The drug "Amiodarone": analogues, instructions, reviews

The heart, as you know, is our main organ, but it often fails. In order to restore its normal life use a variety of drugs. One of them is Amiodarone. Analogues are much more expensive, as they are produced abroad and not always effective.

Composition of the preparation and form of release

The drug "Amiodarone", about which the most diverse, contains in one tablet 200 mg of the active ingredient - amiodarone hydrochloride. The drug is produced in the form of a solution, where 5% of the active substance is accounted for 3 ml.

Auxiliary components in the composition of one tablet are: potato starch, crystalline microcellulose, milk sugar, maltodextrin, impellose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, magnesium stearate.

The tablets are covered with a glaze of white color with a light, subtle creamy tinge. They have a flat-cylindrical shape, as well as facet and risk. Therefore, if necessary, they can easily be divided into two equal parts.

The drug is sold in cardboard boxes, where there is one or two blisters with ten tablets. The medicine is also available in glass, polymer and plastic bottles, which have 30 or 100 tablets each.

Pharmacological mechanism of action of the drug

Antiarrhythmic and antianginal property is characterized by "Amiodarone", analogues in some cases can replace it. Its antiarrhythmic effect is based on a decrease in the currents of potassium ions when exposed to cell membranes - cardiomyocytes. Causes a decrease in the sinus node, which forms a bradycardia.

Using the drug "Amiodarone" (tablets) allows you to increase the refractory segment of the conductive mechanism of the heart. It inhibits conductivity along secondary pathways in patients with advanced Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. In turn, the antianginal effect of the drug is based on a decrease in myocardial oxygen consumption and a decrease in its effect on arterial muscles. Has in its composition iodine, which when used changes the quantitative content of thyroid hormones, as a result of which the degree of their effect on the myocardium decreases.

"Amiodarone" has a cumulative effect, and a pronounced effect from its use comes only after a week of regular use of the drug, and the maximum is achieved in two to three weeks.

Inside absorbs about 40% of the drunk dose of the drug, Cmax in the plasma is manifested after 3-7 hours. The effect is able to persist for several weeks. The metabolic processes occur mainly in the liver, where the active element desethylamiodarone is formed, which is the main metabolite. It is excreted with excreted bile and urine, T1 / 2 - after a single dose of the drug 3.2-20.7 hours, with prolonged therapy - after 53 ± 24 days.

Medication "Amiodarone": indications for use

Prescribe a drug for the prevention and treatment of arrhythmia, which can kill life threateningly, as well as ventricular arrhythmias, in the flutter of the ventricles with unstable dynamics, also use the drug Amiodarone.

Indications for use allow the use of the drug when:

• Atrial flutter;
• Supraventricular arrhythmia;
• Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome;
• Occurrence of tachycardia;
• Fibrillation state of the ventricles;
• Arrhythmia caused by cardiac and coronary insufficiency;
• Chronic ischemic heart disease;
• Myocardial infarction.

Amiodaron: instructions for use

Tablets are intended for oral administration 15 minutes after eating.

During the disease, ventricular arrhythmia, the dose recommended by the doctor is 800-1200 mg per day. It should be divided into 3-4 sessions. The course of treatment in this case lasts about 5-10 days and to ensure a more stable condition of the patient can be prolonged, and the rate can be reduced to 600-800 mg per day. This is an intensive treatment, which then goes on to preventive, with a lower dose of the drug.

The therapeutic maintenance period is 7-14 days, at which time the drug is taken at 200-400 mg. This amount of medicine is prescribed to stabilize the patient's condition during the post-rehabilitation period.

Often, the medicine "Amiodarone" is prescribed when the patient is in the hospital, and his doctor can monitor it. This helps to minimize side effects and individually adjust the dose of the drug.

When the disease is stenocardia, the drug is consumed twice a day for 200 mg. After two weeks, the dosage is reduced to once a day. The maximum dose of a single dose should not exceed 400 mg, and the daily dose - 1200 mg.

When prescribing such drugs, children should be aware that tablets affect the baby much more quickly than adults. Therefore, the dosage is calculated based on the weight of the child. So, one kilogram of weight should be 10 mg of the drug. This dose should be maintained for ten days of the therapeutic period or until the patient's condition is fully improved. In the future, this standard is reduced to the proportion: 5 mg per kilogram of the child's live weight. Preventive and maintenance dose is taken based on one kilogram of weight 2.4 mg of the drug Amiodarone.

Indications for the drug prescribed to use a solution based on the active substance amiodarone hydrochloride for acute violations of the heart rhythm. In this case, the drug is administered intravenously, injected slowly into the body using a dropper. To do this, in 250 ml of 5% glucose solution for 1 or 2 hours, slowly inject the drug at a rate of 5 mg per kilogram of live weight. At this time, the patient's condition is monitored by ECG and blood pressure readings.

Adverse events

A lot of people in our country are prescribed the medicine "Amidaron". Analogues can not always replace it. But, despite the positive effects of the drug on the human body, side effects were also identified.

Negative symptoms are manifested mainly due to an overdose of the drug. These are violations in the work of the cardiovascular system, such as bradycardia, malfunctioning of the sinus node, cardiac blockade, impaired coordination of movement. Also on the part of the respiratory organs was observed diffuse interstitial lung fibrosis, interstitial pneumonia, Hammen-Rich syndrome, sternal pain, pulmonary fibrosis, tachypnea, bronchopulmonary spasms. Hepatic insufficiency was observed when taking Amidarone. Tablets in rare cases caused jaundice, hepatitis, and sometimes cirrhosis of the liver.

