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Updated: Aug 11, 2026
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The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 28, 2012
Amiodarone in atrial fibrillation
1Service Cardiologie, Hôpital Nord, Marseille, France.
International Journal of Clinical Practice
|January 23, 1999
Summary
Oral amiodarone shows potential for preventing atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrences and aiding cardioversion. However, it is not a first-line treatment due to insufficient long-term safety and efficacy data.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia.
- Oral amiodarone is considered for AF management, including prevention of recurrences and cardioversion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral amiodarone in various atrial fibrillation (AF) management scenarios.
- To assess amiodarone's role in preventing AF recurrences and for rate control.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent reports and existing literature on oral amiodarone use in AF.
- Analysis of studies concerning low-dose amiodarone for AF recurrence prevention post-cardioversion.
Main Results:
- Low-dose amiodarone may prevent AF recurrence post-cardioversion, but long-term data are lacking.
- Efficacy of amiodarone in preventing paroxysmal AF is equivocal, potentially due to varied definitions.
- Amiodarone, alone or with Class I agents, might benefit AF patients, pending further research.
Conclusions:
- Amiodarone is not recommended as a first-line therapy for preventing AF recurrences.
- Further long-term studies are essential to establish the definitive safety and efficacy of amiodarone in AF management.
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