Amiodarone 300mg/10ml solution for injection pre-filled syringes
Requires a prescription from a doctor or prescriber
Anti-arrhythmic drugs
Official documents, adverse reaction reporting, and safety monitoring
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Official medicine documents
Safety monitoring data
Yellow Card reports
The MHRA Yellow Card scheme collects reports of suspected side effects from healthcare professionals and patients. View the Drug Analysis Profile (iDAP) for real-world adverse reaction data.
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Suspected adverse reactions reported for Amiodarone
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Data from the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. A reported reaction does not necessarily mean the medicine caused it. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
EudraVigilance
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Suspected adverse reactions reported for Amiodarone
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Amiodarone 300mg/10ml solution for injection pre-filled syringes
Amiodarone 300mg/10ml solution for injection pre-filled syringes
Amiodarone 300mg/10ml solution for injection pre-filled syringes
WHO defined daily dose (DDD)
200 mg
Not a recommended dose. The DDD is the assumed average maintenance dose per day for a drug used for its main indication in adults. It is a statistical measure used for research and comparison purposes only.
Source: WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, distributed via NHS dm+d BNF mapping files. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Therapeutically similar medicines
Similarity based on WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and NHS BNF section grouping. Source data: NHS dm+d via TRUD (OGL v3.0), WHO ATC/DDD Index.
NHS prescribing volume and spending trends
Clinical guidelines and formulary information
British National Formulary
Amiodarone
Source: British National Formulary, NICE. Joint Formulary Committee. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
NICE clinical guidance(7)
Atrial fibrillation: diagnosis and management (NG196)
Dronedarone for the treatment of non-permanent atrial fibrillation (TA197)
Chronic heart failure in adults: diagnosis and management (NG106)
Temperature control to improve neurological outcomes after cardiac arrest (HTG710)
Dabigatran etexilate for preventing venous thromboembolism after hip or knee replacement surgery (TA157)
VA ECMO for extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) in adults with refractory cardiac arrest (HTG765)
Chronic heart failure in adults (QS9)
Source: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Check stock at pharmacies and supply information
Pharmacy stock checkers
Search for this medicine at major UK pharmacy chains. These links open the retailer's own website — results depend on their current online catalogue.
Supply & product information
Official product databases and supply status monitoring
Pharmacy links redirect to the retailer's own search and do not represent real-time stock levels. emc (electronic medicines compendium) is operated by Datapharm Ltd. Shortage information sourced from NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS), sps.nhs.uk.
Codes for healthcare professionals and prescribing systems
These codes are used by healthcare IT systems and prescribers to identify this medicine.
NHS UK identifiers
Browse tools
SNOMED CT and dm+d codes from NHS TRUD (Technology Reference data Update Distribution), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. BNF codes from NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). ATC codes from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (whocc.no).
Active and completed clinical studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Data accessed via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Trial information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Pharmacology and chemical data from DrugBank
Key facts
Drug status
Approved
Major interactions
63 found
Half-life
9-100 days
Mechanism
Amiodarone is considered a class III anti-arrhythmic drug.
Food interactions
3 warnings
Human targets
8 targets
Data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Pharmacokinetics at a glance
Absorption
3 to 7 hours
[L3561]…
Half-life
9-100 days
Protein binding
96%
[A36817][L3561]
Volume of distribution
9.26-17.17 L/kg
Metabolism
Elimination
[A36817]…
Clearance
220 to 440 ml
[L3561]…
Pharmacokinetic data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
[L3561]
Off-label indications include atrial fibrillation and supraventricular tachycardia.
[A189666][A189720][A189723][L11286]
Known interactions with other medications. Always consult a healthcare professional.
Showing 50 of 1930 interactions
[L3561]
An overdose with amiodarone can have a fatal outcome due to its potential to cause arrhythmia. Signs or symptoms of an overdose may include, hypotension, shock, bradycardia, AV block, and liver toxicity. In cases of an overdose, initiate supportive treatment and, if needed, use fluids, vasopressors, or positive inotropic agents.
