iv bag
Amiodarone - Cordarone ®
The authors make no claims of the accuracy of the information contained herein; and these suggested doses and/or guidelines are not a substitute for clinical judgement. Neither GlobalRPh Inc. nor any other party involved in the preparation of this document shall be liable for any special, consequential, or exemplary damages resulting in whole or part from any user's use of or reliance upon this material.    PLEASE READ THE DISCLAIMER CAREFULLY BEFORE ACCESSING OR USING THIS SITE. BY ACCESSING OR USING THIS SITE, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE DISCLAIMER.

Usual Diluents
D5W

Standard Dilutions   [Amount of drug] [Infusion volume] [Infusion rate]
[150 mg / 100 ml] [10 minutes]

(Glass bottle or polyolefin container)
[720 mg / 500 ml ] [See comments]
[900 mg / 500 ml ] [See comments]
(an inline 0.22 micron filter should be used).

Stability / Miscellaneous
Recommended concentration: 1-6 mg/ml.
Central line is required for concentrations > 2 mg/ml.
[Supplied: 3 ml amp (50 mg/ml)].

Infusion: whenever possible administer through a central venous catheter. Also, an in-line filter should be used during administration. Cordarone I.V. concentrations greater than 3 mg/mL in D 5 W have been associated with a high incidence of peripheral vein phlebitis; however, concentrations of 2.5 mg/mL or less appear to be less irritating. Therefore, for infusions longer than 1 hour, Cordarone I.V. concentrations should not exceed 2 mg/mL unless a central venous catheter is used. Cordarone I.V. infusions exceeding 2 hours must be administered in glass or polyolefin bottles containing D5W. Use of evacuated glass containers for admixing Cordarone I.V. is not recommended as incompatibility with a buffer in the container may cause precipitation.

Amiodarone:  I.V. DOSE RECOMMENDATIONS -- FIRST 24 HOURS -- Loading infusions. The recommended starting dose of Cordarone I.V. is about 1000 mg over the first 24 hours of therapy, delivered by the following infusion regimen:

First Rapid: 150 mg over the FIRST - 10 minutes (15 mg/min). Add 3 mL of Cordarone I.V. (150 mg) to 100 mL D 5 W. Infuse 100 mL over 10 minutes.

Followed by Slow: 360 mg over the NEXT 6 hours (1 mg/min). Add 18 mL of Cordarone I.V. (900 mg) to 500 mL D 5 W (conc = 1.8 mg/mL).

Maintenance infusion: 540 mg over the REMAINING 18 hours (0.5 mg/min).


After the first 24 hours, the maintenance infusion rate of 0.5 mg/min (720 mg/24 hours) should be continued utilizing a concentration of 1 to 6 mg/mL (Cordarone I.V. concentrations greater than 2 mg/mL should be administered via a central venous catheter). In the event of breakthrough episodes of VF or hemodynamically unstable VT, Give 150-mg/100 ml D5W over 10 minutes to minimize potential for hypotension. The rate of the maintenance infusion may be increased to achieve effective arrhythmia suppression. The initial infusion rate should not exceed 30 mg/min. The maintenance infusion of up to 0.5 mg/min can be cautiously continued for 2 to 3 weeks regardless of the patient's age, renal function, or Left-ventricular function. There is limited experience in patients receiving Cordarone I.V. > 3 weeks.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ORAL DOSAGE AFTER I.V. INFUSION
Duration of Cordarone I.V. Infusion*: <1 week
Initial Daily Dose of Oral Cordarone : 800-1600 mg

Duration of Cordarone I.V. Infusion: 1 to 3 weeks
Initial Daily Dose of Oral Cordarone : 600-800 mg

Duration of Cordarone I.V. Infusion: >3 weeks
Initial Daily Dose of Oral Cordarone : 400 mg
*Assuming a 720 mg/day infusion (0.5 mg/min). Cordarone I.V is not intended for maint therapy.

Restated: Duration of IV infusion < 1 week: 800-1600mg/day po initially x 1-2 weeks or complete current week; 1-3 weeks: 600-800mg/day po initially - total therapy ~ 1 month counting IV infusion ; >3 weeks: 400mg po qd initially.

Oral Loading - Half-life elimination: 40-55 days (range: 26-107 days);
Administration of Cordarone in divided doses with meals is suggested for total daily doses of 1,000 mg or higher, or when gastrointestinal intolerance occurs.) If side effects become excessive, the dose should be reduced.
Loading Dose (Daily): (Ventricular Arrhythmias) 800 to 1,600 mg x 1-3 weeks, then 600 to 800 mg x ~1 month, then start maintenance of 400mg/day.


Recommendations for conversion to intravenous amiodarone after oral administration: During long-term amiodarone therapy (ie, 4 months), the mean plasma-elimination half-life of the active metabolite of amiodarone is 61 days. Replacement therapy may not be necessary in such patients if oral therapy is discontinued for a period <2 weeks, since any changes in serum amiodarone concentrations during this period may not be clinically significant.
The authors make no claims of the accuracy of the information contained herein; and these suggested doses and/or guidelines are not a substitute for clinical judgement. Neither GlobalRPh Inc. nor any other party involved in the preparation of this document shall be liable for any special, consequential, or exemplary damages resulting in whole or part from any user's use of or reliance upon this material.    PLEASE READ THE DISCLAIMER CAREFULLY BEFORE ACCESSING OR USING THIS SITE. BY ACCESSING OR USING THIS SITE, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE DISCLAIMER.