Amiodarone Tablet Assignment: Prospective Drug Utilization Evaluation
Assigned Medication:
Amiodarone tablet
Indication for Use (5): The considered medicine is a drug which cures cardiac diseases, in particular it is utilized for handling the life-threatening recurrent ventricular fibrillation (also referred to as VF), or, alternatively, hemodynamically-unstable ventricular tachycardia (VT) refractory to the other antiarrhythmic agents. Also, it is used for patients intolerant to the other agents utilized for treatment of these conditions.
Contraindications/precautions/black box warning (5): The drug can cause liver damage, lung damage, thyroid problems and deterioration in the heartbeat problems. Taking into consideration these adverse side effects, it is advisable that the medication is only used for adults with life-threatening conditions and once other kinds of treatments are not tolerated or do not work.
Adult and pediatric dosing (5): 300 mg IV/INTRAOSSEOUSLY by rapid infusion, a supplementary dose of 150 mg can be considered; maximum daily dose is 2.2 g. For children efficacy and safety have not been established.
Administration (5): Injection - administered by volumetric infusion pump using polyvinyl chloride tubing and also an in-line filter. For concentrations above 2 mg/ml administered through central venous catheter. Should not be administered once coloration is cloudy, discolored or contains specific kind of matter. Loading phase is to be performed strictly in the hospital setting.
Storage and Handling (5): Should be stored at temperatures of the range 59 to 86 F. The substance has to be protected from the light, excessive heat and freezing. Once used in an injection, precaution regarding protection from light does not apply.
Adverse events (5): Once the symptoms of shortness of breath, stomach pain, sweating, heart pounding, tremor, decreased concentration or spitting up of blood appear, it is advised to immediately call the doctor and get professional medical help. Adverse reactions include the conditions in such dimensions as cardiovascular (bradycardia, AV block, for instance); CNS (dizziness, lack of coordination, hallucination, parkinsonian symptoms), dermatologic (eczema, drug rash, exfoliative dermatitis), EENT (mascular degeneration, abnormal smell sensation), endocrine (thyroid cancer, hyperthyroidism), GI (nausea, pancreatitis); genitoutinary (renal impairment, epididymitis), respiratory (pulmonary toxicity), immunologic (immune hypersensitivity reaction).
Monitoring parameters (5): Before and during the usage of Amiodarone eye examinations are required. It is necessary to consider if an individual has blurred vision, halos or increased sensitivity to light. Level of numbness in separate parts of body should be monitored. Furthermore, levels of skin sensitivity should be monitored as this is a concern with taking Amiodarone. Blood tests should be established in order to keep track of the thyroid function, as both overactive and low thyroid function conditions are possible to encounter.
Mechanism of action and PK (5): Amiodarone decreases the effects of chemicals on the heart slowing down heartbeat. In general, it is an antiarrhythmic drug with present class III effects which enlarge the cardiac action potential simultaneously with blocking myocardial potassium channels. As a result, longer refractoriness and slower conduction follow. Furthermore, it has a property of …
