Amiodorone

[etheral]

Has anybody felt better after being cardioverted after loading dose of amiodorone and then continued on maintenance dose of 200mg?

[maund]

Yes been on Amiodarone for a year now and feel much better

[excalibur]

Yes it worked well for me - but keep a watching eye on possible side effects

Lance

[maund in reply to excalibur]

Are u still on it Excalibur ? If so how long have u been on it ?

[excalibur in reply to maund]

No - after about 8 years on it in which I also had another 2 cardioversions when I temporarily slipped back into AF I had to stop as it was causing problems with my eyes and my eye doctor felt I should stop taking it. I was then switched to Dronedarone but that didn't keep me in NSR so I've now opted to stay in permanent AF as it doesn't really affect my quality of life.

Many other users have also indicated that it's not a long term solution - more of a short term fix while you consider your options

Hope it provides some benefit for you

Lance

[approaching in reply to excalibur]

Hi Lance,

I just came across your old post here and am interested in your choice to live with permanent A fib.

Was an ablation intervention offered at all, like did you choose to not have it?

Peter

[excalibur in reply to approaching]

Hi approaching. I was told that the chance of an ablation working was low and there was a significant chance of causing further damage. This was because it was then 10 years since my original AF diagnosis.

I think that since then technology and practice has improved and I might have got different advice today.

But since it doesn’t cause me any real problems it didn’t seem worth the risk at the time

Lance

[approaching in reply to excalibur]

Thank you for your reply Lance.

I find the A fib markedly effects my energy level and i really have to slow down , which is a good thing in many ways, but it has required major changes in lifestyle. The drugs effect my ability to concentrate.

How old are you Lance?

have you got most of your working life behind you?

Peter

[excalibur in reply to approaching]

I’m now 69 Going on 70 but was in my early 50’s when initially diagnosed.

Regular exercise helped. My AF either caused or was caused by dilated cardiomyopathy and it was that the exercise was able to help with, though the AF did limit how hard I could exercise.

Everyone’s condition seems to be different and it’s a question of finding the best path.

Neither ablations nor drugs like Amiodarone work for ever - so I don’t think there is a cure - just something that gives you relief from the symptoms

Hope you find the best path for yourself

Lance

[approaching in reply to excalibur]

Thank you again.

Was your dilated cardiomopathy HOCM (hypertropic obstructive cardio myopathy) or some other type?

[excalibur in reply to approaching]

I only understood it to be DCM probably caused by a virus. My cardiologist said it was not possible to tell whether the DCM caused my AF or the AF led to DCM. My most recent echo shows my heart is almost normal in size now

Lance

[approaching in reply to excalibur]

Well you have done well to live with your condition.

[Jollies]

My cardioversion when loaded with amiodarone lasted for 5 weeks, even though I was on amiodarone afterwards. For those 5 weeks however I did feel well. Am off the amiodarone now x

[jobristol]

My cardioversion after four weeks of Amiodarone (loading dose first, then 200mg) in late January lasted two weeks, during that time I felt good. After going back into AF even though on maintenance dose I felt dreadful, 5 weeks of feeling dreadful visited GP who did ECG which confirmed I was now actually in Atrial Flutter. GP contacted cardiologist who then referred me to EP for flutter ablation, and said stop taking Amiodarone as I was feeling so awful. On seeing EP he confirmed that Amiodarone was causing chronotropic incompetence, basically my heart wasn't capable of dealing with any increase in activity. Before AF I was very active, running, spinning etc, since AF I have tried to continue but whilst on the amio my heart rate just wasn't increasing as it should and would drop rapidly causing me to feel very light headed. Since stopping amio in March I feel so much better and am able to exercise again, and although I now have flutter I am actually in NSR most of the time! I think the amio worked at first but then actually made things worse! We are all different and although it caused me problems it might work for you!

[RichMert]

Yes it is probably the only drug that stabilised me but thankfully only until I had the ablation. It is toxic and should be avoided long term unless you are in the twilight years. Just my thoughts.