Abstract : The European Society of Cardiology has recently published an update on the antiarrhythmic treatment of atrial fibrillation. The recommendations emphasize the safety aspect of the treatment. The first line antiarrhythmic medication should be chosen on the basis on a safer although possibly less efficacious profile while more potent but possibly more toxic agents should be reserved in case of treatment failure. Therefore, the use of amiodarone is reserved for cases who have failed treatment with class I agents or sotalol or have contraindications for their use. The recommendations put dronedarone, a new antiarhythmic drug, as a first line treatment in the new therapeutic algorithm based on its safety profile and positive impact on morbi-mortality. This article presents the main properties of dronedarone based on the published results of randomized trials.