Amiodarone vs. Lidocaine

[Tsicurn2020]

I do not have much familiarity with this, but in my traveling experience, it seems to be provider dependent. Traditionally, I used amiodarone in abnormal ventricular arrhythmias due to ACLS guidelines. However, there are some using lidocaine?? Does anyone have experience or updated literature with this? 

 

Thanks in advance! 

[MunoRN, RN]

Long story short, the evidence suggests both are relatively ineffective in terms of end-outcomes.  

What the evidence does support is treating the underlying cause of the ventricular arrhythmias.  Trying to reduce the frequency of ventricular ectopy using either lidocaine or amiodarone, as stand-alone interventions, seems to be of little benefit.  Amiodarone and lidocaine for shock refractory ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: are they really effective? (nih.gov)

I would say that in general we're a bit too quick to move to either medication, and don't adequately acknowledge the extensive and severe potential side effects of both.

 

 

[offlabel]

Very commonly used to convert atrial fibrillation and very effective.

[HiddenAngels]

Amio sucks long term.. just saying

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

On 3/18/2022 at 3:11 PM, Tsicurn2020 said:

I do not have much familiarity with this, but in my traveling experience, it seems to be provider dependent. Traditionally, I used amiodarone in abnormal ventricular arrhythmias due to ACLS guidelines. However, there are some using lidocaine?? Does anyone have experience or updated literature with this? 

 

Thanks in advance! 

Yes, pubmed.gov or UpToDate have lots of updated literature, I'd start there.