Amiodarone

[Mike-tyson]

Has anyone any experience of this drug. As got admitted with A/F again and Bisoprolol and Degoxin did not slow heart rate so been put on this with 7.5 mil Bisoprolol per day. Side effects on instruction sheet are quite frightening ??

[BobD Volunteer]

This is generally considered a nasty drug and not for long term use. Under European Society of Cardiology protocols it is a drug of last resort. OK it is also often known as the Domestos of anti arrhythmic drugs as it does what it says on the tin but a doctor once told me, it doesn't have side effects. It has effects.

I have had it as injection/drip but never in tablet form.

[bennie06]

Same journey, Started with Digoxin and Bisoporol followed by DC conversion which lasted four days. Soooo "the drug of last resort" Amiodarone added and second DC conversion and back in rhythm for two months and counting.

No significant side effects, vital signs of a 25 year old....just need the body to match. Rightly or wrongly you will get some horror stories here regarding this drug so ensure that you get regular blood tests and a thorough eye examination in due course. Stay strong and good luck.

[Hidden]

I have been on this drug a few times in my 25 year AF history.....tablets and 24hr intravenously ( which could not put me back into normal rhythm). My longest spell on the tablets was 18 months. Nothing horrendous happened during that time but it did not suit me so we changed over to Disopyramide.

Side effects mentioned in most drug leaflets can be quite frightening but particularly Amiodarone. I think we have to put our trust in our prescribing cardiologists while at the same time be aware of the signs of problems and ensure that regular blood tests etc are undertaken.

[Alfieros in reply to Hidden]

I’m just wondering if one has to be hospitalized to switch from amiodarone to another medication. What was your experience?

[Mike-tyson in reply to Alfieros]

Amioderone is very strong and stays in you body for weeks after you stop taking it. So I started on low dose of two weeks of 40mg Sotalol twice per day. Cardiology have requested I increase this now to 80mg twice per day. This has worked ok as now have heart rate of 60bpm and they rhythm is smooth. I was not hospitalised during the switch to Sotalol. Just had ECG checks every week during switch period.

[Alfieros in reply to Mike-tyson]

That’s great to know Mike. I was actually on Sotalol for several years before my ablation, where they switched me to Metropolol. I was actually taking 80 mg twice a day at the time and it worked great for me. I wish I was back on the Sotalol because this new medication has me very anxious and concerned

[Hidden in reply to Alfieros]

No I was not hospitalised. I had seen cardio at London hospital and shortly after I collected new prescription from my local surgery and changed straight over.

[jeanjeannie50]

Amiodarone damaged my thyroid, it made it underactive. I'll have to take drugs to right it for the rest of my life. It didn't halt my PAF either. Don't take it for too long. X

[etheral]

Ask about Tikosyn(dofetilide). Much safer and worked well for me. I had started taking amioderone but couldn't tolerate the short term side effects and switched to dofetilide.

[Alfieros in reply to etheral]

How did they switch you? Did you have to be hospitalized for observation to get switched?

[etheral in reply to Alfieros]

I was hospitalized for 3 days and monitered while the loading dose of Tikosyn was adminastered. I had no problems or side effects and converted to NSR without electrocardiaversion. I have been on Tikosyn for 1 year now without any arrythmias or side effects.

[Von19]

I was only on Amiodarone for a short period but during that time damaged my thyroid gland - am on medication for life - and caused hypertension couldn’t tolerate side effects

[Alfieros in reply to Von19]

I’m so sorry to hear that Von. How long were you on it for?

[Hidden]

Been on it for 30 months but told my cardiologist last week that I wanted to come off it. Told him my side effects- blurred and double vision to one eye and a halo around any light, thyroid over active, persistent cough and difficulty swallowing, abnormal gait as though drunk, some lung damage all of which I had kept telling my GP since my last cardio appt.

The cardio took me straight off it saying that Amiodarone would never pass drug clearance these days and if we fully described the side effects then nobody would take it. It’s one redeeming feature it has kept me in sinus rhythm, but are the effects worth it, not as far as I can see.

[stix]

Given the drug in A&E intervenesly, did bring my rhythm back down, but I was never told of its side affects.

And since been told I should not have been given it with Sotolol.

We are in their hands, we can only ride with what they do, sort of worrying a

[Thomas45]

I was given it on my first emergency admission to hospital. It didn't reduce episodes of AF significantly but caused chest pains and feelings of panic. I pleaded with it GPs to be taken off it but they said l had to stay on it until i saw the hospital consultant, which in those days was ten months after my first emergency admission to hospital. He immediately took me off it and put me on Flecainide which worked for 12 years without any side effects.

[Mittzy]

I was prescribed Amiodarone when first diagnosed last year, alongside Digoxin. It didn’t get me back into sinus and my hair started falling out. I have about a third of my hair left and was taken off the drug in Nov and am now on Bisoporol. I am still not in sinus but my heart rate has slowed. I cannot take high doses of Bisoporol as unfortunately for me, I am also asthmatic. I would say be very careful with Amiodarone, be very aware of the side effects and see your GP or cardiologist if you have concernS. My GP informed me that they do not like this drug to be used long term if at all possible.

