Additional infusions of 150 mg may be given every ten minutes as needed up to the maximum of 2.2 g in 24 hours. Amiodarone may produce vasodilation and hypotension. This drug may produce negative inotropic effects and may prolong the QT interval. Do not routinely administer amiodarone with procainamide or other drugs that prolong the QT interval. Use amiodarone with caution in the patient with renal failure.
Terminal elimination is extremely long.
Amiodarone's half-life lasts up to 40 days. Lidocaine is no longer given for ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia until after defibrillation, epinephrine or vasopressin, and after amiodarone. Lidocaine suppresses automaticity and excitability of the HIS-Purkinje system during diastole. It does no harm and has no benefit. Prophylactic lidocaine with acute myocardial infarction is no longer recommended.