Saw the cardio today, he has told me ... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Saw the cardio today, he has told me to stop Amiodarone and prescribed Arythmol (Propafenone). Does anyone have experience of this drug?
Sounds a repeat in my lifestyle!! EP indicated that I should come off the Amiodarone and onto Propafenone . So had to go a few days without the Amiodarone to partially get it out of the system prior to commencing the Propafenone. Three days on Propafenone desperate to see GP - the side effects made me feel as though it was a ree-run as to when the AF first started. Just felt so rough with myself, GP and I decided that had to come off the Propafenone and back to the Amiodarone - phew thank goodness!! EP agreed with the decision made. Praise be to Amiodarone - only one that suits me!! Hope you get on better than my scenario.
Mags
Holey moley I'm not looking forward to that, Mags! Cardios never seem to agree on anything!! My guy was annoyed that I had been prescribed Amiodarone when I was in hospital a couple of months ago and said it could have irreversible long term effects on lungs,kidneys and eyes, although I was OK on it! So fingers crossed, I guess!
Thanks for your reply....I'll keep you posted.
Amiodarone is a very dirty drug and causes all sorts of long term problems and under European Society of Cardiology guidelines should only be used as a last resort. I have taken propafanone in the past and again at the moment with little problems. apart from a slight metallic taste in the mouth. I used it for some time when I had AF and currently taking small dose to combat troubling ectopics. Other names are arrythmol or rytmonorm. depending on where it is made.
Bob
Hi Mamamarilyn, I have been taking Propafanone for the last 8months or so and so far no probs with it.
My Cardio prescribed it because it does not make you tired. I have had to up the dose once during that time to control rhythm though.
I have paroxysmal af for about last 18 months or so, by the way. I also take warfarin and statins.
Hope it works for you too.
I agree with Bob, I wouldn't want to be on Amiodarone long term unless it was the last resort. Hope you find the drug that suits you best, with the fewest side effects soon.
People who read my rather brisk posts on not worrying about anything much will be surprised to learn that Propafanone was the only drug I had issues with and it gave me the foulest taste in my mouth. I went back on flecanide (described by one of my doctors as "not fit to give a dog" and I am fine. I can't take amiodarone. It causes thyroid problems. Anyone on it must ensure they are checked regularly for thyroid issues by a blood test.
"Saw the cardio today, he has told me to stop Amiodarone and prescribed Arythmol (Propafenone). Does anyone have experience of this drug?"
Hi Marilyn, Yes, I was put on Arythmol 10 years ago and it worked perfectly with zero physical side-effects.
BUT........they affected my mind in quite an amusing way. It's very hard to explain, but best to say they altered my understanding of time. I could talk to someone and say I'd come back to them with an answer, and then do it the next day, only to be told that actually the conversation was 3 weeks ago. It happened all the time. Problem is everyone was so polite and helpful because I'd had a heart problem, no-one told me. Sounds like not a problem but I was in business, so it was not good.
Also, and this is the weird bit, I was like Grasshopper out of Kung Fu. I could see things happen in slooooooow motion. I could give a few examples but here's a typical one. Open the fridge, a jar fell out. I watched it spinning on it's way down to the floor, it must have taken 20-30 seconds to make the journey in my head. I calmly and without any thought, just put my bare foot out and caught it perfectly. I did this more than once as my wife crams the fridge full to the brim. Also, at a party, we had a horse racing game which involved real videos of real races. I picked 5 outright winners in a row and everyone thought I was cheating. So we went to the real races the following week and lost £100 
I'm not in business any more and would take them again if suggested.
I thought Arythmol had been discontinued, my GP can't find it in her book!
PS. Because of the side-effects, I had an ablation instead. So was only on the drug for 2 years.
Blimey Koll, are you sure it wasn't the wacky baccy?..
Ah ha ... maybe it was 
I've been on Amiodarone now for 12 months and not had an issue. I expressed my unease at being on a drug that is supposed to be very potent. My specialist and GP are happy for me to take it as long as I'm monitored regularly. This is the only medication I have been offered may I add. The drug works well for me and I manage my own dosage. I currently take 100MG every other day and when I go into AF I up the dosage for a short while which brings me back into NSR. I have read a lot into this drug negative and positive. Reading fellow AF sufferers statements I also read negative and positive. My concern is long term effects, but I have mixed emotions about changing something that works so well and causes me no issues, at the moment.
Hey, many thanks to all of you who responded to my question. It's helpful to have this knowledge at a time when they don't seem to know what to try next with me!
I still reckon anxiety is the main problem (having never been a particularly anxious person) and that is not addressed. So it's lots of chamomile tea and mindfulness meditation for the moment. Certainly don't want to take meds for it!