Temporary pacing may be required for heart block. Ensure to monitor liver function regularly. Amiodarone and its main metabolite, DEA, are not removable by dialysis.
[L8087]
Unique from other members of the class III anti-arrhythmic drug class, amiodarone also interferes with the functioning of beta-adrenergic receptors, sodium channels, and calcium channels channels. These actions, at times, can lead to undesirable effects, such as hypotension, bradycardia, and Torsades de pointes (TdP).[L11265] In addition to the above, amiodarone may increase activity of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, leading to steatogenic changes in the liver or other organs.[A20227][A20650] Finally, amiodarone has been found to bind to the thyroid receptor due to its iodine content, potentially leading to amiodarone induced hypothyroidism or thyrotoxicosis.[A182168]
Amiodarone prolongs the QRS duration and QT interval. In addition, a decreased SA (sinoatrial) node automaticity occurs with a decrease in AV node conduction velocity. Ectopic pacemaker automaticity is also inhibited.[L11265] Thyrotoxicosis or hypothyroidism may also result from the administration of amiodarone, which contains high levels of iodine, and interferes with normal thyroid function.[A182168]
How the body processes this drug — absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination
[L3561]
The general time to onset of action of amiodarone after one dose given by the intravenous route is between 1 and 30 minutes, with therapeutic effects lasting from 1-3 hours. Steady-state concentrations of amiodarone in the plasma ranges between 0.4 to 11.99 μg/ml; it is advisable that steady-state levels are generally maintained between 1.0 and 2.5 μg/ml in patients with arrhythmias.
[A36817][A183137]
Interestingly, its onset of action may sometimes begin after 2 to 3 days, but frequently takes 1 to 3 weeks, despite the administration of higher loading doses.
[L3561]
The bioavailability of amiodarone varies in clinical studies, averaging between 35 and 65%.
[L3561]
Effect of food
In healthy subjects who were given a single 600-mg dose immediately after consuming a meal high in fat, the AUC of amiodarone increased by 2.3 and the Cmax by 3.8 times.
[L3561]
Food also enhances absorption, reducing the Tmax by about 37%.
[L3561]
[A1903][A189666]
According to the prescribing information for amiodarone, the average apparent plasma terminal elimination half-life of amiodarone is of 58 days (ranging from 15 to 142 days). The terminal half-life range was between 14 to 75 days for the active metabolite, (DEA).
[L3561]
The plasma half-life of amiodarone after one dose ranges from 3.2 to 79.7 hours, according to one source.
[A36817]
[A36817][L3561]
[A183140]
Prescribing information mentions that the volume of distribution of amiodarone varies greatly, with a mean distribution of approximately 60 L/kg. It accumulates throughout the body, especially in adipose tissue[A36817] and highly vascular organs including the lung, liver, and spleen. One major metabolite of amiodarone, desethylamiodarone (DEA), is found in even higher proportions in the same tissues as amiodarone.
[L3561]
[L3561]
A hydroxyl metabolite of DEA has been identified in mammals, but its clinical significance is unknown.
[A189829]
[A36817]
A small amount of desethylamiodarone (DEA) is found in the urine.
[L3561]
[L3561]
Another study determined that the total body clearance of amiodarone varies from 0.10 to 0.77 L/min after one intravenous dose.
[A36817]
Renal impairment does not appear to affect the clearance of amiodarone, but hepatic impairment may reduce clearance. Patients with liver cirrhosis exhibited significantly lower Cmax and mean amiodarone concentration for DEA, but not for amiodarone. Severe left ventricular dysfunction prolongs the half-life of DEA.
[L3561]
A note on monitoring
No guidelines have been developed for adjusting the dose of amiodarone in renal, hepatic, or cardiac abnormalities. In patients on chronic amiodarone treatment, close clinical monitoring is advisable, especially for elderly patients and those with severe left ventricular dysfunction.
