Drugs In Critical Care

Amiodarone  1. CLASSIFICATION  Amiodarone = Class III antiarrhythmic (Vaughan-Williams classification)  2. MECHANISM OF ACTION  K⁺ channel blockade (Phase 3) ↑ repolarization time ↑ QT interval ↑ refractory period → prevents re-entry circuits Na⁺ channel blockade ↓ conduction velocity (especially in ischemic tissue) Ca²⁺ channel blockade ↓ AV node conduction Non-competitive β-blockade ↓ sympathetic drive  3. […]