Abstract

LONG TERM DRUG THERAPY OF AMIODARONE ON BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS

Konda Ravi Kumar*, M. Sirisha, S. K. Khyrun Baji, CH. Ramana Reddy

Abstract

Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic drug that is commonly used for the treatment of ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias. Amiodarone as an iodinated benzofuran derivative is a potent antiarrhythmic drug that is being used for the treatment of a wide variety of cardiac arrhythmias. Thyroid, lung, liver, ophthalmologic and neurologic systems can be affected by Amiodarone. Most of the adverse effects of the drug are related to its dosage and duration of administration. Therefore the effectiveness of Amiodarone in long-term treatment of patients with heart arrhythmia is limited because of the development of its adverse side effects. Acute adverse effects of amiodarone include hypotension, bradycardia, chemical peripheral phlebitis and nausea.[15] Long-term treatment can produce adverse effects presenting several degrees of severity, frequency and time of beginning, especially on the lung, the thyroid, the liver or the cornea. Lung-toxicity determines cough, dyspnoea, fever, loss of weight, chest pain, and rarely haemoptysis.

Keywords: Amiodarone, arrhythmia, biological system, overdose.