Adverse effects of amiodarone use

• thyroid dysfunction: both hypothyroidism and hyper-thyroidism
• corneal deposits
• pulmonary fibrosis/pneumonitis
• liver fibrosis/hepatitis
• peripheral neuropathy, myopathy
• photosensitivity
• 'slate-grey' appearance
• thrombophlebitis and injection site reactions
• bradycardia
• lengths QT interval

Important drug interactions of amiodarone include:

• decreased metabolism of warfarin, therefore increased INR
• increased digoxin levels

Amiodarone and the thyroid gland

Around 1 in 6 patients taking amiodarone develop thyroid dysfunction

Amiodarone-induced hypothyroidism

The pathophysiology of amiodarone-induced hypothyroidism (AIH) is thought to be due to the high iodine content of amiodarone causing a Wolff-Chaikoff effect*