Amiodarone and sports watch hrm, SP02 sensor burns

[MrFizz]

I thought I would share my experience with others.

On Amiodarone initial high loading dose and I wear a sports watch that monitors pulse via flashing green lights on the back of the watch. I also use the watch to continously record SP02 blood oxygen levels at night when sleeping - this flashes red light continuosly on the skin.

This has never been a problem for me over the last 4 months, but on the tablets for 3 days only, the back of the watch with the pulsing light sensors have burnt my wrist!!!!

So I turned-off the sensors and wear the watch on the other wrist for the burn to heal.

There is a warning on the box re light, but never thought a sports watch sensor would burn me! Thought just being outside?

Regards

Peter

[CDreamer]

Nasty, hope skin soon recovers. My husband is on Amiodarone & wears iPhone3 at night and hasn’t had any problems but that doesn’t have the O2 monitor.

[MrFizz in reply to CDreamer]

It happened during the high loading dose of 400mg 3 times a day so I was having 1200mg a day for 3 days which is 6 times the maintenance dosage of 200mg daily, so that would be a major factor also

[johnMiosh in reply to MrFizz]

I am surprised because the green lights don't contain any UV, although the apple watch has IR lights. Amiodarone can make the skin sensitive, and you may be particularly affected. You will need to be very careful this summer, cover up and use factor 50.

This will not go away when you drop down to maintenance dose. Amiodarone stays in the body much longer than most drugs; on average only 2% of the total is eliminated daily. So the loading dose gets you to an effective level in the body quickly, but the maintenance dose will continue to increase the level in your system.

[Poncegirl]

That drug can cause irreversible lung damage. Please have your doctor take you off, insist

[Wasp1954]

Undertook similar dosage regime to you and notable side effects were loss of taste AND nightmares. Not good for someone who never dreams (or who doesn’t remember them). Still have weird dreams 2.5 years later. Went on holiday to the med 6 months after taking the ‘drug’ with no ill effects but I was very careful in the sun! The domestos of drugs I read!

[HarrySubs]

The initial dosage of amiodarone is VERY high to kick start the heart back into sinus rhythm. For me this happened after the first day. It is very well recommended to avoid any sunlight or UV during this period as the skin is very sensitive.

Since I have been on amiodarone for a few years, I have used a Factor50 sunscreen every day on all exposed areas whether the sun is shining or not and a baseball cap. The sensitivity will lower after the first week to a more manageable level and hopefully you can wear your device. I personally thought the SP02 blood oxygen level oximeter didn't assist me much and gave wrong readings but a great idea. My cardiologist also had no worthwhile results with the finger pulse oximeter.

The label says "excessive skin exposure to sunlight". This wording is very non-deterministic and could instead state that "exposure to sunlight should be as low as reasonably practical". I believe the "1/2 life" of amiodarone is 90days...... I am on 100mg a day which just keeps me in sinus rhythm . This is a powerful drug which needs managing by regular blood checks to ascertain liver and kidney function combined with eye tests (your eye sight may change but this will return when you cease taking the amiodarone...… Best of luck....

[MrFizz in reply to HarrySubs]

Lucky I am in Australia and heading into winter to avoid too much sunshine...I never thought I’d say that lol

[Ducky2003]

I have a Fitbit Versa 2. I've only used the SPO2 face only during the day but had no problem I've been on Amiodarone for this stint for 11 months.