[L3561]
Proteins and enzymes this drug interacts with in the body
PMID:32723862
Exhibits faster activation and deactivation kinetics and slow inactivation at membrane potentials positive to 240 mV, resulting in the weakest inward rectification PMID:32723862
A particularity of this type of channels is an opening at quite negative potentials, and a voltage-dependent inactivation. T-type channels serve pacemaking functions in both central neurons and cardiac nodal cells and support calcium signaling in secretory cells and vascular smooth muscle. They may also be involved in the modulation of firing patterns of neurons which is important for information processing as well as in cell growth processes.
Gates in voltage ranges similar to, but higher than alpha 1G or alpha 1H
Enzymes involved in drug metabolism — important for understanding drug interactions
Proteins that transport this drug across cell membranes
PMID:2897240 PMID:35970996 PMID:8898203 PMID:9038218 PMID:35507548
Catalyzes the flop of phospholipids from the cytoplasmic to the exoplasmic leaflet of the apical membrane. Participates mainly to the flop of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, beta-D-glucosylceramides and sphingomyelins .
PMID:8898203
Energy-dependent efflux pump responsible for decreased drug accumulation in multidrug-resistant cells PMID:2897240 PMID:35970996 PMID:9038218
PMID:15791618 PMID:16332456 PMID:18985798 PMID:19228692 PMID:20010382 PMID:20398791 PMID:22262466 PMID:24711118 PMID:29507376 PMID:32203132
Transports taurine-conjugated bile salts more rapidly than glycine-conjugated bile salts .
PMID:16332456
Also transports non-bile acid compounds, such as pravastatin and fexofenadine in an ATP-dependent manner and may be involved in their biliary excretion PMID:15901796 PMID:18245269
PMID:9260930 PMID:9687576
Functions as a Na(+)-independent, bidirectional uniporter .
PMID:21128598 PMID:9687576
Cation cellular uptake or release is driven by the electrochemical potential, i.e. membrane potential and concentration gradient .
PMID:15212162 PMID:9260930 PMID:9687576
However, may also engage electroneutral cation exchange when saturating concentrations of cation substrates are reached (By similarity). Predominantly expressed at the basolateral membrane of hepatocytes and proximal tubules and involved in the uptake and disposition of cationic compounds by hepatic and renal clearance from the blood flow .
PMID:15783073
Implicated in monoamine neurotransmitters uptake such as histamine, dopamine, adrenaline/epinephrine, noradrenaline/norepinephrine, serotonin and tyramine, thereby supporting a physiological role in the central nervous system by regulating interstitial concentrations of neurotransmitters .
PMID:16581093 PMID:17460754 PMID:9687576
Also capable of transporting dopaminergic neuromodulators cyclo(his-pro), salsolinol and N-methyl-salsolinol, thereby involved in the maintenance of dopaminergic cell integrity in the central nervous system .
PMID:17460754
Mediates the bidirectional transport of acetylcholine (ACh) at the apical membrane of ciliated cell in airway epithelium, thereby playing a role in luminal release of ACh from bronchial epithelium .
PMID:15817714
Also transports guanidine and endogenous monoamines such as vitamin B1/thiamine, creatinine and N-1-methylnicotinamide (NMN) .
PMID:12089365 PMID:15212162 PMID:17072098 PMID:24961373 PMID:9260930
Mediates the uptake and efflux of quaternary ammonium compound choline .
PMID:9260930
Mediates the bidirectional transport of polyamine agmatine and the uptake of polyamines putrescine and spermidine .
PMID:12538837 PMID:21128598
Able to transport non-amine endogenous compounds such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and prostaglandin F2-alpha (PGF2-alpha) .
PMID:11907186
Also involved in the uptake of xenobiotic 4-(4-(dimethylamino)styryl)-N-methylpyridinium (ASP) .
