Low dose amiodarone in refractory tachyarrhythmias

Indian Heart J. 1992 Jan-Feb;44(1):47-9.

Abstract

Fifty patients with drug resistant tachyarrhythmias were treated with amiodarone for 6-22 months; 16 for recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT), 2 for VT followed by ventricular fibrillation (VF), 14 for complex ventricular ectopics, and 18 for supraventricular tachyarrhythmias (SVT). Amiodarone was administered in a dose much lower than that used in western trials. The actual incidence of successful amiodarone therapy was 81.2% at 22 months for patients with VT. Among the patients with SVT, 88.6% patients were successfully treated for 22 months (range 3-22 months). Amiodarone toxicity appeared in 22 of 50 patients (44%) treated for more than 12 weeks. Withdrawal of therapy was required in 4 patients. Despite the lower dose, clinical efficacy and onset of action were comparable to the western experience.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Amiodarone / administration & dosage*
  • Amiodarone / adverse effects
  • Child
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / drug effects
  • Female
  • Heart Rate / drug effects
  • Heart Rate / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Tachycardia, Paroxysmal / drug therapy*
  • Tachycardia, Paroxysmal / physiopathology
  • Tachycardia, Supraventricular / drug therapy*
  • Tachycardia, Supraventricular / physiopathology
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / drug therapy*
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / physiopathology

Substances

  • Amiodarone