starting amiodarone

[Annaelizabeth]

I am just starting my month of taking amiodarone prior to ablation in

april. Could you please tell me when I will start to feel the benefits - 24 hours or longer?

[jennydog]

I was prescribed it for about 6 months and it had no effects on me at all. They then tried Soltalol and then bisoprolol.

[pip_pip]

Hi. Benefits should kick in pretty quickly . a day or so or a little more a few days. It builds as it goes along. Only a month? Why ?

I thought amioderone was great. Helped a great deal.

Phil

[Annaelizabeth in reply to pip_pip]

Fingers crossed this is the case. The reason given was that it makes the mapping for the ablation easier. It isn't 24 hours yet, and I am still bumping along, hopefully in the next few days things will change.

[Beancounter Volunteer]

Hi Annaelizabeth

I'm not medically qualified, but when I took Amiodarone, they gave me triple dose for the first week double dose for the second and then usual dose from week 3 onwards.

My understanding is that is because it takes quite a while to build up in the body so they give you a higher dose at first to compensate. I'm surprised at only a month, and you might be on a high dose for the whole month.

I think it might take longer than a week to kick in, but could be wrong.

Be well

Ian

[Annaelizabeth in reply to Beancounter]

Thank you for that response, very helpful, I have sent an email to EP's seccy to see whether I can bump up a bit, the month apparently helps with the mapping for the ablation.

[Hidden]

I was on amiodorone for 6 weeks before my cv, as far as I can tell it didn't help in all that time, I didn't convert in any case.

I am still on it 6 weeks later. Hopefully it's keeping me in rhythm now.

Next EP visit is early June to discuss staying on this drug or having an ablation.

Ps. I get sunburn sitting inside the house if I'm too close to a window, and that's with factor 30 on.

[Annaelizabeth in reply to Hidden]

I am awaiting a reply from EP as to whether I can 'load' or not, the sun is an issue as I am in the West Indies for another 4 weeks so it is full cover, although a raincoat is probably better, it is pouring with very welcome rain!

[cali111 in reply to Hidden]

Try factor 50 because I had this stinging sitting by a window.

[Hidden in reply to cali111]

Definitely, I just can't believe how easily burnt I am. I used to be able to wear factor 15 all day and just go brown. As a person that loves being outside, walking, cycling or surfing this flipping AF the drugs and the side effects is really crippling me

[Annaelizabeth]

Thank you to everyone for the help and feedback. I have just heard from the EP, stop amiodarone and continue with metropolol - roll on the beginning of April and third-time-lucky ablation.