<p>The Cmax of amiodarone in the plasma is achieved about 3 to 7 hours after administration.<sup class="text-reference-group"><a class="reference-popover-link" data-content="FDA Approved Drug Products: CORDARONE (amiodarone HCl) tablets" href="#reference-L3561">18</a></sup> The general time to onset of action of amiodarone after one dose given by the intravenous route is between 1 and 30 minutes, with therapeutic effects lasting from 1-3 hours. Steady-state concentrations of amiodarone in the plasma ranges between 0.4 to 11.99 μg/ml; it is advisable that steady-state levels are generally maintained between 1.0 and 2.5 μg/ml in patients with arrhythmias.<sup class="text-reference-group"><a class="reference-popover-link" data-content="Latini R, Tognoni G, Kates RE: Clinical pharmacokinetics of amiodarone. Clin Pharmacokinet. 1984 Mar-Apr;9(2):136-56. doi: 10.2165/00003088-198409020-00002. (PubMed ID 6370540)" href="#reference-A36817">4</a>,<a class="reference-popover-link" data-content="Zipes DP, Prystowsky EN, Heger JJ: Amiodarone: electrophysiologic actions, pharmacokinetics and clinical effects. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1984 Apr;3(4):1059-71. doi: 10.1016/s0735-1097(84)80367-8. (PubMed ID 6368644)" href="#reference-A183137">5</a></sup></p><p>Interestingly, its onset of action may sometimes begin after 2 to 3 days, but frequently takes 1 to 3 weeks, despite the administration of higher loading doses.<sup class="text-reference-group"><a class="reference-popover-link" data-content="FDA Approved Drug Products: CORDARONE (amiodarone HCl) tablets" href="#reference-L3561">18</a></sup> The bioavailability of amiodarone varies in clinical studies, averaging between 35 and 65%.<sup class="text-reference-group"><a class="reference-popover-link" data-content="FDA Approved Drug Products: CORDARONE (amiodarone HCl) tablets" href="#reference-L3561">18</a></sup></p><p>Effect of food</p><p>In healthy subjects who were given a single 600-mg dose immediately after consuming a meal high in fat, the AUC of amiodarone increased by 2.3 and the Cmax by 3.8 times.<sup class="text-reference-group"><a class="reference-popover-link" data-content="FDA Approved Drug Products: CORDARONE (amiodarone HCl) tablets" href="#reference-L3561">18</a></sup> Food also enhances absorption, reducing the Tmax by about 37%.<sup class="text-reference-group"><a class="reference-popover-link" data-content="FDA Approved Drug Products: CORDARONE (amiodarone HCl) tablets" href="#reference-L3561">18</a></sup> </p>