amiodarone vs dabigatran

PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.

Side-by-side comparison of amiodarone and dabigatran. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

The use of the P-gp inhibitors verapamil, amiodarone, quinidine, clarithromycin, and ticagrelor does not require a dosage adjustment of dabigatran etexilate.

Drug Class
amiodarone Class III Antiarrhythmic
dabigatran Direct Thrombin Inhibitor
Type
amiodarone Prescription
dabigatran Prescription
Summary
amiodarone

Amiodarone (Pacerone) is a medicine used to treat life-threatening, irregular heartbeats. It helps to restore a normal heart rhythm when other medicines don't work or can't be used.

dabigatran

Dabigatran (Pradaxa) is a drug that helps to prevent blood clots from forming. It is used to lower the risk of stroke and treat or prevent other dangerous clots in your body.

What It Treats
amiodarone

This medicine treats very fast, irregular heartbeats in the ventricles (lower chambers of the heart). It is used when these irregular heartbeats are life-threatening. It is also used when other medicines don't work well enough or cause too many side effects. This medicine is for adults.

dabigatran

This medicine can help prevent strokes in people with an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation. It can also treat blood clots in your legs (deep vein thrombosis or DVT) or lungs (pulmonary embolism or PE). Dabigatran can also lower the risk of these clots coming back. It is also used to prevent blood clots after hip replacement surgery.

How It Works
amiodarone

Amiodarone affects the electrical signals in your heart. It slows down these signals, which helps your heart beat normally. This medicine can help prevent dangerous, fast heart rhythms.

dabigatran

Dabigatran is a direct thrombin inhibitor. Thrombin is a substance in the blood that helps clots form. By blocking thrombin, dabigatran helps to keep your blood from clotting too easily.

Common Side Effects
amiodarone
  • Low thyroid levels (hypothyroidism)
  • High thyroid levels (hyperthyroidism)
  • Heart failure
  • Irregular heartbeats
  • Problems with the heart's natural pacemaker (SA node dysfunction)
dabigatran
  • Upset stomach
  • Bleeding more easily (such as nosebleeds or heavier periods)
FAERS Reports
amiodarone
  • Dyspnoea 1,158
  • Asthenia 975
  • Fatigue 895
  • Nausea 606
  • Cough 597
dabigatran

No adverse event reports.

Serious Warnings
amiodarone

This medicine can cause serious problems with your lungs, liver, and heart. Lung problems can be fatal. Your doctor will check your lungs with X-rays and breathing tests. Liver problems can also be fatal. Your doctor will check your liver with blood tests. This medicine can also make irregular heartbeats worse. You will likely start this medicine in the hospital where your heart can be monitored.

dabigatran

Dabigatran has two important warnings. First, stopping this medicine too early can raise your risk of blood clots. Do not stop taking it without talking to your doctor. Second, this medicine can cause bleeding around the spine if you get an epidural or spinal tap. This can lead to paralysis. Tell your doctor if you are going to have any spinal procedures.

Pregnancy
amiodarone

This medicine can harm your unborn baby. It can cause thyroid problems, slow heart rate, and brain development issues. Do not breastfeed while taking this medicine.

dabigatran

Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Dabigatran may increase the risk of bleeding in the fetus. Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking this medicine.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This amiodarone vs dabigatran Comparison

amiodarone is classified in the Class III Antiarrhythmic drug class, while dabigatran sits within the Direct Thrombin Inhibitor class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, amiodarone has 4,231 submissions while dabigatran has 0. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to amiodarone blocks a protein that helps the body get rid of dabigatran, which could slightly increase the amount of medicine in your blood.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for amiodarone or dabigatran.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.