Experience of reducing amiodarone dose below 100mg?

[Visigoth]

Does anyone have experience of reducing their amiodarone dose below 100mg per day? Mine was reduced from 200mg to 100mg two years ago because of my heart beating madly when I stood up after sitting down for a bit, or going upstairs. After a while that reduction had the desired effect and I felt brilliant. Very recently I’ve begun to feel similar symptoms again though - not as bad but not very pleasant when it happens. So I’m considering asking the doc about reducing the dose further, but wondered whether others have experience of going below 100mg per day? 100 seems to be the lowest dose normally prescribed.

[BrotherThomas]

Yes, I was on 200mg mg amiodarone daily for a bit over two years. However, it didn't work for me so I came off it slowly. The first month I reduced it to 100mg daily, then 50mg, then for the last month 25mg daily. The lower doses were achieved by cutting the pills in half then quarters. I had no problems following this regime.

[Visigoth in reply to BrotherThomas]

Thank you

[Jajarunner]

The medical literature does have some articles about very low dose amiodarone, as low as 50, though mainly used in frail elderly people. My EP said the lowest dose that works is the correct dose and I reduced, like you, from 200 to 100. Best talk to your cardiologist first though and bear in mind it takes six weeks or more for the drug to leave your system. Xx

[Visigoth in reply to Jajarunner]

Thank you. Yes I won’t do anything without talking to the cardio first.

[kocoach]

Hello, when I had a scare about 2 months ago as an xray showed I had minimal lung fibrosis (which another ct scan showed nothing) thank GOD. During the wait for the ct scan I asked my EP what would happen if I dropped down to 100mg instead of 200mg which I had been on for about seven years and he said I would go into permanent afib which I did for about 2-3 weeks (which I hated). When ct scan showed no negative side effects of aniodarone I switched back to 200mg but I still stayed in constant afib for about 2 weeks, then it started working it seems even better than before. Hope this helps and good luck whatever your decision.

[Visigoth in reply to kocoach]

Thanks for sharing that. Wow, I’m so glad your CT scan showed nothing and you’re back to normal, or better, now. What a scary experience!