R.E.B.E.L.EM - June 12, 2017 - By Anand Swaminathan
Post Peer Reviewed By: Mallemat H & and Rezaie S
..."This post dives into the three most common places amiodarone is employed in the ED: cardioverion of atrial fibrillation, cardioversion of VT and in refractory VF/VT cardiac arrest and demonstrates that superior evidence points to better options for management...
ClinicalBottom Line:
There is a danger in summarizing a complicated topic with a one liner but, in regards to amiodarone, the best available evidence does not show any clear benefit for any of the major indications for ED use. However, the drug does have proven harms (i.e. hypo/hyperthyroidism, pulmonary toxicity, acute liver disorders). Given that we have better options for stable AF and VT cardioversion and that we have more important interventions to focus on in cardiac arrest, amiodarone should not be routinely used for any of these indications."