Thursday June 10, 2010
A note on Amiodarone vasodilatory property

One often less know property of Amiodarone, a class III antiarrhythmic agent, is its potent coronary as well as veno vasodilatory property. Amiodarone acts as a venodilator through the cyclooxygenase pathway, activation of nitric oxide synthase, blockade of -adrenergic mechanismsn and cyclooxygenase-dependent relaxing endothelial factors. Amiodarone hasalso shown in laboratory the calcium channel blocking effects. Due to its multiple effects amiodarone therapy has shown beneficial effect in heart failure.

On side note - Hypotension from IV amiodarone (particularly bolus) is also contributed due to its solubilized vehicle called polysorbate 80 which may have histamine releasing effect.