PMID:12395288 PMID:16394027
May contribute to regulate the transport of organic compounds in testis across the blood-testis-barrier (Probable)
Proteins that carry this drug through the body
PMID:19021548
Major calcium and magnesium transporter in plasma, binds approximately 45% of circulating calcium and magnesium in plasma (By similarity).
Potentially has more than two calcium-binding sites and might additionally bind calcium in a non-specific manner (By similarity). The shared binding site between zinc and calcium at residue Asp-273 suggests a crosstalk between zinc and calcium transport in the blood (By similarity). The rank order of affinity is zinc > calcium > magnesium (By similarity).
Binds to the bacterial siderophore enterobactin and inhibits enterobactin-mediated iron uptake of E.coli from ferric transferrin, and may thereby limit the utilization of iron and growth of enteric bacteria such as E.coli .
PMID:6234017
Does not prevent iron uptake by the bacterial siderophore aerobactin PMID:6234017
ATC C01BD01
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
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Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Linked compound data from DrugBank Open Data (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Amiodarone
Additional database identifiers
Drugs Product Database (DPD)
1400
ChemSpider
2072
BindingDB
18957
PDB
BBI
Guide to Pharmacology
2566
ZINC
ZINC000003830212
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:6251
GenAtlas
KCNH2
GeneCards
KCNH2
GenBank Gene Database
U04270
GenBank Protein Database
487738
Guide to Pharmacology
572
UniProt Accession
KCNH2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:18862
GenAtlas
KCNH6
GeneCards
KCNH6
GenBank Gene Database
AF311913
GenBank Protein Database
11878259
Guide to Pharmacology
573
UniProt Accession
KCNH6_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:18863
GenAtlas
KCNH7
GeneCards
KCNH7
GenBank Gene Database
AF032897
GenBank Protein Database
4104136
UniProt Accession
KCNH7_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:285
GenAtlas
ADRB1
GeneCards
ADRB1
GenBank Gene Database
J03019
GenBank Protein Database
178200
Guide to Pharmacology
28
UniProt Accession
ADRB1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:286
GenAtlas
ADRB2
GeneCards
ADRB2
GenBank Gene Database
Y00106
GenBank Protein Database
29371
Guide to Pharmacology
29
UniProt Accession
ADRB2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:288
GenAtlas
ADRB3
GeneCards
ADRB3
GenBank Gene Database
M29932
GenBank Protein Database
178896
Guide to Pharmacology
30
UniProt Accession
ADRB3_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1396
GenAtlas
CACNA1I
GeneCards
CACNA1I
GenBank Gene Database
AF129133
GenBank Protein Database
5565888
Guide to Pharmacology
537
UniProt Accession
CAC1I_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1390
GenAtlas
CACNA1C
GeneCards
CACNA1C
GenBank Gene Database
M92270
Guide to Pharmacology
529
UniProt Accession
CAC1C_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1391
GenAtlas
CACNA1D
GeneCards
CACNA1D
GenBank Gene Database
M76558
GenBank Protein Database
179764
Guide to Pharmacology
530
UniProt Accession
CAC1D_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1393
GenAtlas
CACNA1F
GeneCards
CACNA1F
GenBank Gene Database
AJ006216
GenBank Protein Database
3183953
Guide to Pharmacology
531
UniProt Accession
CAC1F_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1397
GenAtlas
CACNA1S
GeneCards
CACNA1S
GenBank Gene Database
U30707
GenBank Protein Database
1698403
Guide to Pharmacology
528
UniProt Accession
CAC1S_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1401
GenAtlas
CACNB1
GeneCards
CACNB1
GenBank Gene Database
M92303
GenBank Protein Database
179806
UniProt Accession
CACB1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1402
GenAtlas
CACNB2
GeneCards
CACNB2
GenBank Gene Database
S60415
GenBank Protein Database
300417
UniProt Accession
CACB2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1403
GenAtlas
CACNB3
GeneCards
CACNB3
GenBank Gene Database
