Help with amiodarone drip

Start the gtt. We have a protocol for a bolus loading dose, followed by a 6 hour infusion at 1mg/min then a maintenance dose of 0.5 mg/min. Amio needs a filter. Watch for hypotension and bradycardia.

So you would've started the drip even if the pt converted back to NSR?

Amio isn't just used to convert patients out A-fib, it's also to maintain SR. If the MD wasn't aware that the patient was in and out of A-fib, as opposed to persistent A-fib, it might be worth notifying the MD of that, but from your description it sounds like the MD was aware of that.

I agree with Beverage. I work on a cardiac floor and we have amio protocol, loading dose goes in over 10 min then 1mg/min. Amiodarone isn't just to convert them it's also to maintain a stable heart rate. Typically if the patient tolerates the IV and HR remains stable then they'll convert them to PO. So to answer your question, yes I would have started the drip as ordered. Hope this helps!

they aren't blood thinners....they are anti-coagulants.

I always chuckle when I hear 'blood thinner.' The real blood thinners are the liters of fluid with which we bolus people. Everything else either inhibits or augments physiological processes.

Maybe it's because I'm utilizing the "paint thinner" definition, but I've never agreed with the belief that anti-coagulants are not "thinners".

"Paint thinner" isn't necessarily used to change the consistency of paint or other finishes, what it's usually used for is to extend the time it takes for the paint to become a solid, ie for it to coagulate. In other words, paint thinner is used typically as an anti-coagulant.