Usual Adult Dose for Arrhythmias:
IV:
Initial dose: 1000 mg over the first 24 hours of therapy, delivered by the following infusion regimen:
-Loading infusions: 150 mg over the first 10 minutes (15 mg/min), followed by 360 mg over the next 6 hours (1 mg/min)
-Maintenance infusion: 540 mg over the remaining 18 hours (0.5 mg/min)
Maintenance dose: After the first 24 hours, continue the maintenance infusion rate of 0.5 mg/min; may increase infusion rate to achieve effective arrhythmia suppression.
-Supplemental infusions: 150 mg over 10 minutes (15 mg/min) for breakthrough episodes of ventricular fibrillation (VF) or hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia (VT)
Maximum dose: Initial infusion rate: 30 mg/min
Duration of therapy: Until ventricular arrhythmias stabilize (most patients require 48 to 96 hours); maintenance infusion of up to 0.5 mg/min can be continued for up to 3 weeks.
Comments: Mean daily doses greater than 2100 mg for the first 24 hours were associated with increased risk of hypotension.
Use: Initiation of treatment and prophylaxis of frequently recurring VF and hemodynamically unstable VT in patients refractory to other therapy.
ORAL:
Loading dose: 800 to 1600 mg orally per day for 1 to 3 weeks (occasionally longer) until adequate arrhythmia control is achieved or if side effects become prominent, then switch to adjustment dose
Adjustment dose: 600 to 800 mg orally per day for 1 month, then switch to maintenance dose
Maintenance dose: 400 mg orally per day
Comments:
-May be administered once a day; twice a day dosing is recommended for total daily doses of 1000 mg or more or in patients who experience gastrointestinal tolerance.
-Close monitoring is indicated during the loading phase and surrounding any dose adjustments.
-Maintenance dose should be determined according to antiarrhythmic effect as assessed by patient tolerance as well as symptoms, Holter recordings, and/or programmed electrical stimulation; some patients may require up to 600 mg/day while some can be controlled on lower doses.
Use: Treatment of life-threatening recurrent VF or life-threatening recurrent hemodynamically unstable VT in patients refractory to adequate doses of other antiarrhythmics or those intolerant of alternative agents.
 Detailed Amiodarone dosage information
What happens if I miss a dose?
Skip the missed dose and use your next dose at the regular time. Do not use two doses at one time.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of amiodarone can be fatal.
Overdose symptoms may include weakness, slow heart rate, feeling light-headed, or loss of consciousness.
