amiodarone vs dronedarone
Side-by-side comparison of amiodarone and dronedarone Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Cordarone, Pacerone
Multaq
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.
Multaq is a medicine that helps lower the risk of needing to stay in the hospital for atrial fibrillation (AFib). It is for people who have a history of AFib and are currently in normal heart rhythm.
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.
Multaq is used to lower the risk of hospitalization if you have atrial fibrillation (AFib). AFib is an irregular heartbeat. This medicine is for people who used to have AFib, but are now in a normal heart rhythm.
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.
Multaq is an antiarrhythmic drug. It works by changing the electrical signals in the heart. This helps to keep your heart in a normal rhythm and prevent AFib from returning.
- • Low thyroid levels (hypothyroidism)
- • High thyroid levels (hyperthyroidism)
- • Heart failure
- • Irregular heartbeats
- • Problems with the heart's natural pacemaker (SA node dysfunction)
- • Diarrhea
- • Nausea
- • Abdominal pain
- • Vomiting
- • Feeling weak or tired
- Difficulty breathing 1,158
- Weakness 975
- Tiredness 893
- Using the medicine for a condition it is not approved for 852
- The medicine is not working 719
- Irregular heartbeat 1,418
- Shortness of breath 834
- Tiredness 614
- Diarrhea 477
- Nausea 471
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.
Multaq can increase the risk of death, stroke, and heart failure in patients with severe heart failure or permanent AFib. You should not take this medicine if you have severe heart failure that recently required hospitalization or if you have permanent AFib and will not be converted to a normal heart rhythm.
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.
Multaq can harm an unborn baby. If you are a woman who could become pregnant, use effective birth control while taking Multaq. Do not breastfeed while taking Multaq and for 5 days after your last dose.
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How to Read This amiodarone vs dronedarone Comparison
amiodarone is classified in the Class III Antiarrhythmic drug class, while dronedarone sits within the Class III Antiarrhythmic class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. 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 4,597 submissions while dronedarone has 3,814. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between amiodarone and dronedarone — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.