Ask the Clinical Instructor: A Q&A Column for Those New to the
Cath Lab  Start Page:  End page:   Questions are answered by
Todd Ginapp, EMT-P, RCIS, FSICP  Todd is the Cardiology Manager
for Memorial Hermann Southeast in Houston, Texas. He also
teaches an online RCIS Review course for Spokane Community
College, in Spokane, Washington, and regularly presents with
RCIS Review Courses.   I don’t understand why there is a
difference in dosages of Cordarone for different situations.
Isn’t it a case of “more is better”? — Online submission
Cordarone, generically called amiodarone, does have specific
doses for specific situations. We often describe the differences
in dosages as a “dead” dose and a “live” dose. To answer this
question, there needs to be a short review of amiodarone.
Amiodarone (Figure 1) is indicated for persistent or recurrent
ventricular fibrillation (VF)/pulseless ventricular tachycardia
(VT), VT with a pulse (stable) and uncertain wide complex
tachycardias. Amiodarone is the preferred treatmen