Amiodarone: Effective Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation

If you suffer from any cardiovascular complication, you have most likely heard your cardiologist mention a drug known as Amiodarone. As an compound that contains iodine, and is rich in DEA, desethylamiodarone, which may alter your cardiovascular complication risks significantly.

While only FDA approved in the treatment of arrhythmias, patients who suffer from, or are at risk for, atrial fibrillation are also using Amiodarone as part of their treatment protocol. The DEA compound found in Amiodarone is believed to prevent arrhythmia, providing a method by which the QT interval can be prolonged.

With so many cardiologist beginning to use Amiodarone, if you are a patient who suffers from atrial fibrillation, it is important to discuss the use of this drug as part of your treatment plan. Because, with atrial fibrillation, you may be at risk for sudden death, Amiodarone may be the drug needed to prevent such an occurrence.

As with all cardiovascular drugs, there are patients who suffer from atrial fibrillation who should not use Amiodarone in treatment. Specifically, if you are pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, Amiodarone should be used with extreme caution as it will cross the placental membrane and impact fetal growth and development. It further crosses into breast milk and can impact the health of children who are breast feeding as well.

Additionally, because the benefits of Amiodarone mimic that of thyroxine, its use may not be appropriate in patients who suffer from co morbid thyroid disorders.

While not FDA approved for use in atrial fibrillation patients, if your cardiologist chooses to begin Amiodarone for your specific case of atrial fibrillation, you will want to be sure dosing is in compliance with what has historically worked. In most cases, dosing of Amiodarone is successful at 200 milligrams per day after an initial intravenous dose is given.

When you begin Amiodarone, in treating your atrial fibrillation, you may notice complications of nausea, stomach pain and even constipation; these are normal symptoms of this drug compound use.