Thursday, April 21, 2011

Q: What is the best way to follow on Amiodarone overdose?


Answer: Follow serial QT duration

Surprisingly, Overdose with amiodarone is usually benign as it is very poorly and variably absorbed. But all such patients should be admitted to ICU/CCU for close observation and serial EKGs.

On EKG, Amiodarone leads to a prolonged QT interval due to its blocking of repolarising of. potassium channel. The QT duration is the best indicator of the extent of potassium channel blockade.