According to Jerry Potts, Ph.D., the American Heart Association's National Center Director of Science, amiodarone won't be part of the ACLS algorithm for at least another 8 months.

"We are presently evaluating evidence for the 2000 ECC Guidelines. Use of amiodarone for V-fib and pulseless V-tach is being evaluated as part of that effort. The new guidelines may or may not include amiodarone in that algorithm... we just have not completed the process of evaluating the evidence. The guidelines will be published in August 2000," Potts wrote.