Treatment: amiodarone
BioMG follows French guidelines. Adapt it to the guidelines and the tests available where you practise.
When starting treatment
Laboratory tests
- TSH
- AST
- ALT
- GGT
- ALP
- Serum electrolytes
- Free T4if neededLow or suppressed TSH on amiodarone: confirm thyrotoxicosis by free T4 and free T3; the test is reimbursed provided that amiodarone treatment is stated on the prescription [2].
- Free T3 (as a reflex test, if TSH is low)if neededLow or suppressed TSH on amiodarone: confirm thyrotoxicosis by free T4 and free T3; the test is reimbursed provided that amiodarone treatment is stated on the prescription [2].
Do not order
At 3-6 months
Laboratory tests
- TSH
- AST
- ALT
- GGT
- ALP
- Free T4if neededLow or suppressed TSH on amiodarone: confirm thyrotoxicosis by free T4 and free T3; the test is reimbursed provided that amiodarone treatment is stated on the prescription [2].
- Free T3 (as a reflex test, if TSH is low)if neededLow or suppressed TSH on amiodarone: confirm thyrotoxicosis by free T4 and free T3; the test is reimbursed provided that amiodarone treatment is stated on the prescription [2].
- Serum electrolytes (potassium)if neededCombination with a potassium-lowering drug (diuretic, systemic corticosteroid…): electrolyte monitoring, as hypokalaemia favours torsades de pointes [3].
Do not order
Every 6 to 12 months (or if suggestive symptoms)
Laboratory tests
- TSH
- AST
- ALT
- GGT
- ALP
- Free T4if neededLow or suppressed TSH on amiodarone: confirm thyrotoxicosis by free T4 and free T3; the test is reimbursed provided that amiodarone treatment is stated on the prescription [2].
- Free T3 (as a reflex test, if TSH is low)if neededLow or suppressed TSH on amiodarone: confirm thyrotoxicosis by free T4 and free T3; the test is reimbursed provided that amiodarone treatment is stated on the prescription [2].
- Serum electrolytes (potassium)if neededCombination with a potassium-lowering drug (diuretic, systemic corticosteroid…): electrolyte monitoring, as hypokalaemia favours torsades de pointes [3].
Do not order
After stopping amiodarone
Laboratory tests
- TSH
- Free T4if neededLow or suppressed TSH on amiodarone: confirm thyrotoxicosis by free T4 and free T3; the test is reimbursed provided that amiodarone treatment is stated on the prescription [2].
- Free T3 (as a reflex test, if TSH is low)if neededLow or suppressed TSH on amiodarone: confirm thyrotoxicosis by free T4 and free T3; the test is reimbursed provided that amiodarone treatment is stated on the prescription [2].
Sources (9)
- Assurance maladie. Open Medic 2025 : nombre de consommants par substance active (ATC5), médicaments remboursés délivrés en officine de ville (fichier NB_2025_atc5). open-data-assurance-maladie.ameli.fr.
- Assurance maladie. Nomenclature des actes de biologie médicale (NABM), version 105 du 2 juin 2026 : actes 1208 (TSH) et 1212 (TSH + T4 libre + T3 libre).
- ANSM, Base de données publique des médicaments. Résumé des caractéristiques du produit CORDARONE 200 mg, comprimé sécable (rubriques 4.2 à 4.5 et 4.8), RCP mis à jour le 05/06/2025, consulté le 24 octobre 2026.
- HAS - Prise en charge des hypothyroïdies chez l’adulte - 2023
- Bartalena L, Bogazzi F, Chiovato L, Hubalewska-Dydejczyk A, Links TP, Vanderpump M. 2018 European Thyroid Association (ETA) Guidelines for the Management of Amiodarone-Associated Thyroid Dysfunction. Eur Thyroid J. 2018;7(2):55-66.
- Joglar JA, Chung MK, Armbruster AL, et al. 2023 ACC/AHA/ACCP/HRS Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Atrial Fibrillation. Circulation. 2024;149(1):e1-e156 : tableau 24 (surveillance de l'amiodarone orale).
- Specialist Pharmacy Service (NHS England). Amiodarone monitoring. Publié le 4 février 2025, mis à jour le 29 septembre 2026.
- Zorginstituut Nederland. Farmacotherapeutisch Kompas : amiodaron (monographie, rubriques « waarschuwingen en voorzorgen »).
- Centre belge d'information pharmacothérapeutique (CBIP). Répertoire commenté des médicaments, 1.8.3. Amiodarone, consulté le 24 octobre 2026.