Hi I’m on Amiodarone tablets since end of February for afib Unfortunately I’m still in afib with the coronavirus I don’t think I be seeing my consultant anytime soon I have just 2 weeks left of the tablets started on 3 a day for a week then 2 a day for a week now on 1 a day for 28 days not sure if I carry on taking the tablets my doctor not sure said she will try and contact my consultant
Amiodarone Don’t seem to be doing nothing for me has it got anyone out of afib ? has anyone stopped taking them ? if so how is it done do you get weaned off tablets or just stop taking them
Thanks
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Pinky100
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Sorry to hear all this. You should wait for instructions from your GP. However I've been on this drug several times, the last time before an ablation and I just stopped the drug, was not weaned off.
The only time this worked to get me out of AF ( at 160bpm) was about 27 years ago , my first episode. Cardiologist wanted to admit me to prepare for cardioversion but I resisted so was given 14 days supply of Amiodarone with the proviso that I would agree to hospital admission if still in AF. I reverted to sinus rhythm on day 5.
Since then it has never worked in converting me , not even intravenously. I have only used it in an attempt to stay in sinus.
I do hope that this does eventually work for you.
Hope you're not feeling too unwell with the virus.
Thanks! I'm in UK. Also on list for ablation no 4....goodness knows when that may be but it is the least of my worries will all that is going on in the world. Surreal.
Thank you! Have awful cough....gradually getting less so. Had a very bad few hours on Sat confined to bed but got over it feeling dizzy, breathless. Hopefully on the mend....think tomorrow is day 6/7 ( losing count of the days ...😕😃)
Regarding your questions about Amiodarone, it would really be best to speak to your GP or Consultant on the whys and wherefores, as they will talk through your individual health needs/status combined with your current illness.
The 3-2-1 is the loading phase and it looks as though you are being kept on Amio initially for an extra 3 weeks. So yes definately find out whether you are being kept on Amio with a maintenance dose. Also ask what happens if Amio does not convert you to normal rhythm, i.e. will you be given a DC Conversion. Also if you are staying on Amio make sure you get a blood test so that base line numbers are established.
Hi I started using these 6months into afib took a while but eventually came out of af after around 18 months consultant took me off them but inside a month was back in af.
Been taking them for arround 5years now and still in regular sinus rhythm.
Get very red and burnt in bright sunshine but other than that OK.
They had me on it for a few months & had to have regular blood checks & lung function tests, that shows you how dangerous this drug is, have you not asked about flecanide ?
It's usual to have a cardioversion in conjunction with the Amiodarone treatment. Once you're on Amiodarone you're on it until any side effects force you off it.
Hi I stopped taking this 3 weeks after my last (successful so far) Ablation. I did not wean off - I just stopped. Apparently can take over 1 month for them to get out of your system. I do not feel any different. they seriously affected my metabolism (slowed it right down to almost stop) and this sadly does not seem to have kick started again. Been off the tablets about 3 weeks.
Hi my consultant put me on amioderone years ago upset my thyroid grew larger boobs nipples became very tender painful and got sunburn within 30 mins and I normally just go brown. Had 3 ablations all never worked still in a fib
Stopped amioderone. Still on original tabs from hospital feel great. Bisoprolol spironolactone ramipril warfarin good luck to you I had heart failure in 2011 got a fib from this I'm now 68
Feeling good just worried about coronovirus stay safe
Like everything else, opinions vary, especially among doctors. Due to the drug’s long half-life, it will remain in your body for up to two months. It also affects the thyroid gland. Don't ignore your thyroid. Get tested periodically, especially after taking the drug for a couple of months.
I would ask your doctor for a blood test to see if there are any impacts on your Kidney, Liver Thyroid or other area. Then once you get that ask for another in two weeks to see if the Medication is doing any damage to your organs.
Never worked for me. Cardiologist took me off them. After my ablation I went into af for a few weeks 24/7 and cardiologist prescribed me Dronedarone instead of the Amiodarone. After 2 month I took myself off them and cardiologist was ok with my doing that. Ive only had short bursts of af since but they slowly starting to become longer. Not seeing cardiologist until June so wont know whats next
I didn't as it didnt help at all with the af. Thats why cardiologist took them off me as it was obvious it was getting more persistent. I struggled for year half after being took off them before my ablation eventually having the ablation done as "urgent" as I couldnt even walk a few steps due to symptoms.
I have not been in afib since I started taking them 4 months ago but my lower legs and ankles have been swelling quite a bit. Has anyone else had this problem?
