01/08/2008
Are the days of using Amiodarone to treat Atrial Fibrillation numbered?
Dr Edward Leatham
Who this applies to: Patients taking Amiodarone Patients suffering from Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is a common condition and can lead to heart disease and stroke. Amiodarone is a drug that we frequently use to help keep our patients in normal sinus rhythm, but it has quite a few possible side effects so we seek better treatment options
Dronedarone is a novel antiarrhythmic drug with electrophysiological properties that are similar to those of amiodarone, but it does not contain iodine and thus does not cause iodine-related adverse reactions
EURIDIS and ADONIS Investigators publishing in 2007 showed its benefits but this year the results of ATHENA announced at World Congress in March 2008 showing remarkable benefits in this group of patients
SCVC comment
We gather that Dronedarone may become lincenced to use in 2009 and will be keeping a close eye on further developments