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This page was prepared by Lynn Kash, RN, Internet Nursing Guide
Pennsylvania Nurses,Emergency Department
http://www.nursefriendly.com/kash/

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Amiodarone intravenous (Cordarone I.V.) in pediatric patients, July 26, 2001, Canadian Medical Association Journal:"Health Canada and Sabex Inc. are notifying health care professionals that amiodarone IV leaches out a potentially harmful plasticizer (DEHP) from intravenous tubing. Further, the medication contains a preservative (benzyl alcohol), which may be associated with fatal "gasping syndrome" in neonates."
http://collection.nlc-bnc.ca/100/201/300/cdn_medical_association/cmaj/FDA-Advisory/Amiodarone-07-26.htm

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Pharmacokinetics and Drug Interactions With Amiodarione: Guidelines for the Pharmacist, ContinuingEducation.com:"Amiodarone can be administered orally or by intravenous (IV) infusion. During IV infusion, the recommended dose of the diluted amiodarone hydrochloride is administered in 3 phases: a rapid loading phase, a slow loading phase, and a maintenance infusion phase. Short-term IV amiodarone infusion is used to stabilize cardiac rhythm, creating a window for oral therapy as maintenance, whereas oral amiodarone administration is used for long-term management of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias."
http://www.continuingeducation.com/pharmacy/amiodarone/pharmaco.html

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Amiodarone Oral, Who is this for, Drug Digest:"Amiodarone is used to treat and prevent abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). It improves the heart's rhythm by relaxing an overactive heart."
http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/DVH/Uses/0,3915,28|Amiodarone%2BOral,00.html

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Amiodarone (cardiac depressant), Indications, Electronic Doctor:"Prevention of tachyarrhythmias associated with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.(anomalous atrioventricular excitation;congenital heart condition with irregular heart beat and distorted patterns on ECG). Tachyarrhythmias of paroxysmal nature including supraventricular, nodal and ventricular tachycardiasatrial flutter ,atrial fibrillation and ventricular fibrillation where other drugs cannot be used."
http://www.edoc.co.za/medilink/actives/47.html

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Amiodarone Hydrochloride Injection Concentrate, Uses, Information for Health Professionals:"Amiodarone is a Class III antiarrhythmic agent prolonging the action potential duration and hence refractory period of atrial, nodal and ventricular tissues, thereby giving a very broad spectrum of activity. An increase in the refractory period of the atrial cells is a major contributing action to the control of atrial tachyarrhythmias."
http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Profs/Datasheet/a/Amiodaronhydrochlorideinj.htm

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Amiodarone (Systemic), Description, MEDLINEplus:"Amiodarone (am-ee-OH-da-rone ) belongs to the group of medicines known as antiarrhythmics. It is used to correct irregular heartbeats to a normal rhythm.

Amiodarone produces its helpful effects by slowing nerve impulses in the heart and acting directly on the heart tissues."
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202029.html

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Amiodarone hydrochloride, Action/Kinetics, Nurses PDR:" Blocks sodium channels at rapid pacing frequencies, causing an increase in the duration of the myocardial cell action potential and refractory period, as well as alpha- and beta-adrenergic blockade. The drug decreases sinus rate, increases PR and QT intervals, results in development of U waves, and changes T-wave contour. After IV use, amiodarone relaxes vascular smooth muscle, reduces peripheral vascular resistance (afterload), and increases cardiac index slightly. No significant changes are seen in left ventricular ejection fraction after PO use. Absorption is slow and variable but food increases the rate and extent of absorption."
http://www.nursespdr.com/members/database/ndrhtml/amiodaronehydrochloride.html

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Amiodarone, Description, RXlist:"Cordarone is a member of a new class of antiarrhythmic drugs with predominantly Class III (Vaughan Williams’ classification) effects, available for oral administration as pink, scored tablets containing 200 mg of amiodarone hydrochloride."
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/amiodarone.htm

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Amiodarone, Range and Frequency, Whole Health Md:"Adults: 800 to 2,400 mg per day in three or four equally divided doses at first; then 600 to 800 mg per day for one month; then 200 to 400 mg per day. Children: Dosage schedule varies according to the severity of the arrhythmia and often according to individual physician preferences."
http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/drugs_view/1,1524,22,00.html

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Amiodarone, Side Effects, xReferences:"harmless deposits may form on the cornea of the eyes, which usually cause no symptoms and reverse when the medication is stopped. In the long term amiodarone can have a number of adverse effects on the liver, eyes, lungs, and thyroid gland. About one-third of people taking the drug become more sensitive to the sun, and everyone taking amidarone should take care in the sun until they have established whether or not they are affected; people who tan easily are no more or less likely to be affected than very fair-skinned people. Sensitivity may be overcome by the use of sunscreens."
http://www.xrefer.com/entry/472218

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