Amiodorone cardioversion

[Spinbiker]

Saw EP today to discuss ablation v 2nd cardioversion aided by amiodorone - EP says to be on amiodorone for 2/3 months and try my 2nd cardioversion (first failed) I am thinking to go this route and if that fails go for ablation- any thoughts gratefully received

[Jalia]

Sounds ok to me ! Amiodarone is pretty potent as you no doubt know and a shortish time on it may do the trick. Be guided by your EP. Ive had a course on Amiodarone prior to dccv and ablation.

[Spinbiker in reply to Jalia]

Thanks - how did you manage the side effects and coming off of it may I ask

[Jalia in reply to Spinbiker]

I just came straight off it.....no probs or weaning down. When I was on it for just a few months I can't recall any side effects. Many years ago I was on it for about 18 months and switched to Disopyramide as it suited me better.

[Spinbiker in reply to Jalia]

Thanks for writing I’ve decided to go the ablation route best wishes to you

[jobristol]

It’s worth a try. I was put in it for 6 weeks before my cardio version. It worked but I only stayed in NSR fir two weeks after and then went into Flutter. Felt bad on it so it was stopped 6 weeks after cardioversion. Then had Flutter ablation which lasted almost 2 years then AF came back, ablation schedule for 3 weeks time. Good luck.

[exbcmc]

I had one cardioversion , but they had to jolt me twice. It lasted, maybe, 3 mo. Then had two ablations. The 2nd was due to high heartbeat....my thoughts are with you🙏

[Gincalpe]

Exactly the route I took. There are no problems being on Amioderone for 2-3 months - it was stopped on the day of ablation.

Good luck

[afib187]

It's worth a try, but make sure they give you a low dose. A high dose can pack a punch and that might not work for everyone. My mom reacted to intravenous continous dosing and kept vomiting in hospital, so much so they did a liver ultrasound. They took her off it and tried the pill form, but she went into a junctional rhythm. They gave up on Amiodarone. After that, they finally allowed her to see an EP and she went the ablation route.

[Echinopsis]

I started with AF in 2015 and was put on Diltiazem which was absolutely no help at all.I was then put on the Amiaderone in May 2016 the same time as my cardioversion and it worked well with a good steady heartbeat until the AF came back at the beginning of last year 2019

My cardiologist here where I moved to from another part of the country said I should have been on the Amiaderone for no longer than six months.In fact my cardiologist where I was before signed me off and when I asked him what we would do if the AF came back, he said that 'well, you would come to see me'.And that was it!

So at the beginning of last year I had been on the Amiaderone for 3 and a half years.By the time I got to my doctor here and asked the see the cardiologist here in around September with the AF, I had started with Amiaderone induced thyroidism sp,, if that's the right word and was put on medication to help clear it up a few months ago. My encrindologist says by February the'thyroidism' will have cleared up. so no problems, except now I am diagnosed with heart failure.I will ask my cardiologist when next I see him if he thinks the Amiaderone may have contributed to this! When I was told to stop taking the amiaderone, I did so with no side effects. I have had no health issues with either it or the 'thyroidism' but noticed on some days I felt particularly well.

So it may be of interest for the readers to know about this. I started the Amiaderone on 16 May 2016 200mg dose, then in August 2106 it was reduced to 100mg. Throughout the period until my stopping it last year, I use to go for a blood test of my own volition ( GP a bit lax) to check the liver and the thyroid, I think, and suppose if there were no problems, was just kept on it.

[MRockwell in reply to Echinopsis]

Amiodarone is an iodine containing compound similarity to thyroxin the high iodine content has effects on the thyroid gland. Also the liver, vision, and lungs. See Amiodarone lung toxicity. This drug has a black box warning and should only be given in hospital in a life threatening situation. I was put on Amiodarone for AF not life threatening was not told the side effects and was back in emergency the next day with liver failure, on my medical records now allergic to Amiodarone. Take Care.

[Hidden]

I was on amiodorone for my first cardioversion, 3 months before and 3 months after.

I am convinced that it kept me in NSR for 6 months following my DCV, this is due to the 3 month half life.

I would keep a careful eye on the effect of this drug though, I had to stop taking it because it damaged my thyroid and several other issues.

[Porageface]

What persuaded you not to have an ablation when offered by your EP 5 years ago? Do you have any sense of what your AF burden has been since then? A repeat echocardiogram to compare your left atrial size now and then could influence you.

Please give us an insight into the way your thoughts are going. It could help many others in your position. If the questions are intrusive I will happily withdraw my reply.