CVS: Amiodarone Flashcards
What class of Meds is Amiodarone?
Anti-arrhythmic
What does Amiodarone treat? (5 things)
- SVT
- VT
- VF
- AF
- Atrial flutter
What is the GENERAL MOA of Amiodarone?
Reduces cardiac muscle excitability –> anti-arrhythmic effect
What is the IN-DEPTH MOA of Amiodarone? (5 steps)
- Blocks potassium currents
- Stops repolarization of heart muscle @ 3rd phase of AP
- Increases AP duration + Refractory period of myocytes
- Reduces cardiac muscle cell excitability
- Anti-arrhythmic effect
What route should Amiodarone be given?
IV
(oral is rubbish, doesn’t increase survival)
What IV route is preferred for Amiodarone?
CENTRAL venous catheter
(bc via Peripheral veins causes Inflamm + Pain)
What are the Doses for Amiodarone? (2 things)
- Everything else: 5mg / kg (over 20-120 mins)
- VF / Pulseless VT: 300mg (over 3 mins) (then 150mg PRN)
What are the Monitoring Requirements for Amiodarone? (6 things)
- LFT b4 tx + every 6 months
- TFT b4 tx + every 6 months (+ every few months after stopping tx)
- Potassium conc b4 tx
- CXR b4 tx
- Monitor ECG
- Have Resus facilities available
What are the Side fx of Amiodarone? (8 things)
- Hypotension
- Arrhythmias
- Hepatic disorders
- Hyperthyroidism / hypothyroidism (contains iodine)
- Nausea
- Resp disorders
- Skin reactions
- Blurred vision
What advice should you tell a patient taking Amiodarone? (2 things)
- Sunscreen during tx + few months after (to shield skin from phototoxic reactions)
- Take care when driving, bc corneal microdeposits might give u Blurred vision
What are the CI for taking Amiodarone? (6 things)
- Conduction disturbances (unless pacemaker fitted)
- Sinus node disease (unless pacemaker fitted)
- Iodine sensitivity
- HB (except in cardiac arrest)
- Sinus bradycardia (except in cardiac arrest)
- Thyroid dysfunction
When should Amiodarone be used with Caution? (3 things)
- Pregnancy (can cause foetal hypothyroidism)
- HF
- Hypokalaemia
