Pharmacokinetic study of amiodarone in dogs

Pharmacokinetic variables of Amiodarone were studied in six healthy dogs. P lasma levels of amiodarone and its metabolite, desethylamiodarone, were det erminated by HPLC at different moments, after an i.v. administration as inf usion of 5 mg/Kg in two minutes. A compartment model independent pharmacoki netic analysis program was used to evaluate plasma levels of amiodarone vs time. The following results were obtained: AUC: 9.95 +/- 2.91 mu g/mL/hr, b eta: 0.25 +/- 0.27 L/hr, Cl: 8.82 +/- 1.95 mL/min./Kg, TMR: 7.38 +/- 1.52 h rs, t(1/2)beta 5.056 +/- 4.5 hrs and Vd: 3.424 +/- 2.3 L/Kg. Amiodarone pha rmacokinetic disposition presented a rapid distribution and decrease from b lood during the first 30 minutes after i.v. Then it was slowly eliminated. It is concluded that amiodarone is an alternative to be considered in cardi ac pathology in dogs, since the pharmacokinetic parameters, similar to thos e of human volunteers, can contribute to determine the apropiate dose to be administered.