Which class of medication is Amiodarone classified as?

Amiodarone is classified as a Class III anti-arrhythmic medication. This classification refers to drugs that primarily work by prolonging repolarization and refracting periods in cardiac action potentials, primarily through the blockade of potassium channels. By doing so, they help to restore normal heart rhythms in patients experiencing various types of arrhythmias, including ventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation.

Amiodarone is well-known for its effectiveness in treating life-threatening arrhythmias and is commonly used in both acute and chronic settings due to its prolonged half-life and ability to be administered orally as well as intravenously. Unlike Class I anti-arrhythmics, which mainly affect sodium channels, or Class IV, which affect calcium channels, Class III agents such as amiodarone are significant for their action on potassium channels and the overall prolongation of the cardiac action potential. This unique mechanism contributes to their role in managing arrhythmias that may not respond well to other classes of anti-arrhythmic medications.