Considering Amiodarone

My EP is considering placing me on amiodarone since nothing else has worked with my chronic afib (5 Months). What has your experience with this drug been?

[Hidden]

I’ll tell you my experience but would preface it by saying that amiodarone is a toxic drug that I want to come off. Also we’re all different, I have a couple of other heart issues and I m hypothyroid.

I first started on amiodarone in December 2017 and my af improved straight away. When I came off it in August 2018 my af got gradually worse. I’ve been on it now since May 2019 and I put the long periods I have with a fairly low af burden down to the amiodarone

So far I have no side effects, but I am waiting for surgery, one aim being to come off the amiodarone

I’d say do as much research and get the best advice you can - wishing you all the best!

[raymelb]

I'm one of the lucky ones who seems to be able to tolerate it (for which I'm extremely grateful). I seem to have found a balance point of taking 1x200mg only three times a week. I've tried reducing it, but every time I do I go back into afib, so I'm sticking with it for the foreseeable future. I've been on it for 5 years on and off and get checked twice a year. No problems so far. I understand why it's not for everyone, but it's been good for me.

[Visigoth]

I have to say that Amiodarone has been very effective for me - I’ve been on it since March this year. I’m well aware of the side effects but I went on it with a view to having ablation at some point, not as a long term option. The only difficulty I have found is that it has reduced my RHR from mid 50s to low-mid 40s (although it’s not supposed to be a rate-controlling drug!). The effect of this in my case - at least I think it’s the effect of this - is that on standing up or going upstairs I tend to get a thumping heart beat and feel lightheaded, which makes me feel I have to stop for a minute or two. Other than that, my quality of life has improved enormously on amiodarone, with no af and hardly any ectopics, to the extent that I’m tempted not to go for the ablation.

[CDreamer]

It was effective for my husband who’s been on it for nearly 3 years now with no serious signs of toxicity and greatly improved QOL. Cardioversion didn’t work, he’s not suitable for ablation so really it was only option. He’s now down to maintenance dose and will now stay on it as no signs of AF and he was in persistent AF. Just need to ensure you are well monitored and be aware of early signs of toxicity.

[Maggimunro]

My brother ended up in hospital for over two weeks suffering from the toxic side effects of Amiodarone. He ended up with thyroid dysfunction and interstitial pneumonitis. Fortunately his thyroid function seems to be normalising but not so his lungs. We can only wait and see what lung function he is left with.

Have you been offered an ablation as opposed to long term drug treatment?

[listerines]

In many cases amiodarone is a medication of last resort and usually prescribed for shorter durations to maintain heart stability prior to ablation (with the goal of coming off amiodarone post ablation). There are certainly exceptions as posted by those above. You must have regular testing due to possible nasty side effects. Hopefully there is a plan with your ep that includes other options not just amiodarone. Keep safe

[Sharp5flat9]

I had two side effects. Hair loss and affected vision after about a year on amiodarone. I stopped taking it even though it worked. I was prescribed Rytmonorm but that didn’t work. I am currently tolerating the AF episodes each of about 12 hours every 3 weeks or so.