Amiodarone cardiovascular effects

Pharmacodynamic interactions. Many TCAs cause sedation and therefore co-prescription with other sedative agents such as opioid analgesics, antihistamines, anxiolytics, hypnotics and alcohol may lead to excessive drowsiness and daytime somnolence. The majority of TCAs can have undesirable cardiovascular effects, in particular prolongation of the QT interval. A similar risk of QT prolongation arises with many other cardiovascular drugs including amiodarone, disopyramide, procainamide, propa-... 

During post-marketing surveillance of sparfloxacin in France over a period of 8 months (about 750 000 patients) serious adverse cardiovascular effects were reported in 7 patients. All 7 patients had underlying risk factors including 3 patients who were also receiving amiodarone. Offhese, 2 patients had documented QT prolongation and ventricular tachycardia. ... 

Amiodarone is a Type III antiarrhythmic agent. It has been shown in several clinical trials to be safe and effective in the treatment of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias in patients with cardiovascular disease. Amiodarone is also associated with fewer proarrhythmic effects compared with other antiarrhythmic drugs. Amiodarone is empirically dosed and adjusted based on efficacy and toxicity. 

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