Amiodarone pulmonary toxicity

Background

Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic agent commonly used to treat supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. This drug is an iodine- containing compound with a large volume of distribution that tends to accumulate in several organs, including the lungs. Although the incidence of this complication has decreased with the use of lower doses of amiodarone, it can occur with any dose.

Amiodarone Adverse effects

Amiodarone Adverse Effects

• Bradycardia
• Hypotension with older solvent-based formulation. Uncommon with newer aqueous formulation.
• Prolonged QT
• Thyrotoxicosis
  • Between 5-20% of patients treated with amiodarone have thyrotoxicosis (higher in areas of iodine deficiency)
• Iodine-induced hyperthyroidism
  • It is thought that the iodine load may unmask hyperthyroidism in patients with multinodular goiter and subclinical Graves’ disease
• Drug-induced destructive thyroiditis
  • More commonly, the cytotoxic effects of amiodarone destroy thyroid cells, resulting in a release of preformed hormone.
• Amiodarone pulmonary toxicity
• Hyperpigmentation rash