Amiodarone

• Treatment of severe rhythm disorders not responding to other therapies or when other treatments cannot be used.
• Tachyarrhythmias associated with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome.
• Atrial flutter and fibrillation when other drugs cannot be used.
• All types of tachyarrhythmias of paroxysmal nature including: supraventricular, nodal and ventricular tachycardias, ventricular fibrillation: when other drugs cannot be used.

The combination of amiodarone with drugs which may induce torsades de pointes is contra-indicated.

Amiodarone is excreted into the breast milk in significant quantities and breast-feeding is contra-indicated.

There are insufficient data on the use of amiodarone during pregnancy in humans to judge any possible toxicity.

However, in view of its effect on the foetal thyroid gland, amiodarone is contraindicated during pregnancy, except in exceptional circumstances.

If, because of the long half-life of amiodarone, discontinuation of the drug is considered prior to planned conception, the real risk of reoccurrence of life threatening arrhythmias should be weighed against the possible hazard for the foetus.

Amiodarone is contraindicated in thyroid dysfunction. Thyroid function tests should be performed in all patients prior to therapy.

Amiodarone is contraindicated in sinus bradycardia and sino-atrial heart block.