If amiodarone has so many potentially adverse side effects, why do the doctors still use it to treat heart disease?
Despite the numerous potential side effects that may arise in patients on long term amiodarone therapy, the drug remains remarkably effective for patients with cardiac rhythm disturbances. For example, amiodarone has proven to be more effective than agents such as sotalol or propafenone for the prevention of recurrent atrial fibrillation in a multicenter Canadian study.
