Amiodarone in the COVID-19 Era: Treatment for Symptomatic Patients Only, or Drug to Prevent Infection?

Am J Cardiovasc Drugs. 2020 Oct;20(5):413-418. doi: 10.1007/s40256-020-00429-7.

Abstract

Amiodarone, one of the most widely prescribed antiarrhythmic drugs to treat both ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias, has been identified as a candidate drug for use against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We present the rationale of using amiodarone in the COVID-19 scenario, as well as whether or not amiodarone administration represents a potential strategy to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection, rather than simply used to treat patients already symptomatic and/or with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), based on current evidence.

MeSH terms

  • Amiodarone / pharmacology*
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / pharmacology
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac* / drug therapy
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac* / virology
  • Betacoronavirus* / drug effects
  • Betacoronavirus* / physiology
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections* / drug therapy
  • Coronavirus Infections* / metabolism
  • Coronavirus Infections* / physiopathology
  • Coronavirus Infections* / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Pandemics* / prevention & control
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / metabolism
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / drug therapy
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / metabolism
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / physiopathology
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / prevention & control
  • Risk Assessment
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Virus Internalization / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
  • ACE2 protein, human
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
  • Amiodarone