FOCUS ON IV AMIODARONE - A NEW FORMULATION FOR ACUTE ARRHYTHMIA TREATMENT

An TV formulation of the class III antiarrhythmic agent amiodarone has recently received FDA approval The IV formulation is indicated for th e treatment of recurrent life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and for the treatment of patients in whom amiodarone is the drug of choice but who cannot receive oral therapy. Intravenous amiodarone has been shown to be efficacious and to possess a favorable safety profile. Wit h its ease of administration and more rapid onset of action than oral amiodarone, TV amiodarone represents a useful addition to the antiarrh ythmic armamentarium in acute situations when other therapy has been u nsuccessful.