[5] This side chain allows for budiodarone to have a shorter half-life in the body than amiodarone (7 hours versus 35–68 days) which allows it to have a faster onset of action and metabolism while still maintaining similar electrophysiological activity.

[4] The faster metabolism of budiodarone allows for fewer adverse side effects than amiodarone principally due to decreased levels of toxicity in the body.

[7][8] Evidence has shown that 400–600 mg bid doses were associated with the highest reduction in atrial fibrillation burden (54.4% and 75% respectively)[8] while remaining free of the adverse side effects common with amiodarone.

[7][8] There has also been evidence of prolonged budiodarone cardiac effect days after drug discontinuation as the atrial fibrillation baseline measurements were not reached in washout periods.

The completion of current clinical trials will examine chronic budiodarone use to confirm or deny its use as an effective and safe antiarrhythmic drug.