Intravenously, for initiation of treatment and prophylaxis of frequently recurring ventricular fibrillation and hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia in patients refractory to other therapy. Orally, for the treatment of life-threatening recurrent ventricular arrhythmias such as recurrent ventricular fibrillation and recurrent hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia.
The antiarrhythmic effect of amiodarone may be due to at least two major actions. It prolongs the myocardial cell-action potential (phase 3) duration and refractory period and acts as a noncompetitive a- and b-adrenergic inhibitor.
Intravenous, mouse: LD<sub>50</sub> = 178 mg/kg. Some side effects have a significant mortality rate: specifically, hepatitis, exacerbation of asthma and congestive failure, and pneumonitis.
Slow and variable (about 20 to 55% of an oral dose is absorbed).
58 days (range 15-142 days)
Amiodarone is eliminated primarily by hepatic metabolism and biliary excretion and there is negligible excretion of amiodarone or DEA in urine.
* 90-158 mL/h/kg [Healthy with a single dose IV (5 mg/kg over 15 min)] * 100 mL/h/kg [Normal subjects > 65 yrs] * 150 mL/h/kg [younger subjects] * 220 and 440 mL/h/kg [patients with VT and VF]