Amiodarone

Fact Checked

Medically reviewed by Joseph Blais, Pharmacist

Last updated on July 2, 2019.

Overview | Dosage | Side Effects | Where To Buy

GENERIC NAME: Amiodarone

CHINESE NAME: 胺碘酮

COMMON BRANDS IN HONG KONG: Adarone, Amiodarone GP, Cordarone, Sedacoron

What is Amiodarone for?

Amiodarone belongs to a class of medications called class III anti-arrhythmic agents. It blocks certain electrical signals in your heart to restore the heart rhythm. Amiodarone can be used to treat arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms), including paroxysmal supraventricular, nodal and ventricular tachycardias, atrial fibrillation and flutter, ventricular fibrillation, and tachyarrhythmias associated with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. It is usually used when other drugs cannot be used. It can also be used as cardiopulmonary resuscitation for ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia that is not responding to defibrillation.

How to use it?

Amiodarone can be taken by mouth as tablets or by intravenous injection or infusion.

If you are taking it by mouth to treat arrhythmias, your doctor may suggest 200 mg 3 times daily for 1 week and reduce the dose to 200 mg twice daily for another 1 week. The maintenance dose of Amiodarone is usually 200 mg daily or the minimum effective dose. If you are taking it by intravenous infusion, you will be starting with 5 mg/kg over 20-120 together with ECG monitoring. The maximum daily dose is 1200 mg.

What are the side effects of Amiodarone?

Common side effects of Amiodarone include irregular heart rhythms, liver impairment, thyroid problems (hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism), nausea, lung toxicity, eye problems, photosensitivity to sunlight, and bluish discoloration of the skin.

Where to buy Amiodarone in Hong Kong?

In Hong Kong, Amiodarone is a prescription only medicine, and requires a prescription from a doctor to be purchased in a pharmacy. It can also be obtained from doctors. To find a pharmacy near you, refer to the list of pharmacies (“Authorized Sellers of Poisons”) from the Hong Kong Department of Health.

For more information about drug names and ingredients, you can visit Hong Kong’s Drug Office at http://www.drugoffice.gov.hk

For detailed information about the use of Amiodarone in children, pregnancy and breastfeeding, and for questions about drug interactions, please check with your pharmacist or doctor.

Disclaimer: our goal is to provide you with the most relevant drug information and common dosage for Hong Kong. This information does not constitute medical advice. For specific treatment recommendations and advice, always discuss with your doctor or pharmacist, and follow the instructions included with your specific medicine.