Amiodarone remains a widely used and effective treatment for ventricular arrhythmias across various clinical settings, though its application is significantly limited by drug toxicity.
This review provides a comprehensive overview of the pharmacology, clinical indications, dosage, and toxicity of amiodarone for the management of ventricular arrhythmias in contemporary clinical practice.
Ventricular arrhythmias still represent an important cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in patients with heart failure and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. Amiodarone is a Class III Vaughan-Williams anti-arrhythmic drug widely used in ventricular arrhythmias for its efficacy and low pro-arrhythmogenic effect. On the other hand, a significant limitation in its use is represented by toxicity. In this review, the pharmacology of the drug is discussed to provide the mechanistic basis for its clinical use. Moreover, all the latest evidence on its role in different clinical settings is provided, including the prevention of sudden cardiac death, implanted cardioverter defibrillators, ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathies. A special focus is placed on everyday clinical practice learning points, such as dosage, indications, and contraindications from the latest guidelines.
Pannone et al. (Wed,) conducted a review in Ventricular arrhythmias. Amiodarone was evaluated. Amiodarone remains a widely used and effective treatment for ventricular arrhythmias across various clinical settings, though its application is significantly limited by drug toxicity.