[Echinopsis]

I was put on it after Diltiazem and Digoxin did nothing to improve my heart rhythm after many months. Started it just before a cardioversion which put the heart rhythm back to normal.

Need not to sunbathe because it is suppose to make the skin sensitive.Need to check liver and thyroid every 6 months. I keep off alcohol so as not to upset the heart rhythm, but which presumably also does not put a strain on the liver.

I have been on it for over a year and had no side effects.It is a fantastic medicine.

[Ianc2]

Hi Mike

I assume you have been given a care plan organised by your cardiologist and your GP. In this plan you will be monitored for damage to liver and thyroid every six months. As echinopsis said do not go out in the sun - you will burn very quickly- if it is very hot, in a matter of minutes, and your skin will go a grey/blue colour. I speak from experience.

Another insidious effect is the stiffening of the walls of the lungs, which cannot be reversed. If you go to the opticians you will get a "Hey , come and look at the vortex in this eye". It is what is called a dirty drug but is often - but not always - effective.

Which brings you back to lifestyle.

Is your weight about the mid point of your BMI ?

is your blood pressure at least below 140/80 - preferably 130/70?

Have you dumped alcohol until this is sorted?

Had your sugar levels checked?

Had your chloresterol levels checked?

Taken up steady , regular, gentle exercise - on the flat to start with?

Got a fitbit or similar to remind you to move and to track your activity? 10000 steps a day?

Got rid of caffeine?

It's all a bit of a pain but the alternative is much worse , so best of luck and give it a go.

Ian

[Salty0987]

It almost made me go blind. I stopped in time because I went to an eye doctor and he stopped me immediately. Thankfully my eyesight returned

[Jennywren2953]

Yes I was put on it as i had had three cardioversions that only lasted a matter of days.I took it for 3 months, and worried the whole time after reading about it, in saying that I felt ok while I was on it. They cardioverted me and it lasted 2 days. On another occasion I was also given it intravenously, followed by tablets but still didn’t work for me. My specialist also said it’s the strongest drug for AF but didn’t do it for me. Hope you have better success, good luck, we are all different.

[AllyAF]

I was on Amiodarone when my heart rate refused to go down after 3 days in hospital. As another person said, you have to trust your cardiologist that this is the right thing for you at this time. Very important to do the blood tests, as my cardiologist said 'no point in having a great heart if you get kidney failure'. Apparently max length of time for this drug is 1 year - I was off it within 6 months but it did the job. Good luck.

[Maagaa]

Hi Mike my favorite topic. I have talked to my neurologist and my Electrophysiologist at length about this medication. I was put on it as a last ditch effort before my second conversion to get me into steady sinus rhythm, it worked and am AFIB free for 1 year, but now have hypothyroidism, balance issues, numbness in feet, and calcium deposits in my eyes. Been off for 2 months and we decided that the best treatment for me at this point is not to start different meds to help stay in SR because of my low heart rate. I’m running between 40 and 50 but dizzy and foggy and extremely tired. We have decided on a pacemaker and I am very comfortable with our decision.

[silviageci]

I was taking it for a year, it surely is the drug for AF, but in my case made my thyroid already hypo, went even more hypo, then my Endocrinologist added T3 along with the Levo I was taking, I have fewer episodes after adding T3 to the combo, my EP said that lack of T3 is proarrytmic, now I am off Amiodarone for two months at least because I will be having a new ablation and it seems it is easier for them to find the spots to ablate if you are not with Amiodarone in the body (it stays for months until it goes completely away).

[Pippy36]

I have been taking Amiodorone for 8 years. I had arrithymia and was put on the drug straight away. I have a ICD fitted and also take Bisoprolol Ramapril and Spironalactone. I had to have half of my thyroid removed as I had a camcerous nodule in it. I have no idea if the Amiodorone was to blame but now have Levothyroxine to take everyday. I have regular bloood tests and when I had a cough was given a scan to make sure I hadn't developed fibrosis of the lung due to the Amiodorone. I am sure Amiodorone is not good for everyone but I am okay with it. I do burn if I am in the sun so have to wear a hat. I took 200mg for quite a few years but now take 100mg. Wishing you all the best.

[Nugger]

Felt crap while taking the loading dose of 600mg but feel ok on 200mg a day,it did stop my heart from pounding,which the bisoprolol or flecanide did not,got another 3 weeks till I'm cardioverted & then will stop taking it,last cardiovertion lasted 2 & half years without amioderone.

[Feemcc]

Hi Mike, I did have the same two meds as you but really found Amiodarone to be tough on me. In fairness my cardiologist has tried a number before this one but the side effects of tiredness, weight gain and heat sensitivity made me take myself off it recently, I was on holiday when I came up in a really red rash and small blisters, my feet and hands swelled up and tingled. My weight went up by 1.5 stone in six months and already being off it (for three weeks) I have lost 11 pounds. My cardiologist has moved me to a calcium channel blocker which is not quite as good but without the side effects. Its called Diltiazem

[Alfieros in reply to Feemcc]

This may be a silly question but when on this drug, did your weight go up because it increases your appetite and you ate more or just from the drug alone without even eating more?