I was prescribed amiodarone 200mg for afib. I read about the horrible side effects. Is anybody one it and what is your experience

[alfrae13]

for afib

[Hidden]

I’ve never taken Amiodarone so have no personal experience of the drug. From what I’ve heard, it’s important to keep an eye on your thyroid function and avoid sunlight. Almost all side effects known to man tend to be published and this is to protect the manufacturers but that said, whilst it is said to be the most effective arrhythmia drug, apparently it’s best not to take it for any longer than necessary….

[rebecca70]

After three months I had thyroid problems.

[alfrae13 in reply to rebecca70]

what dosage did you take

[whiststev]

A friend of mine as been on this drug for 15 years, he takes medication for his thyroid now but it’s stopped any A F issues

[Thomas45]

It didn't agree with me. It didn't stop episodes in the 10 months I took it, and it caused anxiety over my health.

[Silvasava]

I was on it prior to a cardioversion. I don't have a thyroid but it affected my liver and I was taken off it.

[jeanjeannie50]

Amiodarone damaged my thyroid and I'll now need to take pills to rectify that for the rest of my life. However, I know someone who took it for about 8 years and had no problems.

[alfrae13 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

what dosage did you take and how did you know when it affected your thyroid

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to alfrae13]

My GP knowing that it can have an affect on the thyroid was monitoring mine and I didn't ask about the results and wouldn't have understand if he'd told me what they were. I think I may have taken them on 2 separate occasions pre ablations for probably 6-9 months at a time. I felt tired all the time, but my GP was waiting to see if my thyroid rectified itself. While having a blood test at our main hospital it was discovered how underactive it was and the consultant wrote to my surgery to say I needed to go on levothyroxine right away. Taking those pills gave me back my life. I was putting feeling tired down to AF and thinking that was how it made you feel.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to alfrae13]

I started with one 200mg tablet three times a day for seven days, then one twice a day for seven days then one daily.

[rebecca70 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I took 200 mgs. Once a day for three months .

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to rebecca70]

Isn't it strange how EP's all have different ideas on medication dosage. Your dose sounds far easier in the body.

[etheral]

Very toxic. Lung, thyroid etc. Took it for several days post cardioversion. Fortunately made me very sick immediately. Got put on Tikosyn ( dofetilide ) , no side effects, been on it for 3+ years, has maintained NSR. Ask your EP about it.

[Turquoise19 in reply to etheral]

Were you in persistent AF Etheral ?

[etheral in reply to Turquoise19]

Afib put me im CHF and pulmonary oedema. It was my second known bout. I have had a stroke stroke years earlier which in retrospect was probably caused by Afib.

[Ppiman]

I haven't been given this but was told it was the only option if my ablation hadn't come first. The drug is, I have read, a third-line choice after safer drugs have been discounted for various reasons. This means that it is only given when other drugs cannot be given, and when some treatment is deemed necessary.

There's a long thread on another forum listing many people's positive experiences with the drug.

Steve

[alfrae13 in reply to Ppiman]

Could you give me this thread

[Ppiman in reply to alfrae13]

I hope this link works. It’s quite encouraging:

facebook.com/groups/AtrialF...

[Nannysue1]

I've been on it for 7 yrs and have 3 monthly blood tests. I've never been very happy taking it but it was the only thing that controlled my Afib.I'm now in persistent AF and on the list for ablation. My dilemma now is whether to just stay in AF permanently and medicate or try the ablation. My EP has asked that I stay on amioderone until the ablation or if I decide to stay as I am. If I opt not to have the ablation, I can come off of the amioderone as it's not serving its purpose anymore. Whichever way I go, I want to stop the amioderone but have to say that over 7yrs, it hasnt caused me any problems ( hope I'm not speaking to soon).

Hope that helps.

[captainKFF in reply to Nannysue1]

Hi you said you’re in persistent Afib. I thought the amiadrone stops the episodes, can you please explain?

[Nannysue1 in reply to captainKFF]

It did for 6yrs but has now stopped working for it. The only reason that I'm currently taking it is because my EP has asked for me to stay on it for an ablation.

[captainKFF in reply to Nannysue1]

Thanks for your feedback but if it doesn’t work why take even if you’re waiting for an ablation, I mean what’s the benefit?

[Nannysue1 in reply to captainKFF]

I'm not 100% sure of the reasoning but my EP says it will give the chance of successful ablation.

[captainKFF in reply to Nannysue1]

Makes sense, best of luck to you

[Fullofheart]

I've been on it 1 x month, cardioversion related. No problems as yet and really helps the AF but not planning to be on it long term. Maybe just 3 months.

[Hidden]

Took it for 6 months, it did get me back in rhythm and kept it in rhythm but made my heart rate go down to 42 from the standard 50. Not a great medication to be on for long periods.