Failure to comply with the dosage can cause a significant imbalance of thyroid hormones, distearosis, as well as hypothyroidism and a set of extra pounds. Overdose can lead to disruption of the visual apparatus, causing a buildup of lipids in the cornea in the pupil area. There was also pronounced skin pigmentation, photosensitivity, hives, or erythema. On the face were observed minor rashes, alopecia, dermatitis. Side effects also affected the reproductive function in men. In these cases, there was orchitis, impotence, as well as epididymitis. Rarely occurred thrombocytopenia, renal failure, Quincke's edema or vasculitis.

Contraindications to use

"Amiodarone" (reviews about it are not always positive) are selected strictly individually. There are people who did not help this drug or did not notice any changes in their health state at all, others started to choke after using it, they felt a rapid heartbeat. From their words, with prolonged admission, he is able to disrupt the endocrine system, increase hormones. Therefore, before taking this medication, you need not only carefully read the instructions, but also pay attention to the indications, side effects and contraindications.

So, the medicine is not appointed if there is an atrioventricular blockade of 2-3 degrees, with cardiogenic shock, thyrotoxicosis. The drug "Amiodarone" is not used at high sensitivity to its active ingredient and iodine. The prohibition is serious violations of cardiac conduction and attacks of bradycardia with syncope. Do not take medicine during the period of pregnancy and lactation. When lactating, during the treatment with the drug, you should stop breastfeeding.

Special recommendations

The therapeutic treatment with Amiodarone should be closely monitored by the physician. Instructions for use of the pill are recommended for use after X-ray examination of the liver, lungs and electrocardiogram. Such monitoring should be carried out in the future, if the patient continues to take the medicine.

The severity of side effects often directly depends on the dose that the patient uses. Try to use the drug as rarely as possible and in minimal amounts. Often causes the failure of the heart rhythm canceling the drug "Amiodarone".

Instructions for use - reviews say that, despite the side effects, this drug has saved more than one life - claims that the pharmacological action of the drug is still two weeks after its withdrawal.

Tablets contain iodine, which contributes to the accumulation of the level of radioactive iodine in the thyroid gland. Therefore, at the beginning of therapeutic treatment, in the process and at the end, you must constantly take tests for the amount of thyroid hormones.

During therapeutic treatment, you should avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, do not take open sunbathing. The drug should be administered with extreme caution to the elderly, with general anesthesia or during the course of oxygen treatment. With cautiousness it should be used by drivers of vehicles and persons whose profession is associated with a special concentration of attention.

In cases of overdose, there may be an increase in side effects, as well as hypotension, arrhythmia. There may be a bradycardia or a malfunction in AV conduction. An overabundance can lead to liver dysfunction.

In this case, immediate washing of the stomach is recommended, activated charcoal is prescribed, saline solutions are recommended. With bradycardia, atropine injections are made, beta-adrenoceptor agonists are used, and cardiac pacemaking is performed.

Interrelation with other drugs

Caution should be applied to the drug simultaneously with other drugs, especially if they are from the same antiarrhythmic group. It is not necessary to combine his reception with "Erythromycin", "Pentamidine" and "Vinkamin." There is a risk of developing polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in combination with Sultopride. It is not recommended to combine the administration of CCB and beta-blockers with "Amphotericin B" and drugs that cause a laxative effect, diuretics. Be wary of using the drug in combination with corticosteroids, antidepressants, Astemizol, Terfenadine. Is able to significantly enhance the effect of drugs such as: "Warfarin", "Phenytoin", "Cyclosporine" or "Digoxin." When used concurrently with "Cimetidine" slows the process of metabolism in the body.

Validity and storage rates

The drug "Amiodarone", whose action is directed to the elimination of tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, tachyarrhythmia and to reduce atrial flutter, belongs to the category of preparations of group "B". Shelf life of the drug does not exceed three years. Tablets should be stored in a dark, cool and inaccessible place for children.

It is necessary to strictly control the use of the drug Amiodarone. The prescription for its use is prescribed only by a doctor. In this case, self-treatment should be completely ruled out.

Analogs of the medicinal product

If you suddenly did not come up with the drug Amiodarone, analogues can be found in any pharmacy. Among them, you can identify such drugs as "Amiodaron Belupo" and "Amiodarone Aldaron", "Angoron" and "Atlasil", and "Cordarone" or "Cordini" can also replace this medicine. Similar to "Amiodarone" in its effects on the human body, "Medacoron" and "Palpitin." In some cases, the drug is replaced with "Sedacoron" and "Sandoz".

These drugs either contain the same active substance, or are similar in their antiarrhythmic action with the drug Amiodarone. Analogues are often issued abroad and are several times more expensive.

Patient Reviews

Many patients note the stabilization of their condition after taking Amiodarone. Instructions for use - analogues of the drug are often selected based on the individual characteristics of the body - promises normalization of the heart rhythm, pressure. With short-term admission and in small doses, as a rule, problems do not arise, and the drug has an effective effect.

After a long medication, a portion of the patients developed shortness of breath, palpitations, nervousness and depression, sudden mood swings and an increase in thyroid hormones, an upset of the gastrointestinal tract, and in some cases nausea and vomiting.

Very many people use it in the treatment of angina, and note that it is no worse than imported analogues. Some men are afraid to take the drug, because it is they who can cause a number of oncological diseases. There is an opinion that the drug should be taken only in a condition that threatens human life, in all other situations it should look for an alternative. In addition, tablets can adversely affect the reproductive function of a man, which must also be taken into account when receiving them.

And yet, for many, the drug Amiodaron was a panacea, thanks to which the disease receded, and the person remained alive. It's not a fact that analogs would be just as effective. Therefore, in the treatment of heart disease, you should not discard this medicine, especially if the doctor recommends it.