Risks of intravenous amiodarone in neonates.

The courses of two neonates treated with intravenous amiodarone for supraventricular tachyarrhythmia, both of whom developed significant adverse effects, are reported. A 13-day-old term newborn developed hypothyroidism after 27 days of mostly intravenous amiodarone for atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia and severe heart failure. A one-day-old, 36 weeks' gestation newborn developed electromechanical dissociation after receiving an intravenous bolus of amiodarone for rapid atrial flutter. Judicious use of amiodarone is recommended.