[alfrae13 in reply to Hidden]

what dosage did you take? How often did you check your blood and thyroid

[Hidden in reply to alfrae13]

Cannot remember the dosage but it was a low level. I had it checked when I came of the Amiodarone and both were OK

[BC50]

I take Multaq, E.P. calls it "Amiodarone Light" no issues

[BrotherThomas]

I've been on it at 200mg dose for about 6 months and no problems. I wasn't asked to front load like most people do so stayed on the 200mg dose. I had a cardioversion, my second, on Thursday and I've been told to stay on the amiodarone for a month then they'll see about gradually reducing it until I'm off it.

[cbaum]

I have been on Amiaderone since October 1st this year. 200 mg twice daily. At first I had no side effects but within the last week I’ve experienced constipation, dizziness, and people asking why my face is red. I also am on metoprolol 25 mg daily, apixaban 5 mg twice daily. I take keppra (levatiracetam) 200mg x2 once daily for seizures. Tuesday I started feeling nauseous, fatigued, and had a slight cough. I immediately took a COVID19 test which was negative, went to a GP & took an EKG as part of a physical exam. The GP wanted me to go to the emergency room as the EKG indicated some type of blockage. After speaking with my cardiologist, they agreed it was nothing to be concerned with but moved my cardiologist appointment from two months from now to two weeks from now. I’ve decided to get a second opinion, which is also two weeks away. I cut myself back to 100mg Amiaderone 2x daily today and I feel much better. I have been on Multaq before but the electrophysiologist took me off it for reason unknown. They are still concerned with AFIB but the GP saw neither AFIB nor flutter on my EKG. If this seems confusing, it is. I also have a LINQ loop recorder and have had a maze procedure. I don’t expect any answers just am relating my experience with amiaderone. Possibly one of you can make sense of my story. US, male, 76, epilepsy, sleep apnea, Colorado (5280 elevation).

[engvey00]

I have published a response to someone else but i may apply to you as well... Like yourself, I was given the 200 dosage in early October of last year, and after a week or two, my heart rate dropped the the high 40's and I suspect even lower when I was sleeping. Talked with my doctor who lowered the dose to 100 MG. Since then everything has gone very well. My heart rate now runs in the lower 50's to the mid 50's. A real positive out come is that I have not had a single instance AFIB in more than a year. Good luck with outcome.

[Angusdon]

My 1st ever Cardioversion was in 2007 and it wasn’t a success, I was then put on Amiodrone for 3 months before another C/V and I was back in NSR with 1st shock. Stayed in NSR for over 6 years. Same happened with my next 2 C/Vs No Amiodrone before C/V no NSR. Put back on AMI before C/V stayed in NSR for 3 years the 2nd time and 18 months the 3rd time. I have no doubt but it helps to get you back into normal rhythm before a C/V.Having said that I vowed I would never take it again because of the terrible side effects I had the last time I was taking it, such as a whole body rash and almost fainting turns.

I’ve had 2 failed C/Vs over the past year after refusing to take AMI and I am now in persistent AF with a RHR of around 65 and if I’m going to be honest for the past 9 months I don’t have any symptoms apart from very slight breathlessness if I over exert myself which I expect at my age (70) and I am still doing a full days work. The only medication I take is Edoxaban an anticoagulant apart from taking a Hawthorn supplement and Vitamin C which I believe has helped me tremendously especially the Hawthorn.

All the best.

[Visigoth]

I’ve been on amiodarone for eight months and apart from feeling rather weird during the first couple of weeks I’ve felt fine. I’m being monitored regularly for thyroid/liver issues etc. It has been very effective to date but has also lowered my heart rate, which doesn’t seem to be much of a problem- I just feel my heart pounding a bit if I stand up or go upstairs too quickly when I’ve been sitting down. My EP is not concerned about the heart rate.

[alfrae13 in reply to Visigoth]

How often did they check your blood and thyroid?

[alfrae13 in reply to Visigoth]

How often do they test you? What dosage did you take?

[Visigoth in reply to alfrae13]

So far I’ve been tested at three-monthly intervals but I think the plan is to do it every six months, which is standard. I take 200mg daily, having started on the loading dose of 600mg for a week and then 400mg for a week before settling down on the 200mg.

[Shemac52]

Took Amioradone for 18 months for AF, was having blood tests regularly . Had OHS in 2019 for replacement valve stopped the medication. 8 weeks after surgery had a stroke and they found I had hyperthyroidism caused by Amioradone. It took high doses of thyroid meds and steroids to finally get the thyroid back to normal in 2021. Apparently after speaking to the Endocrine Consultant they were extremely worried about me.