amiodarone

[Henry716]

anyone on amiodarone and is it as bad as they say

[JoDogBlue]

Hi, Iwas on it for a year and found it unpleasant to live with the side effects. Everyone is different and you might be fine. I haven't had any long term ill effects from being on it and I've stayed in sinus rhythm since a cardioversion last summer so on balance it's been worth it.

[CDreamer]

My husband has taken Amiodarone since 2018, it’s kept him mostly in NSR but Thyroid function has declined so now has to take low dose of Levothyroxine.

It is a last resort drug or for short term use but also the most effective drug for maintaining NSR. You need to be aware of all the affects it may have - probably photosensitivity is the most common and sometimes can be really severe so you MUST be very, very careful in daylight, use plenty of sun screen and cover up. Husband has had to have many BCC’s removed but that damage was likely done 70 years ago from living in the tropics and sunbathing lathered in olive oil!

Do the benefits outweigh the risks? For my husband Yes as Amiodarone has given him a QOL he would not have had as he was in heart failure, For me No, the risks outweighed the benefits so I went with pacemaker.

You need to assess risk:benefits for you in consultation with your doctor and then decide.

[BrotherThomas]

I took 200mg daily for just over two years and had no problems with side effects. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me so I stopped taking it. We are all different in our response to drugs so it may work for you.

The important thing is to ensure that you are regularly tested for thyroid function, a simple blood test, which your GP should arrange.

[Jajarunner]

Been on it for 13 months. Thyroid been a bit up and down and haloes round eyes at night tho less since halving dose to 100. Given me my life back after eleven cardioversions and three failed ablations in three years. I love it but have been referred for a fourth ablation because if risks of long term damage 😭

[Ppiman]

Please do search fr a major study, "Long term low dose amiodarone safety". You will feel much relieved. It's a very effective when used safely and when suitable regular checks are all in place, I gather.

Steve

[Hidden]

I was in hospital last year, after being off Amiodrone for years. It works, but, my hospital wouldn't prescribe it at home, so if I needed it again, it would be under medical supervision. I now have a pacemaker and AV node ablation.

[GooseEggs]

Yes—it can be deadly. My mom was on a low dose and within 4 weeks began showing serious adverse reactions. It was quickly scarring her lungs. It also made her restless at night, gave her a dry cough, reduced her blood oxygen down to the 70s and she needed to be on oxygen, etc. All within the first month. The cardiologist refused to consider that it was the amiodarone and insisted she stay on it. A lung dr said to take her off it immediately. Thankfully she recovered but it took many months, and she eventually got off the oxygen as well as her lungs and body healed. She was hyper-allergic. Would have likely been dead within 6 to 8 weeks on it and it would probably have been chalked up to old age and heart issues. Cardiologist insisted it couldn’t have been the amiodarone yet she fully recovered after stopping it. 4 yrs later and she’s fine and going strong.

[TracyAdmin Partner]

Hello

The AF Association have created a patient information sheet to provide an overview of Amiodarone, to download, please visit: api.heartrhythmalliance.org...

Kind regards

TracyAdmin

information sheet

[Desanthony]

I was on it for 3 months around my second cardioversion and it was found just as I was about to stop anyway that my Thyroid level was slightly raised - within about a month of stopping that had gone back down to normal - I had two blood tests while taking amiodorone and a couple afterwards to check that everything had gone back to normal. I felt no different when taking the amiodorone and didn't have any other side effects at all and even the slightly raised thyroid level after 3 months caused no problems. There are some who are on it long term and have no problems. remember that usually on a forum you will hear the bad stories more than the good from things as people who have good results and no problems tend to drift away. Just be aware and ensure that you have regular blood tests and speak out when you feel something may be wrong. Some people will get a few mild side effects, some will get none some will get them all and some will be unable to take some medication because of the many and bad side effects that others have no problem with. You won't know until you have to try.