Amidarone

[stethpg]

My cardiologist put me on Amidarone a few months back (800 mg load dose for 2 weeks and followed by 200mg per day).

I now find myself nauseated and fatigued most of the time , has anyone else experienced this reaction?

[pottypete1]

Yes I could not tolerate Ameodarone.

Talk to your EP to discuss as there are other rhythm medications that are more tolerable with less side effects.

Pete

[stethpg in reply to pottypete1]

Thanks Pete

[Maggimunro]

please get a thyroid function test as amiodarone can affect the thyroid gland.

[Ppiman]

I was nearly given amiodarone, but my ablation for atrial flutter came along before I needed it. I have read that it is commonly prescribed for arrhythmias but never as a first-line drug and these days only at a low dose and is said to be safe - see the link below.

However, it can also have some very unpleasant side effects in a few people and, from what I know, your doctor should be monitoring your health carefully for some of these, e.g. lungs and thyroid, so do please speak to your GP about this.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Steve

[stethpg in reply to Ppiman]

Tank you

[stethpg in reply to Ppiman]

Thank you

[Rubymurray25]

I was on Amiodarone for 7 months , all was ok liver/kidney and thyroid but did experience crystal droplets in my eyes so was put on the far less toxic Dronedarone and that is also being kind to me. I think in the UK there is a slight reluctance to use Dronedarone as it is costly!

[stethpg in reply to Rubymurray25]

Thank you.

[Ossie7]

Morning , yes to nausea and fatigue with amiodarone , plus many more nasty side effects . It’s a horrible toxic drug but does it’s job of maintaining sinus rhythm very well . I was on it for about a year before my first ablation . Now on less toxic but not as effective dronedarone .

[stethpg in reply to Ossie7]

Thanks for your response, can you share what the other side effects were?

[Ossie7 in reply to stethpg]

corneal plaques that were affecting my vision , which is why I came off it .

Awful fatigue as you have and reduced exercise tolerance . Just felt ‘weak ‘ on it .

However my brother was on it for 10 years and it literally gave him his life back , but he had a serious congenital heart defect .

[stethpg in reply to Ossie7]

Thank you.

[Visigoth]

I’ve been on amiodarone for 18 months. A few months in, I experienced repeated episodes of post orthostatic tension to the point where they were making my life very difficult. My dose was lowered to 100mg daily and I’ve been absolutely fine ever since. I know I didn’t have the same symptoms as you, but it could be worth exploring taking a lower dose? I talked to the arrhythmia nurse and she changed my prescription, although to be fair my GP was happy to do it anyway.

[stethpg in reply to Visigoth]

Appreciate your response, may I ask what your original dose was?

[Visigoth in reply to stethpg]

I believe it was 600 mg the first week, 400mg the next week, then a regular dose of 200mg until it was lowered.

[riffjack846]

I was tired during the loading phase but once it kicked in and I went into NSR I feel pretty good on the maintenance dose of 200mg a day.

[Elfiejean]

At 200mg I had side effects that were difficult to tolerate. At 100mg I'm fine. I am monitored and all is well so far. The higher dosage was miserable. Please have a medication review at the doctor's office. I do it periodically. Helps a lot.

[stethpg in reply to Elfiejean]

Thank you.

[TracyAdmin Partner]

Please visit the AF Association webpage for advice regarding 'Amiodarone' api.heartrhythmalliance.org...

fact sheet

[stethpg in reply to TracyAdmin]

Thank you very much.

[BlueINR]

I would not continue to take a med that made me feel that bad. Call your doctor and ask if another med can be Rx'ed for you.

[stethpg in reply to BlueINR]

Thank you, appreciate your input.

[kocoach]

YES! I've been on 200mg amiodarone a day for 5 years now and I am like a walking zombie most of the time, always tired wanting to do nothing and nauseous also. Been to the Emergency Room for both and was told I had Gastriris for nausea but nothing said about tiredness, so I'm going with the flow and just sleeping a lot, day or night doesn't matter. I realized if stress is causing my afib then I need to be calmed down some way and it appears amidarone is doing it. It is a catch 22 though, sometimes I sleep too much during the day and can't sleep at night and then I go into afib as a result. It's just a balancing act that has to be figured out. Hope this helps.

[stethpg in reply to kocoach]

Thank you

[TanyaSo]

Yes, I had the same. When I stopped amiodarone all side effects stopped too.

[stethpg in reply to TanyaSo]

Thank you

[healingharpist]

The whole problem with amiodarone is DOSAGE TOO HIGH. For most people, a much lower dose ie 100- 200 MG, works well to control AF. Dr's got used to loading at 800 and you have to be very self- determining to demand a lower dose instead of suffering the side effects. Some people require 300-400 and they may need to switch to dronedarone ( no iodine molecule). Don't give up on amio... adjust dose first. (My mother has been on 100mg for 24 yrs, no AF and no side effects...she tests at intervals to be sure.)

[stethpg in reply to healingharpist]

Thank you

[Jamse]

to start with I did feel sleepy but now I just suffer from Sunburn at the slightest hint of UV

[RaySyl]

I have just replied to ‘Loafinabout’ (see above) regarding my experience of the “toxics shit” AKA as Amioderone.

[stethpg in reply to RaySyl]

I can’t find your response to Loafinabout.