Clinical reviews about Overall Incidence of Adverse Effects in Amiodarone Treatment

Abstract

Amiodarone is a effective agent for the treatment of many cardiac rhythm disturbances, ranging from paroxysmal atrial fibrillation to intractable ventricular tachyarrhythmias. However, amiodarone causes variable adverse effects from minor to life threatening. The aim of this study was to review general incidence of and associated factors with the adverse effects of amiodarone medication. Eight hundred seventy six patients who had taken amiodarone regularly over three months or who stopped medication due to any adverse effect between November 1996 and March 2005 at Keimyung University Dongsan medical center were included. Ninty six patients (11.0%) developed the amiodarone toxicity in any type. Among them, 60 patients showed hypothyroidism and held 62.5%. 10 patients showed pulmonary toxicity and held 10.4%, 20 patients and 20.8%, 6 patients and 6.3%. Patients with toxicity were older than patients without toxicity as 65.1±12.1 and 61.9±13.4 yr (p=0.026). Total dose and duration of amiodarone medication in the toxicity group were 1615.4±1414.6 gm and 734.9±677.1 days and 565.4±668.1 gm and 1249.7±1411.6 days in non-toxicity group respectively. The incidence of amiodarone induced toxicity was generally lower than established reports. If we had done regular protocol for checking up amiodarone adverse effects, we could detect amiodarone induced toxicity more exactly. It suggests that an incidence of amiodarone induced adverse effects can be lessened and the toxicity is prevented to some degree treating patients with amiodarone more carefully and performing a regular follow up protocol during medication.