Amiodarone (Cordarone)

[andyman1988]

Hello jest wanted to know how people are doing on Amiodarone (Cordarone)

[1Jerbear]

My doctor took me off of Ameoderone .It wasn't working for me . He said it was short term drug that wasn't working .

[andyman1988 in reply to 1Jerbear]

thank you for the info

[higgy52]

Been on it 2 years helps with A F, But gives you night mares lack of sleep red eyes and thyroid damage, but there keen for me to stay on it till i have another Ablation in about 6 months, so got no choice,

[andyman1988 in reply to higgy52]

How long where you on it when you found out about thyroid damage thank you

[higgy52 in reply to andyman1988]

about 8 months, dont worry not every one gets thyroid damage,

But E P says if you stay on it the more chance of Ablation working

[PaulaEKing in reply to higgy52]

I feel like I might have thyroid damage, although I don't know yet. Going to ask my cardiologist when I go next month. I'm cold all the time, kinda low metabolism. sigh.

[cuore in reply to higgy52]

Hmnn. That's interesting. I was told by an EP to come off Amiodarone (3 1/2 months into taking it) as I was to have a second ablation 4 months after the first. As I have had a second ablation (Nov. 20) there is a program in place for me to come off Amiodarione.

By my calulation, it will be 2 1/2 years between your ablations.

[Polski]

I suggest you try searching on here for it, using the searchbox in the top right hand corner of the screen. There have been plenty of posts about it, which should help to fill you in.

[andyman1988 in reply to Polski]

Thank you

[andyman1988]

Thank you

[Dianemary]

I've been taking it for about 3 weeks now, I didn't feel too well at the beginning, they doubled up the loading dose for the first week, my worst problem though is not sleeping very well and although I don't get nightmares I do have vivid dreams. I'm hoping it's going to be a short term fix as I'm waiting for an appointment to discuss a second ablation. On the plus side it does seem to be slowing my rapid heartbeat down a little.

[MRockwell]

Amiodarone nearly killed my husband was put on a high dose in hospital 800mg let out the next day with no information about side effects felt terrible next morning just got him into emergency in time would not admit it was Amiodarone, He was on thyroid tablets should never have been put on this poison. Look up " Amiodarone toxicity" Our cardiologist put him later on 200mg tried it for a month took himself off due to not sleeping feeling unwell. We now have a new cardiologist. See "Stop Amiodarone"

[MisUse]

Amiodorone is a very strong drug which can be,p some people. I was on it for a couple of years but stopped it when drs decided it was not really helping, as in permanent AF. All I would say is make sure you keep up with blood tests. Eye tests etc as it has lots of side effects.

[Hidden]

I've been on it at decreasing dosages for about 7 months - after the initial "loading" doses I've been on 200 mg/day, 100 mg/day and now 50 mg/day. Had vivid dreams the first week but after that no discernible side effects and blood tests and eye tests are clear. It is known to be toxic and has a long half life in the body (5 months or so I think). There are lots of reasons to dislike the idea of being placed on it but for those of us who do not suffer a lot of side effects it can often very quickly and effectively drop us back into NSR - thats a BIG plus in my book. My DCCV only gave me 36 hours of NSR whereas Amiodarone has given me more than 6 months of relief from AF now. While you are in NSR remodeling is not happening. The question is the EP's end game - as the dose is reduced what is the response if AF returns (or even if it doesn't).

Overall I'm happy be taking it though I still don't know how the story ends.

[higgy52 in reply to Hidden]

Same hear don,t now how the story ends, after 2 years still on it at E P s insistence, if i go against his advice he might not do my Ablation

[cuore in reply to Hidden]

Hmmn, Justintonation. My decreasing timeline is a little different from yours. After my ablation (Nov. 20th) I was to stop the drug after two months-- by January 20th. Since I had several bouts of arrhythmia after ablation, I am to continue the 200 mg once daily till the end of January. For February I am to take the same dosage during the week but not weekends. In March I am to take it Monday, Wednesday and Friday. After that we will see, so I don't know yet what the final outcome will be.

[Emsysy]

MisUse is spot on. It’s very effective for many but it does soak every cell in your body so can impact on other organs e.g. eyes, thyroid. Regular blood checks are a must and don’t take long term. Your GP or cardio should be monitoring you.

[Amcech]

I've been taking amiodarone for 4 months. Didn't do a loading dose, taking 200 mg daily since the start. It took about 3 months to start seeing a decrease in AF episodes. My EP told me it would take that long to load and see improvement. I'm taking it in the hope that my left atrium will shrink and my ejection fraction will improve. I'm 62 years old so I know I won't be taking this drug for many more months. No major side effects that I'm aware of. I always have sleep problems and I believe that's from my beta blocker. I will have blood tests every 6 months for liver and thyroid. I see an eye doctor every year in January.

[PaulaEKing in reply to Amcech]

I took 400 mg then they cut mine to 200 mg which I've been on for a year. It works really well, although I feel my thyroid may be becoming hypo. It's just a feeling but I'm ridiculously cold all the time, and gettin chunky. I'm in US so we do things differently I guess but I'm getting the thyroid checked next visit to my cardiologist.

[Amcech in reply to PaulaEKing]

I'm in the U.S. too. I'm hoping when I see my EP in April he will either have me go off or at the very least reduce the dosage.

[PaulaEKing in reply to Amcech]

I am wondering if reducing the dosage below 200 mg will work for me. I supposedly have a low score (1) on the afib scale, but it was my experience last year that just metoprolol and the entresto did not work by themselves. So I am fearing that I either will need to stick at the current level or deal with a fib. which is worse? I don't know. Best of luck to you at your upcoming appt!

[Amcech in reply to PaulaEKing]

I've decided to live with afib when or if it comes back and off amiodarone. My symptoms while in AF aren't terrible as long as my heart rate stays under 100 and with coreg my rate has been very controlled.

[Georgianjane]

I was on it for 2 years before I became severely hyperthyroid (seizures etc) so I was switched to propafenone for 2 years which had no side effects. I then had an ablation so went off the propafenone.

[yakyakyak]

Amimoderone scarred my lungs.

[jumped in reply to yakyakyak]

I have been in Amiodarone for more than 20 years, there are no plans to take me off it, apparently it is the best drug for me and I have to stay on it. It caused thyroid problems quite quickly and has caused damage to lungs. I have had a pacemaker for 2 years and although I don't feel brilliant, it has helped.

[PaulaEKing]

I'm on 200 mg (live in US). I seem to be doing fine, but am thinking I might be hypothyroid (given, I just had a broken foot and my ankle replaced, so I've been fairly inactive). When I go back to my cardiologist I'm going to ask for hypothyroid bloodwork, just to check.