Hi All
I haven't posted for a while as I've been awaiting developments in my AF treatment. Diagnosed 18 months ago, nearly 57 years old, been suggested by cardiologist to try amiodarone before a potential cardioversion but the side effect possibilities worry me greatly, has anyone got any experience or advice please? Many thanks
You may find this thread helpful which I posted a few months ago
healthunlocked.com/afassoci...
If you can tolerate it is the most effective drug to put you back into NSR & is usually used short term prior to & following cardio version.
There are effects for some however so you will need monitoring.
Extended use can have an adverse effect on the thyroid. If you haven’t recently, it would be a good idea to ask for blood tests to check thyroid levels. As (apparently) summer beckons you may also need to keep out of the sun and use protection. Hopefully, as CD says it will only be recommended for a short period either side of the cardioversion.
Something that is sometimes over-looked is the effect it can have on the lungs. This sometimes has been missed and diagnosed as pneumonia. My lungs were being badly affected after only approximately one month of taking Amiodarone. Luckily it was recognised early and I appear to have had no long lasting detriments to my health. Not all drugs suit everyone, so read the information about this drug, as it can have some adverse affects that one would need to act on promptly.
I was scheduled for Pulmonary Function Studies to get a baseline before starting Amioderone. Fortunately the first few doses made me so sick that I only took it for a few days and didn't have to deal with long term toxic effects. My afib was terminated with Tikosyn and didn't even end up needing the cardioversion.
As is well documented, it can be ,not such a "kind" drug. I however have been on it for 7yrs with no side effects, so far. I have 3 monthly blood tests and 2yearly chest xrays, so am well monitored. The other rhythm control drugs, including flecanide, didn't help me at all. The amioderone kept me free of this annoying condition for 6yrs and I'm grateful. It has now stopped being effective and I'm waiting for my 1st ablation. Would I prefer not to take it, hell yes, would I prefer to be AF free for all those years, of course. As people have stated, there is no one drug fix all, so its trial and error and weighing up the prose and cons. Good luck.
Gee, Nannysue1, this is so encouraging. May I ask, what was the dose? I am feeling so much better on the amiodarone that it would be such a pity if I had to go off it. Its been 5 months now and I am feeling fine. But will have bloodtests next month.
My first attack of AF was very dramatic and completely unexpected. I was on Crete and rushed to a little hospital, all very frightening as I'd never heard of AF, didnt speak Greek and the doctors didnt speak English. Anyway it transpired that the first intravenous drug they tried, was flecanide which had no effect and they eventually got it under control with amioderone. Once back in uk I saw a cardiologist/ep who started me on 600mg which over a few weeks was gradually reduced down to 200 but I was finally able to be well controlled on a minimum of 100. I've been lucky enough to have been treated over the years by some leading experts in AF and they have agreed that the best thing at that time for me was to stay on the amioderone as I tolerated it well. As I say, you definitely need to be monitored regularly and there are things to be mindful of, ie you have to be VERY careful in the sun as you can burn so easily. It really is a personal decision and if you have a decent cardiologist, be guided by them. Hope that helps. PS , I do know a couple of people, who have been on amioderone for longer than me with no problems.
I’m in a similar position - been on amiodarone since early March and feeling so much better that I dread the thought of having to come off it! My GP has scheduled 6-monthly blood tests but said I didn’t need a chest x-ray yet because any lung problems would only occur later. Maybe I should request one next time to be on the safe side.
I was on it got seven months. No noticeable side effects but I was tested regularly and did get some odd blood test results which righted their selves once I stopped it. It worked brilliantly on the heart though...
Yes, I've been loaded on Amiodarone twice for 3 months prior to cardioversions and continued to take it afterwards. When they took me off it, I lasted 8 months AF free then boom, it was back. Had my ablation 3 weeks ago and told Ibwill stst on Amiodarone for 3 to 6 months. It has caused corneal deposits but I'm told they will go when its stopped. Not something I want to remain on long term but the only med that works at the moment.
I was on Amiodarone for 11 months. Put on it Christmas 2018 after a week in hospital trying different chemical cardioversions, none of which helped. I had very symptomatic A fib. Then had an electrical cardioversion and was kept on Amiodarone. After 5 months I had an ablation and was still kept on it for a further six months. It worked wonderfully for me. The only problem I had was it made me extremely vulnerable to sunlight, and eventually could only go outside in late evening. It also took about six months before this side effect finally wore off. If I had to take it again, I would willingly. Sue.
Hi! It put me back into NSR within 6weeks and two months on I’m still there!🙏I would say though that you have to be more insistent about being monitored. I had to ask for blood tests etc and I read everything I could find on the subject of amiodarone. Of course, as usual this forum was amazingly helpful...It affected my pancreas, my thyroid and my kidneys and strangely was starting to turn my fingernails brown!😳
I do tend to react badly to many meds though and so that needs to be taken into account too.
My last blood tests showed that gradually things internally are getting back to normal 🙏 Good luck and best wishes. 👍
Put on Amioradone for nearly 18 months which stopped after OHS 2 years ago.Really messed up my thyroid just finished weaning off steroids last month.
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