Thursday November 12, 2009


Q: What percentage of patients may experience neurotoxicity from Amiodarone?

Answer: About 3%

Neurologic problems from Amiodarone use include tremor, gait ataxia, peripheral neuropathy, and cognitive impairment. The primary risk factor for amiodarone neurotoxic effects was duration of treatment, not age, drug dose, sex, or indication for therapy. Where this could be assessed, the adverse effects were usually but not always reversible.

Higher estimates of neurotoxic effects in the early amiodarone era may be related to a much higher daily dose.

Reference: click to get abstract

Frequency, Characteristics, and Risk Factors for Amiodarone Neurotoxicity - Arch Neurol. 2009;66(7):865-869