Hi, I have heart failure and AF. I was put on Amiodarone when this all started about 3 years ago with many other heart meds! but have still been in and out of AF ever since! Is anyone else on Amiodarone and still has AF? I havnt seen a Cardiologist since being given it and all the other meds 3 years ago!
Michael
When I took Amiodarone I still had AF and it also damaged my thyroid too, so I'll now have to take drugs for life to right that. I hope you are having your thyroid levels checked regularly?
Jean
My husband has been on Amiodarone for 6 years now but it keeps him in NSR, apart from the occasional episode.
It it’s not working for you then perhaps you should see your GP and ask for a rereferral back to cardiology for review. It doesn’t happen automatically, you have to be re referred. You might also ask for blood tests and the results and an echocardiogram and ECG.
It really doesn’t make sense to continue to take Amiodarone if it’s not working for you but you shouldn’t stop without seeking medical advice. What dose are you taking?
I’m on Amiodarone and still get breakthrough AF. I actually mentioned it to my doc last week as I have a pretty severe episode but he didn’t seem concerned and said looking at my ICD download, it was nothing compared to what I used to get. I’m awaiting cardiac surgery so I don’t think he’s too concerned for that reason. I would definitely mention it to your cardio doc as you may have come tolerant to the dosage
I would definitely ask for a referral back to cardiology - preferably to see an electrophysiologist |(EP) as well about the AF and amiodorone. You should be having at least 6 monthly blood tests while on amiodorone.
I was on Amioderone for 6yrs and it kept me out of AF but eventually stopped working and I ended up in permanent AF. As soon as it stopped being effective, my ep stopped the medication.
Hi Michael, sorry to hear that. You should have regular blood tests when on that drug. I was started on it in Feb 2023 with Edoxiban my thyroid function deteriorated so much, I felt terrible, asked to be taken off the pill but GP could not make that decision, I was put on Levothyroxine in December a week before an appointment at the hospital, saw a rookie who did not know what to do…..had to ask my consultant who has been avoiding me…..I demanded he took me off Amiodarone as I did not want a pill to counteract side effects from another pill plus your thyroid hormones are important. Was given Verapamil with the Edoxiban plus 50mg Levothyroxine in Jan/Feb.
Feb/Mar been having terrible abdominal pain with bladder and bowel problems. Spent a night in A&E just gave pain meds…co-dydramol same as from GP. Constipation blamed due to meds.
Eventually given antibiotics for diverticulitis and pain clears up.
For Mothers Day my son gave me a Food Intolerance test, came back 60% for Yeast, 40% for eggs and milk, 25% for wheat. Shocked as those are staples for me….what do I eat now?
I grew up on a farm had milk eggs aplenty, but May now explain the abdominal pain so cutting out the above but it is difficult no dairy.
Sorry to hear, you are in a tough situation. I agree with above comments, ie in BC Canada where I live, physician/pharmacy guidelines are amiodarone only issued by EP’s, with continual monitoring of blood work and side effects. Our EP and general Cardiologist have a team of Pharmacists, Nurse Practitioners and RNs. I had weekly access to them by phone. I wouldn’t take amiodarone without that followup, if I were you. If you can’t get an EP/Cardiologist to follow you properly, what about asking their Pharmacist for advice? Personally amiodarone did not stop my AF completely but drastically improved the AF and bradycardia/passing out burden. It absolutely restored me to a reasonable quality of life, until my ablation date May 31st, 2023. I have been AF/Aflutter/ectopics- free since. EP says it’s because ablation was successful, but also because of normal weight, lifestyle exercise, healthy eating, cut out all alcohol and caffeine, try to keep meal portions on the smaller side etc. I know it may/may be likely that the AF returns one day, but enjoying the remission and hope, that it won’t return. We are all SO different though … sure hope you can see an EP soon!
Hi, I took amiodarone for about a year and it didn't stop my arrhythmia all the time which was a mixture of AF, atrial tachycardia and flutter. My only advice would be to be aware of possible side affects and flag them up to your GP/cardiologist as soon as you suspect something. I developed a cough and wheeze about 7 months into taking it which my GP said was acid reflux! - my cardiologist, as soon as I mentioned it sent me straight of to a respiratory consultant. A CT scan revealed I had ground glass nodules across my lungs. Off the amiodrone straight away and luckily they did clear up within 3 months. Also put crystals in my eye which I'm not aware off and dos not affect my vision, and made my skin very very sun sensitive. Not everyone gets the side affects but it is is something to be aware off. Only an ablation solved my issues - not completely but much improved. Not sure if my info helps?
Hello BlueMonday67, I've been on amiodarone for about 5 1/2 years now and I still go in and out of afib. My EP say's it's the last choice of meds for me. I had a huge scare about 3-4 months ago when an x-ray showed possible lung fibrosis so EP had me do a cat scan to specifically look for that but thank GOD it came back negative, Good Luck.
Hope all goes well with you in the future. Good luck!
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