What is the role of Amiodarone in Atrial Fibrillation

We've talked about drugs that control primarily heart rate, now we'll talk about drugs which are antiarrhythmic to try and control the rhythm to help keep you out of atrial fibrillation. Now these drugs tend to be stronger. Amiodarone is one of the commonest drugs used in this situation and it's probably the most effective drug of trying to keep you out of atrial fibrillation. Now this drug is used a lot, however, drugs which work strongly on trying to keep you out of atrial fibrillation tend to therefore have more side effects and risks. Amiodarone very effective at keeping out of atrial fibrillation. It's used in multiple situations. Often though it's used a short or medium term and careful consideration is is taken if amiodarone is going to be used long term because of the potential side effects and risks. These do include affecting your thyroid which is a gland which produces a hormone which impacts the body's function. Your liver, close eye if you're using these long-term will also have to be kept on other organs including your lungs and your skin. People on amiodarone need to cover up in the Sun because the skin can be affected. Now amiodarone is strong and it's effective but these are the issues that will have to be weighed up and the pros and cons of using a strong drug to try and keep you out of atrial fibrillation whereas you may consider other options such as ablation treatment instead.