Amiodarone kinetics after single i.v. bolus and multiple dosing in healthy volunteers

We studied three healthy volunteers after a single i.v. bolus of amiodarone, during 1 month of chronic oral dosing and after the discontinuation of the drug. Blood concentrations of amiodarone declined rapidly in a bi-exponential fashion after i.v. bolus. The terminal half-life ranged from 10 to 17 h; after discontinuation of chronic treatment the terminal half-lives were 8-21 days. The i.v. data, the trough levels during multiple dosing and the washout phase could be simultaneously fitted using a tri-exponential equation. The subjects were carefully monitored for cardiac and thyroid function. One subject had to stop taking amiodarone because of profound bradycardia. A reduction of serum TT3 and FT3 concentrations and an increase of serum rT3 and FT4 was found.