Drug reference
amiodarone
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Drug class
Cardiovascular (Anti Arrhythmia)
Mechanism of action
Class III antiarrhythmic agent, which inhibits adrenergic stimulation; affects sodium, potassium, and calcium channels; markedly prolongs action potential and repolarization; decreases AV conduction and sinus node function
Common side effects
- Malaise
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Increased liver AST or ALT levels
- Hypotension
- Abnormal gait/ataxia
Boxed warnings
- Indicated only for life-threatening arrhythmias Indicated only for life-threatening arrhythmias because of risk for substantial toxicity; poses major management problems that could be life-threatening in patients at risk of sudden death; therefore, make every effort to utilize alternative agents first Difficulty of using amiodarone effectively and safely poses significant risk to patients Patients must be hospitalized while IV loading dose administered; response generally requires at least 1 week Absorption and elimination variable, maintenance dosing difficult, and often requires…
Contraindications
- Severe sinus node dysfunction, 2°/3° AV block or bradycardia causing syncope (except with functioning artificial pacemaker), cardiogenic shock Avoid during breastfeeding
Known interactions (23)
- amiodarone + dronedarone Contraindicated
- amiodarone + pimozide Contraindicated
- amiodarone + saquinavir/ritonavir Contraindicated
- amiodarone + thioridazine Contraindicated
- amiodarone + ziprasidone Contraindicated
- amiodarone + Azithromycin Major
- amiodarone + Cardiac Disease Major
- amiodarone + colchicine Major
- amiodarone + dabigatran Major
- amiodarone + digoxin Major
- amiodarone + eplerenone Major
- amiodarone + everolimus Major
- amiodarone + fingolimod Major
- amiodarone + flibanserin Major
- amiodarone + levofloxacin Major
- amiodarone + ondansetron Major
- amiodarone + sofosbuvir Major
- amiodarone + torsemide Major
- amiodarone + verapamil Major
- amiodarone + warfarin Major
- amiodarone + goserelin Moderate
- amiodarone + leuprolide Moderate
- amiodarone + triptorelin Moderate
Related conditions
Frequently asked questions
What drug class is amiodarone?
amiodarone belongs to: Cardiovascular.
How does amiodarone work?
Class III antiarrhythmic agent, which inhibits adrenergic stimulation; affects sodium, potassium, and calcium channels; markedly prolongs action potential and repolarization; decreases AV conduction and sinus node function
What are the common side effects of amiodarone?
Malaise, Dizziness, Headache, Increased liver AST or ALT levels, Hypotension, Abnormal gait/ataxia
Which drugs interact with amiodarone?
dronedarone, pimozide, saquinavir/ritonavir, thioridazine, ziprasidone, Azithromycin, Cardiac Disease, colchicine, dabigatran, digoxin, eplerenone, everolimus, fingolimod, flibanserin, levofloxacin
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