I have just been put on Amiodarone. On day 3 of the loading process (3 x 200mg/day) and already starting to feel rough - nausea and breathlessness which I hope will decrease once I am at the maintenance dose (200mg / day).
Quick question - has any of my fellow Amiodarone sufferers ever actually turned blue? I live in Scotland and hoping that the watery sunshine we get here wont turn me into a Smurf.
I'm sure no one has actually turned blue, but a friend who took it for many years developed what I would call a ruddy complexion. I just thought he looked suntanned all the time. I took Amiodarone and had no noticeable side effects, but it did eventually have an effect on my thyroid function.
A friend in Edinburgh did around 1994, more grey than blue. As he came towards me it looked like a massive birthmark on his face and neck.
He had had a pacemaker fitted and had been told that he still needed to be on Amiodarone for life. He was one who always followed doctors orders but not that time. I can't remember how long it took to get back to normal.
I was put on Amiodarone following my ablation and cardioversion because the cardioversion didn't work. I am now on down to one tablet a day but have been rather lucky with no real side effects. I do however ensure that I use factor 50 sun cream on my face and neck and keep arms and legs covered up. Apparently you also have to do this for a few weeks after stopping the medication. It has put my heart back into NSR so it will have been worth it. I have another two weeks on one tablet a day and then will be stopping it. Fingers crossed it will have done its job.
I so miss not being able to sit in the sun.
My consultant was quite adamant that one year is the longest you can take this drug.
Ashburton - I'm still on three tablets a day. Feel like I have the hangover from hell but I will work it through in the hope that my body gets used to it. Apparently it takes 2 weeks for Amiodarone to have an effect, so I am hoping for a few more days of sunshine.
Thanks for your input - let me know how you get on.
I was placed on amiodarone approximately 1 m post ablation. My heart was in afib/flutter and nothing else was getting me to NSR. I did not want to take it but placed on it 3M max.
I didn't handle much of the first week of the loading I was sleeping a ridiculous amount of time. One day I got out of bed at 10 am. By 1 I laid down and didn't wake til 6:30! I was reduced to 1 200 mg per day. I did not have an appetite, nothing tasted good. I lost 8#.
The sun did not bother my skin but I wasn't sitting at the pool. I was doing yard work though in shorts and a sleeveless shirt. No burn, no tan lines. My eyes were sensitive to light and sunlight. My body never felt like where it was in space and I was somewhat dizzy.
I have been in NSR which i was promised with amiodarone. I quit taking last week, 3 weeks less 3 M.
Some people have no problems with this drug. I may have experienced more than others or less. I also had a horrible cough while starting amiodarone. I did bring me into NSR. Will I stay in NSR? WHo knows. Another wait and see 3M game.....now think my mitral valve is the cause of my afib/flutter.
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