, swelling, or breathing problems, swollen eyelids, face, lips, throat , or tongue .
• Bradycardia and ventricular arrhythmia.
• Risk of pulmonary toxicity in high doses.
• QT interval prolongation due to interaction with other drugs.
• It can worsen existing heart failure .
• Hypotension, photosensitivity, erythema, impaired thyroid function.
• Liver function disorders and acute liver disorders.
• Bronchospasm, peripheral neuropathy and/or myopathy, paresthesias.
• Nausea, vomiting , metallic taste, headache.
• Insomnia , fatigue, increased serum cholesterol concentrations.

Important: If any of these adverse reactions or others not included in this list appear during treatment with this drug, please stop using it and consult your doctor .

Contraindications and warnings of amiodarone

Amiodarone therapy is contraindicated in the following cases:

• Patient hypersensitivity to any of the components of the formula or to iodine .
• People with idiopathic or secondary sinoatrial block.
• Atrioventricular block, thyroid disorders.
• During the period of pregnancy or during Breastfeeding
• Patients with sinus bradycardia.
• In patients with renal insufficiency.
• In pediatric patients.
• Severe hypotension and severe respiratory failure.
• Drug therapy that may cause some type of interaction.

To be highlighted: Provide all information to your doctor about your health history, before starting the use of this drug.

Avoid it if you have:

• History of hypersensitivity to amiodarone or iodine.
• Cardiogenic shock, sick sinus syndrome, severe conduction disturbances.
• History of thyroid disorders.

Warnings:

• Pharmaceutical products such as amiodarone must be administered with a prescription or prescription.
• Do not exceed the dose recommended by your doctor and follow his instructions during the period of therapy.
• During treatment with this product, exposure to sunlight should be avoided.
• During long-term use of amiodarone, checks of plasma potassiumlevels should be made.
• Keep this medicine out of the reach of children.