Pharmacologic Substance
amiodarone hydrochloride
[ a-mee-oh-duh-rone hy-droh-klor-ide ]
Effect:
Atrial Repolarization; Negative Chronotropy; Ventricular Repolarization
May Treat:
Tachycardia, Supraventricular;
Ventricular Fibrillation
More Information:
Definitions related to amiodarone hydrochloride:
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A drug used to treat certain types of abnormal heart rhythms that have not gotten better with other drugs. Amiodarone hydrochloride affects the electrical activity of the heart. It is a type of antiarrhythmic agent.NCI Dictionary of Cancer TermsU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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The hydrochloride salt of an iodine-rich benzofuran derivative with antiarrhythmic and vasodilatory activities. As a class III antiarrhythmic agent, amiodarone blocks the myocardial calcium, potassium and sodium channels in cardiac tissue, resulting in prolongation of the cardiac action potential and refractory period. In addition, this agent inhibits alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors, resulting in a reduction in sympathetic stimulation of the heart, a negative chronotropic effect, and a decrease in myocardial oxygen demands. Amiodarone may cause vasodilation by stimulation of the release of nitric oxide and cyclooxygenase-dependent relaxing endothelial factors.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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