Hi all. I’ve been put on the dreaded Amiodarone by my consultant whilst I await an outpatient slot to discuss ablation. I was on the usual loading dose which was reduced gradually to one tablet per day. I’m still getting afib every day. Consultant won’t advise taking any more than 2x 200 daily but it’s not working.
Any advice please?
How many days have you been taking it ?
One week on 3x 200, one week on 3 x 200. During this week af began to break through. Carried on as told and one week of 1x200. Now on fourth week and it’s been increased back to 2 x100. Been in af for over 12 hours now.
Ah, I thought you were in continuous AF. Of course we can't actually advise you what to do other than get back to your cardiologist/GP. I can only go on my own Amiodarone experience. 12 hours is not a long time to be in AF unless you are feeling very compromised with , eg shortness of breath, fainting and particularly chest pain. Is your rate very fast ?
Have you been offered dc cardioversion?
No. Awaiting ablation appointment. I find that when on amiodarone the episodes are faster than before when I was on beta blockers which stopped working. Thanks
Thanks.
Give it time, one week or even a month is not enough time to judge as to whether or not Amiodarone will help.
My husband was in persistent AF, CV did nothing so 200mg x1bd Amiodarone - took it for 3 months then very gradually a few hours of NSR, then days and now 6 years later and still taking a 100mg maintenance dose and now AF burden is down to 5%, was 1% but risen slightly with age. Now nearly 90.
Amiodarone will stay in your system for some weeks/months after you cease taking it but if it is not helping at all you might consider speaking again with your doctor Was cardio version mentioned prior to ablation to assess the chances of ablation working? Amiodarone prior to cardio version does increase the efficacy of CV.
What were you told as to what to expect and next steps?
If you are no longer taking a BB then expect your heart rate to increase - Amiodarone is an antiarrythmic drug, Beta Blockers will control your heart rate, not stop AF. It is usual to take both.
I would talk to your Arrythmia Clinic and get better information as to the treatment plan and a time line and when you should ask for medical assistance.
Hope that helps.
Thanks. The treatment plan so far is Amiodarone until an ablation. I have a phone consultation next month to discuss this with EP. Up until I began taking Amiodarone the AF was kicking in for three days at a time. Once I was on loading dose of Amiodarone it really worked but since beginning on 1x200 daily I was getting episodes of 1-3 hours. Now it's been going for 16hours. Current cardiologist won't advise taking any more than 2x100 daily which I've been taking since Friday but it's still breaking through. If it's a case of waiting until it begins to work then I'll persevere but it's so uncomfortable.
Rate control may help symptoms so I would also ask about that. Good luck.
I was put on amiodorone following two failed cardioversions until I had an ablation for persistent af and was kept on it for six months following the successful procedure. I struggled with sunlight and heat but that was all and have remained in sinus rhythm for the past four years so have no regrets about taking it.
CD is right. I'm on 200mg of Amiodarone and Bisoprolol. 5% is the equivalent of 1hr 20 mins a day, which anyone on persistent Afib would willingly accept as a compromise I suppose. But then they'd want to get rid of the 5%.
I take this alongside bisoprolol 1.25. I had an ablation on the 1st August , I have been on them since as I had a complication following the procedure. I am hoping to stop the Amiodarone in the next few weeks. I have had no side affects at all good luck!!
I had it at as prelude to a DCCV. Perhaps discuss if you can have one whilst waiting for the ablation. The Amiodarone on its own didn't get me back into nsr but I conjunction with a DCCV, it did.
Same experience as a few others. Needed a cardioversion (DCCV) before the drug took over.
Amiodarone didn't work for me, either. I gave it 3 months. It was also giving me unbearable, crushing headaches.My EP and I decided it wasn't worth it if it wasn't doing the job of controlling my AF.
I was very relieved to be off it.
Thanks. I’ll try to keep going until my EP appointment next month. I find the episodes of af I get when I’m in Amiodarone to be worse than when I took other meds.
My husband too is waiting for an ablation or cardio version . He is on 10mg of bisoprolol as well as edoxoban and cholesterol tabs . He was on digoxin but it played havoc with his stomach . What is your heart rate now your on meds? Thank you
The Amiodarone keeps it between 70-90. I found digoxin harsh on the stomach too. I think it needs to build up in the system but no one told me that at the time.
Try sotalol. Works great for me. The lowest dose twice daily.
Can't imagine Sotalol working if Amioderone isn'tm working.
My cardiologist swears by it and refuses to prescribe Amioderone … he doesn’t like it … who knows why … if l question him he replies “who’s the cardiologist … you or me …”. I like that!
Good for him. It’s such a toxic drug.
I was put on it too, but it only had a mild effect on suppressing the HR whilst in AFib, and reducing the number of times a week I had an episode and the length of the episodes. I hadn’t tolerated ANY of the other drugs either and the cardiologist wanted me off it asap, hence me getting an ablation in matter weeks. Fortunately it was a successful ablation and I don’t take anything now.
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