Coming off Amiodarone

[G1703]

I have been off this drug now for about 2 weeks. My cardiologist reduced the dosage from one tablet a day to alternate days earlier this year but at my most recent appointment he advised stopping altogether now. I had a cardioversion last Sept which was successful and I have, it seems, remained in rhythm since then.. I am due to see my cardiologist again in six months. Over the last week I have felt fluttery in my chest (that's the best way I can describe it) on several occasions. According to my fitbit my heart rate is significantly higher than it has been for a while (more or less double at times) and this is on occasions when I am not exerting myself. Does this sound like a normal reaction to coming off this drug?

[Norm]

Well I am not a doctor or cardiologist so can only tell you my experience with this drug.

It is supposed to be a drug of last resort and others have said it does not have side effects, just effects.

I was on Amiodarone from January until May 2016 when my cardiologist just told me to stop. I did ask about reducing the dose but he said no, just stop. It would not be a problem because the half life of Amiodarone is so long it will take a long while to come out of your body. It actually did nothing for my Afib and messed up my thyroid for which I now have tablets every day. You can search this site for many other comment on Amiodarone.

I then had a cardioversion in November 2016 and thank God I am still very fortunate to be NSR. I know I could revert back into Afib at anytime.

I would discuss your problem with your GP as appears to me to be a bit long to wait to discuss with cardiologist. Or try to get cardiologist appointment moved forward.

I hope all goes well for you and you continue to stay in NSR.

[IanMK]

A Fitbit isn’t very reliable for those of us with heart issues. While amiodarone was effective for me to suppress my arrhythmia after an ablation, my arrhythmia slowly returned after I stopped the amiodarone. If you want to check for yourself, you really need a device to measure your heart rate (sensing electrical signals) rather than your pulse rate (sensing blood flow). The Kardia device and latest Apple Watch are popular examples.

[BStanding56 in reply to IanMK]

My amiodoryn was cut down to one tablet, 100, 3 months later I went back into AF, so now stick to 200 mg a day and back in sinus rhyrhm

[realdon]

I was on Amiodarone from August 2018 to December 2018 after two failed ablations and then going into persistent AF which caused breathlessness problems. The dose was initially phased in over a period up to a level, maintained at that level until my EP advised I could stop when it was phased down inversely over a short period until I stopped completely. Since then I have had no AF but as I’m a pessimist I’m assuming it will come back at some stage.

[ILowe]

It is possible when you stop Amiodarone to continue using the familiar flecainide/bisoprolol coctail. Three times this has happened to me. But be careful, there is a possible dose reduction involved -- your doctor needs to take that into account. Something to ask about. You ask about fluttery feelings coming off the drug. That is not what I would expect, since, as said above, the amiodarone stays in your system a looong time.

What I did when I stopped Amiodarone was waited until I felt fluttery feelings, then started flecainide which was a very familiar drug to me. Sounds like you need to go back and ask.

[Danny44]

I have been on amiodrone for over 3 years I’ve tried to come off twice a year ago and 2 years previous.Both occasions ended up with severe AF attacks so I dosed up again straight away and the horrible pains went away.I would ask your cardiologist to put you on a different non toxic equivalent like solatol or something just type into google what AF drug is as good as amiodrone I’m trying todo the same but to get an app with my cardiologist is a joke.Anyway good luck I would be very careful I call it the death drug wish I had never been put on it causes me nothing but trouble I think you have a chance of being ok as you haven’t been on for that long but that’s my experience also had 2 cardio versions the first lasted an hour.The second only because of pre taking amiodrone I stayed in NSR there are and must be other drugs.Cant believe they can’t make a breakthrough with AF with millions of people suffering.And as you read on here ablation is a 50/50 gamble and from what I’ve read on here they don’t work or you end up having multiple ablations which just make things worse rediculous there must be another drug surely that doesn’t ruin all your organs I’m only 47.Good luck but I would make sure you have some just in case of an attack or an equivalent.Thsts my view on this horrible drug and heart condition.it took less than 3 months for it to come out of my system more like a month to 2 months.Im not trying to scare you but I don’t want you to suffer like I have.!!

[Bolander]

After a cardioversion I was initially put on Amiodarone but due to side effects I was changed to Sotalol which has kept me on NSR for some two years to date.

[Wasp1954]

A month after my first ablation I woke up with a massive PAF and ended up in A&E. Had an Amiodarone infusion which put me into flutter. Admitted for four days and ‘loaded up’ with Amiodarone. Lost my taste, horrific nightmares (I don’t normally dream) and real problems sleeping. Heart rate eventually normalised. After 2.5 months paid to see an EP who took me off it and cut my bisoprolol in half (now 5mg). Still having nightmares and trouble sleeping but no AF or Flutter. Been a couple of months off it so it’s probably still in my bones. Currently in the sun in the Balearic Island and fortunately no issues with the sun! best of luck!