Can amiodarone affect renal function?
Amiodarone is a class III antiarrhythmic drug highly effective against a wide spectrum of ventricular tachyarrhythmias. We report an unusual case of acute liver and renal failure within 24 hours of initiation of intravenous (IV) amiodarone.
Is amiodarone renal toxic?
As noted above, amiodarone is also a cationic amphiphilic drug, and its ability to produce similar inclusions in various tissues is not surprising. However, although it is a well-known cause of pulmonary and hepatic toxicity, significant renal toxicity has not been described.
Is amiodarone contraindicated in renal failure?
In these patients and in 10 additional patients with normal renal function taking amiodarone, only negligible amounts of either compound were detected in urine. These findings suggest that amiodarone may be a suitable antiarrhythmic agent for use in patients with chronic renal failure.
What does amiodarone do to your kidneys?
Conclusions. Amiodarone has a clear effect on serum creatinine. Maximum change in parameters of renal function occurs in conjunction with the time that serum concentrations of DEA stabilize during the first year of therapy.
Is amiodarone safe for elderly patients?
Older people taking amiodarone are at greater risk of developing either an over-active or an under-active thyroid. Amiodarone is also toxic to the skin and lungs. Pulmonary toxicity is more common in older people, and it increases threefold every 10 years of age in patients over 60.
How is amiodarone toxicity treated?
Amiodarone lung toxicity is a diagnosis of exclusion, and treatment includes simply withdrawing amiodarone, though steroids can be used in severe cases. A majority of patients improve significantly once amiodarone is stopped.
How dangerous a drug is amiodarone?
Amiodarone may cause a condition that affects the heart rhythm (QT prolongation). QT prolongation can rarely cause serious (rarely fatal) fast/irregular heartbeat and other symptoms (such as severe dizziness, fainting) that need medical attention right away.
What conditions does amiodarone HCl treat?
Amiodarone hydrochloride tablets are indicated for the treatment of documented, life-threatening recurrent ventricular fibrillation and life-threatening recurrent hemodynamically unstable tachycardia in adults who have not responded to adequate doses of other available antiarrhythmics or when alternative agents cannot be tolerated.
Does amiodarone cause constipation?
Common side effects include feeling tired, tremor, nausea, and constipation. As amiodarone can have serious side effects, it is mainly recommended only for significant ventricular arrhythmias.
What class of drug is amiodarone?
Medication Classification. Amiodarone is classified as an antiarrhythmic drug, meaning that it is used on patients who have heart arrhythmias especially atrial flutter, atrial fibrillation, and tachyarrhythmias. “ [Amiodarone is a] class III antiarrhythmic agent, which inhibits adrenergic stimulation; affects sodium, potassium,…