Amiodarone Toxicity Screening: What are the Clinicians Supposed to Tell Patients

The use of amiodarone in clinical practice continues to be widespread in the setting of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Use of amiodarone continues especially in the elderly where the drug’s favorable characteristics and outcomes in the setting of chronic kidney disease coupled to its low inherent proarrhythmic profile has ensured its continued use. The present work focuses on the information that clinicians should tell their patients regarding requisite toxicity screening during daily treatment with amiodarone when it is maintained at a low dose of 200 mgs per day or less. Several questions need be answered in pursuit of the fundamental query as to whether routine testing for toxicity should still be advised. Most importantly, has ongoing screening shown to be of any proven value?