In men and individuals exposed to large amounts of the medication, cancer risk is greater
New retrospective study results show that amiodarone, a widely used arrhythmia medication, may increase the risk of developing cancer.
Researchers discovered that cancer risk is greater in men and people exposed to large amounts of the medication. Amiodarone can accumulate in soft tissues after a long-term prescription because it is fat-soluble and breaks down slowly.
The study involved 6418 individuals prescribed amiodarone. Vincent Yi-Fong Su, MD, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, and colleagues studied the patients for an average of 2.57 years. Cancer developed in 280 study participants.
An increased risk of developing cancer was found among male patients or those individuals who received high cumulative daily doses of amiodarone within the first year. Compared with those with neither factor, patients with both factors were 46% more likely to develop cancer. Su and colleagues determined that patients prescribed a large amount of amiodarone presented with almost double the risk of developing cancer compared with those taking a low amount of the drug after age, sex, and illnesses were taken into account.
The study is published in Cancer.
Source: Wiley.