DRONEDARONE: A NEW MOLECULE FOR ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common serious cardiac rhythm disturbances and is responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality. Efficacy and safety of currently employed antiarrhythmic drugs continue to be less optimal in atrial fibrillation. Development of newer antiarrhythmic drugs has recently been made possible through a greater understanding of electro-pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation. Amiodarone is currently one of the most widely used and most effective antiarrhythmic agents for atrial fibrillation. But during chronic usage amiodarone can cause some serious extra cardiac adverse effects, including effects on the thyroid. Dronedarone is a newer therapeutic agent with a structural resemblance to amiodarone with two molecular changes, and with a better safety profile. Dronedarone is a multichannel blocker and like amiodarone, possesses both a rhythm and a rate control property in atrial fibrillation. The US Food and Drug Administration approved dronedarone for atrial fibrillation on July 2, 2009.