So, I'm in and out of AF. I've just picked up my first prescription for amiodarone. I have read some horror stories about this drug but my GP has handed me the prescription without worry. My Consultant has fully warned me of side effects. And I would rather amiodarone than my heart stop.
I am wondering if taking amiodarone will better prepare me for another ablation? Could it mean a better outcome than just bearing with the AF - on average 3.5 hours a day?
If anyone has any suggestions or similar experience please feel free to share...
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Suzanne-Cheshire
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" but not for the rest of your body, so don't stay on it to long, there again not every one gets side affects, "
Many are not noticed until harm has been done. It is supposed to be a drug of last resort but is still not prescribed in that way and is not supposed to be prescribed by GP's.
I had fast AF return quickly after ablation number 3 last September and had a lot of inflammation and a strong almost autoimmune response which put me back in hospital within 2 weeks. At that stage Digoxin was added to my drug regime and a few weeks later, when it was obvious that the drugs still couldn’t control things I was put on Amiodarone as well. My EP said it would only be for a few months. He wanted to give my heart a rest. The drug did slow my heart down but I was still in and out of AF even with the cocktail of Amiodarone, Digoxin and a Atenolol. I had a reaction with my skin (rashes), my lungs and my liver (an enzyme level went up from 30 to almost 200) so I was taken off it after 2 months which was January. I had ablation number 4 in March and have been pretty good since. In a recent blood test my liver was back to normal and everything they tested for was perfect (liver, kidney, cholesterol, thyroid, blood sugar, magnesium, various vitamin levels). Keep an eye on how you are feeling, keep out of the sun and make sure you’re having regular blood tests. All the best x
Amiodarone generally does what it supposed to do in the short term. But in the longer term it can be pretty dangerous. I came off it after two years which was too long. My lungs were beginning to be affected. I now have a permanent thyroid problem which is treatable and fortunately the lung issue seems to have returned to normal. If I had the choice again I would be prepared to take the drug for a short spell - say three months - but no more.
But if is does stop 'game over'. The first visit to clinic after AF diagnosis I was asked if there was a history of sudden death in my family. Can AF cause this,? The doctor's question made me think so!
I knew someone who took Amiodarone for 8 years, during that time he didn't receive any tests or advice - didn't read the leaflet in the box either! He was going out in the sun and carrying on with his life as normal, then his AF returned and his lack of monitoring was noticed. The only way I think it affected him was that he had a very ruddy complexion, which looked quite normal too. You could say he thrived on this drug, but suddenly it wasn't working and he was taken off of it
A few years later and after having had an unsuccessful ablation a year or so earlier, he caught a cold and within a week died of pneumonia, he was in his late 70's. As far as I know Amiodarone didn't affect his health in the slightest apart from his complexion.
I took Amiodarone on two occasions pre ablations, probably adding up to a year or so in total and it damaged my thyroid making it underactive. It did little to prevent my AF either. I was blaming my AF for my extreme lack of energy. I'll now have to take pills for life to right this.
Your GP would hand you the prescription for this toxic drug without any worry, he's not the one having to take it!
Because of it's side effects. When we had our Exeter get together last year, out of 20 of us there 4 had suffered having their thyroid damaged by this drug.
Thanks for your comments. I've still not cashed the prescription. I am now very wary. I think I would rather live with this invisible disability a bit longer.
Amiodarone is a spectacularly effective drug, but which can have disastrous effects on a percentage of people. The worst effects are only realised after long term use, but can be very short term for some. I was on it for 3 months at 200 mg per day. Amiodarone is difficult for the body to process, so only about 2% is removed from the bloodstream each day; I calculated that at the end of three months, I had 11.5 grammes in my system. Apparently most people experience the worst effects when the dose goes above 30 grammes.
I had one raised liver enzyme (GGT) prior to AF, which was steadily reducing after stopping drinking. It remained high whileon amiodarone and continued to reduce when I stopped. The doctors tell me amiodarone has no effect on GGT.
Overall I am happy with my experience of amiodarone, I believe it probably retrained my heart after the ablation. Under no circumstances would I have been prepared to take it on a long term basis. I would ask for liver, lung, thyroid and kidney function tests prior to starting and for regular checks. Go immediately to hospital if you have a chest infection.
Thank you for that. So it retrained your heart. That's what I hope from it because my heart seems to be very good at finding new pathways. That is exactly what I wanted to hear!
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Day 4 post ablation 
Undecided on 3rd ablation 
Nervous to stop amiodarone, two months post-ablation
Ablation with 50% chance of success