I am not a Dr. so I will not give you medical advice, just sharing my experience with amiodarone. Almost two years ago, I was in constant AFib along with hypertension. I had a cardioversion and a esophogeal Doppler. I was in normal sinus rhythm. I was discharged two days later on a holiday and a nurse practitioner that I never saw prescribed amiodarone. They said I had mitral valve regurgitation, severe. I stayed on amiodarone and Metropol for a year. I was on a heavy dose of each. I went on a salt free diet and lost 55lbs. My heart rate went down to the 30s and I was having breathing problems. The cardiologist refused to treat me unless I had open heart surgery for the valve repair. I don't have circulation problems however they wanted to do a bypass. About a year ago I decided to use my veterans benefits. They said I had moderate valve problems and advised me to cease those medications immediately. I wore a holter monitor for a month and my resting heart rate stays at 60. Does not go above 80. The amiodarone caused me to have pulmonary fibrosis and affected my vision. Now I'm back to normal working driving. Amiodarone is for ventricular fibrillation as a last resort. I might add I've never smoked and quit Alcohol 3 yrs ago. I only take lasix and thyroxine and warforin. I self test at home, I am79 yr old male. The VA cardiologist saved my life. Get a second opinion. Jim
I am impressed with your intelligence and your ability to get a handle on good fortune. No wonder your heart rate went down to 30 with heavy doses of both the beta blocker Metoprolol and Amiodarone, an anti-arrhythmic drug. For that cardiologist to not examine your drugs (I assume) and insist instead to have open heart surgery is unpardonable. You are a classic example of why it is important to seek a second opinion when drastic surgery is recommended. Good for you. Keep up the good health.
I've been on Amiodarone for 11 years now with no major side effects. It was the only drug that controlled my Afib/Tachy/Brady. It does take quite a while to load your body with enough of it before it becomes effective. Maybe your doctor will put you back on 2 a day for a bit longer till it kicks in for you.
Thanks for your reply good to hear you have no side effects from it I have been on Amiodarone for nearly 4 weeks not that long did it convert you back to a sinus rhythm?
Yes it did convert me back for most of the time..I’m now on 200mg a day..I’ve also been taking large doses of magnesium taurate each day for the past few months and it has really done wonders for helping keep my heart much calmer. Another af sufferer recommended it to me.
Initially it took about a month , I still get breakthrough episodes of AF every few months.
Since taking large doses of Magnesium Taurate as well for the past 3 months, I have not had any AF. I have been taking Magnesium for years but never Magnesium Taurate and it has helped me tremendously .
It took exactly 6 weeks to the day for Amiodarone to get me back into NSR. I was really nervous at first, of taking it, because it is the strongest of drugs and the possible side effects. Apart from developing a sensitivity to sunlight I didn't notice any side effects. it worked well and kept me in NSR for 2 years but I then DID develop overactive thyroid and had to stop taking it. Sadly no other drug has ever worked and I am now in permanent AF. All the best Amyrosie
my mom was put on Amiodarone by her cardiologist the first, and the ONLY time she was in AFIB. She had been admitted to the hospital during that time. The doc knew she had a previous thyroid issue and did no further testing on her. I begged her to go see a specialist for her thyroid problem. Her cardiologist said she didnt need to see anyone and that her afib was controlled. For months she was having horrible symptoms, exhausted, headaches, difficulty catching breath, and falling over to one side, etc. Finally after 11 months, I finally convinced her to get off the stuff. She got a thyroid doc who admitted her in the hospital immediately. That medicine nearly killed her and did damage to some of her other organs, Her AFIB was caused from a thyroid problem, and over the last year that cardiologist refused to refer her to anyone. She is on the mend now, and was told that had she stayed on the Amiodarone too much longer it would have killed her, as it has already done further damage to her thyroid, and liver.
Jim-business above, your mother's cardiologist, my friend's cardiologist, my one visit (I refused to ever have anything to do with him again) cardiologist who unfortunately inadequately trained my GP about AF , all have done damage to their AF patients. How sad to have such a high percentage!
My experience with and knowledge of amiodarone is its very effective in maintaining NSR but not necessarily good for converting to NSR. You will most likely need a cardioversion.
I’ve been on Amiodarone since early September. It is a bear of drug. I started with a loading dose and have reduced it 3 times to 50mg/day. It took a month to stop my afib (with occasional short lived breakthroughs). The drug has a half-life of 2 months, it takes awhile for it to be effective and awhile to be release its hold. It has substantial side effects that last for awhile. I became emotionally and physically dulled and muted, it took 6 weeks at the reduced dose to regain physical and emotional initiative. I started it after my afib switched from every 2 weeks-lasting a couple of days to all-the-time even after 2 electro-conversions. I was planning on a ablation this spring after tests to clear me. I’m 67 male, living in the country in north New Jersey. Feeling good and strong.
You’ll want an excellent electrophysiology team associated with a major heart center hospital. My best and good luck.
I’ll put off the ablation ‘til it’s safe to be sick.
Aside and of passing interest, don’t act on this. A very technical study I came across indicated that, in a test tube, amiodarone inhibits the SARS virus. Interesting but amiodarone can cause severe lung damage with long term use, and I don’t live in a test tube.
Flecanide, I was on it for 10 years effectively. First as a pill-in-the-pocket, then daily. It stopped being effective and may have slowed-damaged my hearts timing.
Tykasyn(sp?) requires a three day hospital stay to see if you survive the initial dose.
Metoprolol can help but not control it. I’m on a small daily dose after an aortic valve replacement 2 1/2 years ago.
A highly experienced EP who’s connected to a major heart center is needed. Your favorite GP is good to explain the terms from the experts.
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