Dronedarone (Multaq – Sanofi-Aventis) has been approved by the FDA for oral treatment of atrial fibrillation and flutter. Amiodarone (Cordarone, and others) is the most effective drug for this indication, but has considerable toxicity.1

PHARMACOLOGY — Dronedarone is a non-iodinated analog of amiodarone. It is also significantly less lipophilic than amiodarone, resulting in a substantially smaller volume of distribution and a much shorter elimination half-life. Like amiodarone, dronedarone blocks sodium, potassium and calcium channels and also has alpha- and beta-blocking properties.

CLINICAL STUDIES — Four published clinical trials comparing dronedarone with placebo are summarized in Table 2. The fifth, DIONYSOS, which compared dronedarone to amiodarone, has only been presented at a scientific session and the data in the table were obtained from a ... more      

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