X76555
GenBank Protein Database
435135
UniProt Accession
CACB3_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1404
GenAtlas
CACNB4
GeneCards
CACNB4
GenBank Gene Database
U95020
GenBank Protein Database
2058727
UniProt Accession
CACB4_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:11796
GenAtlas
THRA
GeneCards
THRA
GenBank Gene Database
X55074
GenBank Protein Database
825639
Guide to Pharmacology
588
UniProt Accession
THA_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:11799
GenAtlas
THRB
GeneCards
THRB
GenBank Gene Database
X04707
GenBank Protein Database
31207
Guide to Pharmacology
589
UniProt Accession
THB_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:9236
GenAtlas
PPARG
GeneCards
PPARG
GenBank Gene Database
U79012
GenBank Protein Database
1711117
Guide to Pharmacology
595
UniProt Accession
PPARG_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:9232
GenAtlas
PPARA
GeneCards
PPARA
GenBank Gene Database
L02932
GenBank Protein Database
307341
Guide to Pharmacology
593
UniProt Accession
PPARA_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:30022
GeneCards
PPARGC1B
UniProt Accession
PRGC2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2637
GenAtlas
CYP3A4
GeneCards
CYP3A4
GenBank Gene Database
M18907
Guide to Pharmacology
1337
UniProt Accession
CP3A4_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2622
GenAtlas
CYP2C8
GeneCards
CYP2C8
GenBank Gene Database
M17397
Guide to Pharmacology
1325
UniProt Accession
CP2C8_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2625
GenAtlas
CYP2D6
GeneCards
CYP2D6
GenBank Gene Database
M20403
GenBank Protein Database
181350
Guide to Pharmacology
1329
UniProt Accession
CP2D6_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2623
GenAtlas
CYP2C9
GeneCards
CYP2C9
GenBank Gene Database
AY341248
Guide to Pharmacology
1326
UniProt Accession
CP2C9_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2596
GenAtlas
CYP1A2
GeneCards
CYP1A2
GenBank Gene Database
Z00036
Guide to Pharmacology
1319
UniProt Accession
CP1A2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2621
GeneCards
CYP2C19
GenBank Gene Database
M61854
GenBank Protein Database
181344
Guide to Pharmacology
1328
UniProt Accession
CP2CJ_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2595
GeneCards
CYP1A1
GenBank Gene Database
K03191
GenBank Protein Database
181276
Guide to Pharmacology
1318
UniProt Accession
CP1A1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2610
GenAtlas
CYP2A6
GeneCards
CYP2A6
GenBank Gene Database
X13897
Guide to Pharmacology
1321
UniProt Accession
CP2A6_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2634
GeneCards
CYP2J2
GenBank Gene Database
U37143
GenBank Protein Database
18254513
Guide to Pharmacology
1332
UniProt Accession
CP2J2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:399
GenAtlas
ALB
GeneCards
ALB
GenBank Gene Database
V00494
GenBank Protein Database
28590
UniProt Accession
ALBU_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:40
GenAtlas
ABCB1
GeneCards
ABCB1
GenBank Gene Database
M14758
GenBank Protein Database
307180
Guide to Pharmacology
768
UniProt Accession
MDR1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:42
GenAtlas
ABCB11
GeneCards
ABCB11
GenBank Gene Database
AF091582
GenBank Protein Database
3873243
Guide to Pharmacology
778
UniProt Accession
ABCBB_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:10966
GeneCards
SLC22A2
GenBank Gene Database
X98333
GenBank Protein Database
2281942
Guide to Pharmacology
1020
UniProt Accession
S22A2_HUMAN
International reference pricing
Reference pricing from DrugBank. Prices are indicative and may not reflect current UK costs.
Source: DrugBank. Used under CC BY-NC 4.0 academic licence for non-commercial purposes.
Patent information
1 active patent, 2 expired
Source: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0. Patent data sourced from national patent offices. Expiry dates may not reflect extensions, regulatory exclusivity periods, or legal challenges.
DrugBank citations
If you use DrugBank data in your research, please cite the following publications: